You have probably noticed that if left to their own devices, your pets sometimes have indiscriminate tastes, eating things which may or may not be easily digestible. Just like their human companions, pets can have food allergies or other health issues that can cause ongoing intestinal distress if not addressed. Healthy digestion is essential to the wellness of your pet and is necessary for building and repairing tissues, along with obtaining energy. Science Diet I/D pet food is designed to help support digestive health, with a variety of ingredients, each with a specific purpose in mind.
Macronutrients
According to McKinley Health Center, a macronutrient is a substance that provides calories or energy. The three broad categories of macronutrients are carbohydrates, fats and protein. The substances contained in Science Diet I/D that provide your pet with energy and calories, according to the ingredient list found on the Science Diet website, include fat and protein sources from the animal derivatives of chicken by-product meal, pork preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid and dried chicken. Carbohydrate needs are addressed with the grains brewers rice, corn gluten meal and whole-grain corn.
Minerals
There are a variety of minerals contained in Science Diet I/D. Some of the minerals, such as iodized salt, are included in order to provide the animal with basic mineral needs as well as providing a natural preservative for the food. Other minerals, according to NaturalNews.com, are used to help vitamins absorb better within your pet's body. For example, vitamin C is often used in pet food to help with the absorption of iron. Minerals found in Science Diet I/D include potassium chloride, choline chloride, calcium sulfate, DL-methionine, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate and sodium selenite.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic food substances found only in living things, plants and animals. The body cannot manufacture or synthesize some vitamins, called essential vitamins, so these must be obtained through foods. Your pet needs these vitamins to maintain its health and Science I/D contains a multitude. Vitamins contained in the food include vitamin E supplement, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid and vitamin D3.
Preservatives and Fillers
Pet food manufacturers often keep the cost of food down by increasing the overall shelf-life of the food. There are ways to do this using various chemicals, but the healthiest choice for your pet is the use of natural preservatives. Science I/D uses natural preservatives including mixed tocopherols, or vitamin E, citric acid and rosemary extract. Citric acid is a component found naturally in citrus fruits, and according to NaturalNews.com, this is a very healthy way to not only preserve the food, but also help with mineral absorption. Rosemary extract is also an excellent way to naturally preserve pet food. One product which serves as a filler in Science Diet I/D is powdered cellulose, which is not necessary for your pet's health. You can find a list of the best and worst ingredients found in pet food on NaturalNews.com, located in the Resources section.
Member Comments