What is it about?
We report, for the first time in the UK, a comprehensive analysis of the mineral composition of a range of complete, wet and dry, dog and cat foods sold in the UK. We reference our data against nutritional and legal recommendations applicable across all EU states and reveal a broad lack of compliance
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Why is it important?
This first study to examine mineral composition and balance of a range of popular pet foods sold in the UK will be of interest to the scientific and veterinary community, and indeed for any pet-owning member of the public.
Perspectives
In the UK, there are approximately 8.5 million dogs, 7.4 million cats with 1 in 2 households owning a companion animal. These pets are largely dependent on their owners feeding them on a daily basis. Most pet owners feed a ‘complete’ diet, whether of wet (e.g. tins, pouches) or dry (e.g. kibbled pellets) food. Such diets are rarely altered for long periods of time. Therefore, it is important that manufacturers of complete diets formulate a ration that meets all nutritional requirements for the cat or dog, when given each day. If the diet has deficient, excessive or unbalanced mineral composition then the diet will have an adverse health impact
Professor David S Gardner
University of Nottingham
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Mineral analysis of complete dog and cat foods in the UK and compliance with European guidelines, Scientific Reports, December 2017, Nature,
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17159-7.
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