In the diets of dogs and cats too, there are highly important superfoods capable of determining longevity and good health. Let's explore them alongside the winning strategies to put into practice every day.
Superfoods for pets too? Certainly, because even for our four-legged friends there are categories of foods that can determine optimal physical condition and, together with precise nutritional rules, make for an excellent elixir of long life. But let's hand the floor to the expert: Dr Barbara Tonini, a veterinary surgeon with a research doctorate in Dog and Cat Nutrition.
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For dogs and cats too, good health really does begin in the bowl. "A 'life elixir' has not yet been invented, either for humans or for pets, but knowledge in the nutritional field is leading us towards this discovery: it is indeed possible to live longer and better through proper nutrition and the anti-ageing role of superfoods," explains Dr Tonini.
But what are the winning strategies for keeping our four-legged friend healthy and ensuring a happy, healthy existence? "First and foremost, it is important to identify risk factors and prevent them. This first point is certainly the most important, because biological age, exactly as with us, does not always correspond to chronological age, and older animals do not always share the same problems. Therefore, although one tries to define nutritional requirements on the basis of age, it is worth remembering that this categorisation may not reflect the real needs of your four-legged friend," continues Barbara Tonini.
Good nutritional condition limits the onset of numerous diseases, and so establishing whether a dog or cat is overweight or underweight is the first step towards a long and healthy life. "Being overweight is certainly the most common nutritional disorder, especially in senior animals, and despite the now well-known and dramatic medical consequences (such as diabetes, for example, hepatopathies, arthrosis and tumours), it is on a constant rise," adds Tonini. Choosing a diet of fresh foods is enormously helpful in maintaining good nutritional status. And not only that: diets of this kind promote a greater sense of satiety, while at the same time providing valuable minerals and vitamins without burdening the body.
When talking about superfoods, it is necessary to dispel the myth that elderly dogs and cats require a low-protein or protein-restricted diet in order to reduce the "workload" on the kidneys and liver. "Amino acids, the 'building blocks' that make up proteins, are fundamental not only for muscle mass, but also for the immune system and metabolic profile," clarifies Dr Tonini. "It is therefore logical to expect that a deficiency could have more serious consequences in an animal that is no longer young and is potentially predisposed both to muscle hypotrophy and to a reduced capacity to fight disease." Green light, then, for "noble" proteins such as meat and fish, important and fundamental foods for the health of dogs and cats.
"While it is true that protein intake should not be restricted, it is also very important to preserve renal and hepatic function by providing proteins with a high biological value, rich in essential amino acids (those that the body cannot produce itself), which we find in products of animal origin such as meat, fish and eggs," continues Tonini. "Fish, especially those with a high content of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 (such as anchovies, sardines and cod), should be consumed at least two or three times a week to counter chronic inflammation."
It is worth knowing that the gastrointestinal tract undergoes changes with advancing age, and these affect not only the ability to absorb various nutrients, but also the intestinal microbial population, known as the microbiota. Indeed, as the years pass, the ability to maintain "good" bacteria diminishes, and inflammation and bacterial imbalances can appear, which may be the precursor to numerous conditions.
"Very useful is the supplementation of soluble fibre (inulin, pectins, psyllium) and prebiotics (FOS, MOS) which, in addition to regulating intestinal motility, promote the maintenance of an efficient microbiota, control the digestion and metabolism of nutrients and, in particular, glycaemic fluctuations," concludes the expert. That oxidative stress plays a leading role in the ageing process is no longer news, and the mechanisms that lead to the development of this condition are secondary to the increased rate at which free radicals are produced, combined with the decline of antioxidant defence systems and a diminished efficiency in repairing damaged molecules. Preventing the wear of this mechanism therefore becomes essential.
To help our four-legged friend, it is very important both to avoid the substances and conditions that most readily induce the formation of free radicals (such as deteriorated foods, diets high in fat and low in antioxidants, excessive physical stress, and toxic pollutant substances) and to supplement the diet with molecules that have an antioxidant effect. But what are these foods? "Among the main antioxidants we find plant pigments, and therefore polyphenols or bioflavonoids (found in green leafy vegetables, beetroot and berries, for example)," replies Tonini. "Then vitamins, such as E, A and C (sunflower seeds, almonds, apricots, oranges, kiwi, cabbages). And finally, minerals and enzymes: selenium, zinc, glutathione and coenzyme Q10 (found in broccoli, wholegrains, eggs, sardines, turmeric, apples and pumpkin)." These molecules, in addition to acting individually, can have an excellent synergistic effect, so combining them may enhance that effect. The use of specific supplements, with the help of the treating vet, can resolve the problem for many fussy eaters. However, the secret to providing superfoods lies in a diet based on fresh foods, varied according to the climate and to warm and cold days, following seasonality wherever possible. This is admittedly difficult in an era of climate change, but not impossible. Even when it comes to feeding dogs and cats, the owner's goodwill and knowledge of the basic rules of nutrition can work wonders.