The Pet Food Institute (PFI), whose members make 98 percent of all U.S. pet food and treat products, recently launched a new series of interactive infographics showing the ways the key nutrients found in a complete and balanced dog food recipe help our pets. The new web resource, “Nutrition from Nose to Tail,” provides fast facts about the essential nutrition that fuels our dogs’ growth and supports their body systems, as well as non-essential nutrients that can also serve important functions.
 
“Sound nutrition is a critical component of pet wellbeing. One step we can all take to continue to help healthy dogs remain healthy is to provide complete and balanced nutrition for the appropriate life stage of the animal,” said Cathleen Enright, PhD, president and CEO of PFI. “PFI’s new ‘Nutrition from Nose to Tail’ resource was designed to assist pet lovers in understanding how a carefully formulated recipe will help their dog.”
 
A “complete and balanced” pet food recipe contains more than 40 nutrients that are identified by veterinary researchers and nutritionists as essential to supporting a healthy pet, specifically: vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and protein and amino acids. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets nutritional standards for the definition of “complete and balanced” based on these nutrients. “Nutrition from Nose to Tail” shows the ways that the essential nutrients support pet health, for example by providing energy or promoting vision or healthy joints, and also reviews other important non-essential but functional nutrients such as carbohydrates. PFI will add additional information about cat nutrition in 2018.
 
“As often the sole source of nutrition for America’s pets, PFI members recognize the importance of developing nutritional complete recipes,” Enright continued. “When paired with responsible feeding, regularly veterinary care and exercise, pet lovers can feel good about helping their pets enjoy a long and healthy life.”
 
To learn more about the essential nutrients included in a complete and balanced dog food recipe and how they help your pet, visit www.petfoodinstitute.org/pet-food-matters/nutrition-2/nutrition-nose-tail.