Our clients (especially dog and cat owners) are no stranger to discussing nutrition and diet – but did you know why it’s so important? It all boils down (pun intended!) to glycotoxins, also known as Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs). These compounds are the opposite of anti-oxidants (which are good for the body); AGEs are pro-oxidant, and responsible for many chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.
Manufacturing of dry and wet/canned pet foods includes thermal processes (extrusion and retorting) to kill pathogens in the food. Extrusion is a high-heat cooking process used in over 95% of dry food (kibble) manufacturing. Canned or wet pet food is not usually extruded, but rather undergoes a process called retorting. During retorting, food is cooked after being hermetically sealed in its can or pouch. The retorting process also uses high temperatures and high pressure to kill bacteria, which makes the food shelf-stable. Check out this blog for more information on extrusion and the history of pet foods
While extrusion and retorting can improve digestibility, safety, and shelf life, it can also form glycotoxins via Maillard reactions. Maillard reactions are not always bad – they can help improve the taste and appearance of food (think about the browning of freshly baked bread crust, or searing of grilled meats). But in excess, they form AGEs that reduce the bio-availability of important amino acids, so they are less available for the body to use. They also act as oxidants on body tissues, promoting inflammation and cellular damage. Check out this blog for an in-depth explanation of Maillard reactions and AGEs in pet foods
Glycotoxins/AGEs are associated with increased inflammation and health issues in both humans and animals. When these compounds accumulate in the body tissue, they cause chronic, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, cellular damage, and accelerate age-related diseases like cancers, chronic kidney disease (CKD), arthritis, and cognitive decline. Excessive AGEs will also compromise the immune system, and lead to organ and blood vessel damage.
COMBATING AGEs WITH WHOLE FOODS
In human medicine, there have been numerous studies demonstrating significant benefits of whole food diets in patients with diabetes, CKD, and cardiovascular disease. These same principles apply to veterinary medicine, and whole food diets can be very helpful for pets with CKD, IBD/IBS, chronic dermatitis, diabetes, and osteoarthritis.
Whole food diets (whether homemade or commercially prepared) are cooked at significantly lower temperatures than kibbles or canned/wet foods. This dramatically reduces AGE levels in the food, which supports lower inflammation levels. It also supports the immune system, and improves microbiome function, as there are no AGEs disrupting GI flora. Whether we are working together to fight cancer, address chronic disease, or promote health and wellness, whole food diets are the cornerstone of the approach!
For owners with small pets – or those who love to cook – home cooking can be an amazing option to support health and wellness at home! Our favorite resource is Dr. Judy Morgan’s cookbook, Yin and Yang Nutrition for Dogs (either the original version HERE or the more recent 2.0 version HERE!) These are both awesome resources to get started on the whole-food journey, and have everything you need to start cooking healthy, whole-food meals for your pets.
For those with less time in the kitchen and/or larger pets, there are several commercially available, whole-food options that can fit every palate and budget. All of these are available online, and are available to ship directly to your door! Here are some of our favorite options (all tested by our in-house Chief Food Officer, Enzo):
- CHI DOG / CHI CAT – Chi Dog and Chi Cat offer gently cooked, whole food diets for both dogs and cats. We recommend:
- For Dogs: the Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water recipes
- For Cats: the Water and Fire recipes
- ALL PROVIDE – All Provide offers gently cooked, whole food diets for both dogs and cats. They are also available at select local retailers. We recommend:
- For Dogs: Dr. Judy Morgan’s Puploaf, the Elemental Diets (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water recipes), and the Gently Cooked Diets (Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Turkey recipes)
- For Cats: Dr. Judy Morgan’s Catloaf, and the Gently Cooked Diets (Beef, Chicken, and Turkey recipes)
- GOODNESS GRACIOUS – Goodness Gracious offers gently cooked, whole food diets for both dogs and cats. They are also available at select local retailers. We recommend:
- For Dogs: the Gently Cooked Diets (Beef, Chicken, Pork/Salmon, Rabbit, and Turkey recipes), and the Restoratives Functional Whole Food Diets (Rejoov, Jing, Jive, and Reveal recipes)
- For Cats: the Gently Cooked Diet (Pollack and Rabbit recipes)
- RAISED RIGHT – Raised Right offers gently cooked, whole food diets for both dogs and cats. We recommend:
- For Dogs: the Puppy Growth Recipes (Beef, Chicken, and Turkey recipes), the Original Adult Dog Recipe (Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Turkey recipes), the Pumpkin Pate for Adult Dogs (Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Turkey recipes), the Kidney Support Adult Dog Recipe (Beef, Pork, and Turkey recipes), and the Pancreatic Support Adult Dog Recipes (Beef, Pork, and Turkey recipes)
- For Cats: the Original Adult Cat Recipes (Chicken and Turkey recipes), and Pumpkin Pate for Adult Cats (Chicken and Turkey recipes)
WHAT ABOUT RAW DIETS?
Raw diets can also be a great, whole food option and AGE-free alternative to kibble and canned diets. Not every pet will be a good fit for raw diets, so it is imperative to discuss raw feeding with a veterinarian BEFORE embarking on a raw food journey.