Building a protein rotation adds variety to your dog or cat’s diet through periodical changes of the protein source offered. Offering a rotation allows all essential amino acid profiles to be met, which ensures dietary balance and vitality. Whilst different meats have similar nutritional repertoires, the amount of vitamins in each protein source differs, therefore a rotation aims to cover nutritional gaps.
Cats are obligate carnivores and dogs are facultative carnivores, therefore animal-based protein sources are species-appropriate and optimal as they are highly digestible, palatable, and abundant in essential amino acids. Sole use of plant-based protein sources may prevent the correct nutritional profiles being met and are often limited in taurine, lysine, and methionine.
If introducing a new protein into your pet’s diet, this should be done gradually over at least a week to account for sensitivities. Below we discuss some of the benefits of providing a food rotation.
Reduction in food allergies and intolerances
Constant exposure to one protein type cay causes an adverse immune reaction, and providing a rotation of multiple proteins reduces sensitivity and subsequently reduces food allergies and intolerances.
In sensitive pets, proteins should be eliminated and reintroduced independently. After feeding a protein for a month with no adverse effects another protein may be added. This may be continued in order to build a solid rotation and allows identification of protein sensitivity. Wild based proteins such as venison or pheasant are also a suitable option for pets with intolerances to farmed proteins.
Improved gastrointestinal health
Rotating proteins encourages a healthy microbiome, making the digestive tract more suited to novel proteins when introduced, this helps to reduce stomach upsets.
Continuously feeding one protein type can reduce bacterial diversity in the microflora, which may result in an inflammatory response when consumed. Therefore, incorporation of multiple proteins enhances gut bacteria and helps provide protection against endoparasites and boosts immunity.
Nutritional balance
All meats provide a range of vitamins and minerals, although white and red meats have slightly alternative nutritional profiles. Red meat is a more abundant in B12, iron and zinc.
Providing a range of proteins also helps balance fat content. Fat is the most digestible and energy dense food source, it is also required for absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K. Red meats are higher in saturated fatty acids and usually have a lower polyunsaturated fatty acid profile, whereas white meat is leaner and are higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Types of meat should also vary, with both muscle meat and organ meat being provided. Organ meat generally contains more taurine than muscle meats and are densely packed with vitamins and minerals. A combination of muscle and organ meat ensures the correct level of fat in the diet.
Enrichment
We humans would get bored if we continued to eat the same meal day in day out, so it is not unreasonable to think the same of our pets. A protein rotation helps prevent boredom through adding variety to the diet which can help prevent picky eating behaviours. This also helps prevent flavour fatigue and encourages a healthy appetite.
Due to their addictive personality, cats especially are more likely to become picky. Therefore, an enriching diet can prevent this and make mealtimes easier as cats will modify their eating behaviours and preferences based on previous feeding experiences. The ‘monotony effect’ reduces the palatability of a food which forms a large proportion of their diet, which usually occurs when one protein is fed exclusively. This results in them seeking alternative flavours to compensate for any nutritional deficiencies developed, therefore we recommend switching proteins to make mealtimes more interesting.
Lucy James | BSc Bioveterinary Science student at Hartpury University
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