Minerals | PetfoodIndustry.com

Calcium in pet foods: How to manage excess in modern formulas

Calcium is a challenge to control in high-protein formulas.

September 1, 2021

The nature of higher-protein diets with a large quantity of rendered protein meals can be difficult to manage at the upper limits of calcium concentration and require several ingredient and formulation strategies to effectively control.

Phosphorus in pet diets: How do we manage it?

Controlling phosphorus in pet foods is an issue that needs a strategy.

June 11, 2021

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

Source inconsistencies, differences in bioavailability and complex physiological controls make balancing dietary phosphorus a challenging process.

Bone broth: Add flavor, water, electrolytes to pet diets

Bone broth is an ancient food with deep cultural roots that pet owners have begun to embrace as a new approach to connect with their pets.

April 2, 2020

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

Bone broth is an ancient food with deep cultural roots that pet owners have begun to embrace as a new approach to connect with their pets.

Remove the chemicals from my pet’s food

Can food 'chemicals' be removed from nutritionally complete pet foods?

March 15, 2019

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

Is it possible to remove food “chemicals” from nutritionally complete pet foods and maintain a balanced formulation?

Clean label pet food: How does mercury get into dog and cat foods?

Concern for mercury in pet food affects only a few categories of products.

February 6, 2019

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

Concern for mercury in pet food affects only certain cat and dog food products.

Clean label pet food: Are reports of heavy metals reliable?

Non-nutritional mineral levels in pet foods are not likely an issue.

November 12, 2018

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

Non-nutritional mineral levels in pet foods are not likely an issue.

Copper-associated liver disease in dogs: pet food issue?

While most evidence currently points to genetics, it’s possible that copper as a dietary ingredient plays some role.

August 7, 2016

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

While most evidence currently points to genetics, it’s possible that copper as a dietary ingredient plays some role.

Clay minerals: Do these ingredients have merit in petfood?

These ingredients already exist in small amounts in some animal feeds and petfoods, but are they truly serving a functional purpose?

June 13, 2013

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

There are several petfoods on the market that contain clay minerals such as montmorillonite and bentonite. Inclusion of these earth elements at small amounts are purported to benefit our pets.

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Betaine: natural ingredient for next generation of petfoods

In petfoods, betaine can provide a partial choline supply from beet juice

May 8, 2012

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

Betaine has become more common in pet diets in the last decade as natural and unique ingredients have become the driving force behind new petfoods. Betaine is a nearly pure chemical nutrient that hails from natural origins, and it certainly isn’t mainstream.

Sodium selenite: Does this petfood ingredient warrant concern?

After decades of safe use, critics of the petfood industry have planted seeds of doubt and confusion about this essential ingredient

January 10, 2012

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

Selenium is an essential trace mineral for dogs and cats. Due to wide variation in selenium content among ingredients used to make petfoods, most manufacturers will include a supplemental source in their trace mineral premix. The predominant form used in petfood is sodium selenite, which has been used for decades without much issue.