Iams-Prebiotics

ABOUT IAMS PRO ACTIVE HEALTH

P&G Pet Care (the makers of Iams ProActive Health and Eukanuba Adult Maintenance) has introduced prebiotic pet food formulas to help maintain a four-legged family member’s gastrointestinal health.
Featuring the prebiotic FOS (fructooligosaccharides), these new formulas stimulate the balance of gut microflora (species of good bacteria) which in turn promotes a stronger immune system to help fight disease.

ABOUT PREBIOTICS

PRE- vs. PROBIOTICS?

Probiotics are the live bacteria that work to promote gastrointestinal health and aid in managing digestive irritatins.
Prebiotics feed the good bacteria,, leading to a decrease in non-beneficial bacteria.
The prebiotic FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) that is found in Iams ProActive Health and Eukanuba Adult
Maintenance pet foods stimulates the balance of pet’s gut microflora (species of good bacteria) by feeding good bacteria in the digestive system.

BE PRE-ACTIVE ABOUT YOUR PET’S DIGESTION

Nearly 70 per cent of a dog’s and cat’s immune system is located in the digestive tract which means a healthy gut helps promote healthy defenses
Bacteria cells – both good and bad – account for 95 per cent of overall cell life in the intestines; if harmful bacteria start to multiply, they can attack the immune system
Intestinal bacteria can vary from one animal to the next and is influenced by a number of things, including host species, breed, age, diet, environment, geography
Other factors can work to disrupt this balance, including: disease, stress or antibiotic therapy.
Incorporating Iams ProActive Health and Eukanuba Adult Maintenance formula, with prebiotic FOS into a four-legged family member’s diet will help promote the growth of good bacteria to encourage healthy digestion, nutrient absorption and support strong defenses
Iams ProActive Health with prebiotics for cats feeds the good bacteria in the digestive system and maintains an excellent protein to balance fat and caloric distribution to help maintain weight.
For dogs with existing gastrointestinal complications, Iams’ specialized veterinary prescribed probiotic - PROSTORA Max supplement- includes a unique, canine derived bacteria, (Bifidobacterium animalis AHC7) to help maintain a dog’s intestinal health by increasing the amount of good bacteria in the intestines

NUTRITION FACTS

When looking at a pet food ingredient panel, the following guidelines and tips will help choose a high quality food for your pet:

Look at the order of ingredients. Like human food labels, pet food ingredients must be arranged in decreasing order by weight and the terms are standardized by the American Association of Feed Control (AAFCO).
Select a food that lists an animal based protein as one of the first ingredients. In general, animal proteins are more highly digestible than plant-based proteins (e.g. soy) and contain a complete balance of essential amino acids (EAA) that dogs and cats need for optimal growth and development than any single vegetable protein.
Don’t cringe at fats. Despite the negative connotation, fats are essential in all diets. Fats are the primary source of energy stored in the body – providing twice as much energy as carbohydrates or protein – and also provide important fat subunits, such as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, vitamins A, D, E and K require fat for absorption into the body. All diets will contain animal or vegetable fat sources that supply omega-6 fatty acids; however only premium diets will contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, fishmeal and flax. DHA found in an omega-3 enriched diet contributes to proper puppy brain development and can be found in Eukanuba Puppy Formula.
Look for customized carbohydrate blends to best meet the energy needs of the intended life stage and lifestyle of a pet. For example, rice rapidly releases energy into the digestive system and is best used in performance and
puppy diets. However, rice is not the optimal choice for weight loss diets which aim to slow energy release and
sustain satiety.
Choose moderately fermentable fibres such as beet or citrus pulp, apple or tomato pomace, rice bran or pea fibre. When bacteria act on moderately fermentable fibres, they release short chain fatty acids that enhance intestinal health and nutrient absorption. Low fermentable fibres like cellulose, corn bran and peanut or soybean hulls, although important are less likely to enhance intestinal health and nutrient absorption.
Pets need vitamins and minerals too! Vitamins are responsible for aiding in bone growth, blood clotting and energy and antioxidant protection while minerals provide skeletal support and aid in nerve and muscle function in animals.

Special ingredients carry out special functions. Look for the prebiotic FOS (fructooligosaccharides) – now found in Iams and Eukanuba – to promote intestinal and immune system health. Other notable ingredients are L-carnitine, a fat burner used in weight loss diets and sodium hexametaphosphate, a key ingredient in many Iams and Eukanuba dog diets that helps promote good dental health.
Don’t forget the water! All pets should be given lots of water. Without it, the body cannot transport nutrients for energy, regulate temperature or eliminate waste.

In addition to the ingredients label, pet owners should also look for the following on a pet food package:

A Guaranteed Analysis panel which provides information regarding the protein, fat, fibre and moisture contained in the product.
Nutritional adequacy statement, which confirms the complete and balanced nutrition in the product for a particular life stage.
Feeding Guidelines that express the daily quantity to feed a cat or dog and help eliminate any confusion that may cause improper feeding. For puppies and kittens, look for specific feeding rates related to age and weight to ensure the delivery of critical nutrients required for proper growth.
AFFCO Statement of Nutritional Adequacy. A "formulated" statement indicates that the product has been manufactured according to AAFCO nutritional guidelines. A "tested" statement means the product has been formulated and fed to dogs or cats prior to sale according to AAFCO protocol.

Veterinary-exclusive statements

If the product has statements such as: "This product is intended for intermittent feeding only" and "Use only as directed by your veterinarian," be sure to consultant a veterinarian before feeding your pet these foods.

Manufacturing and "Best Used By" Codes which allow a company to track product quality and efficiently handle consumer inquiries. Expiration or "Best Used By" codes are optional, but helpful in determining product freshness.
Company Information and Satisfaction Guarantees that include a name, address and phone number for consumers to obtain product information. A toll-free number should also be provided as a consumer convenience.