Royal Canin makes major step forward in pet food nutrition
GUELPH, ON, March 11, 2015 /CNW/ - Most people recognize that their lifestyle greatly impacts their health. What they don't realize is that their lifestyle also greatly impacts the health and the nutritional needs of their own dogs.
Royal Canin Canada, a leading research-based pet food manufacturer and supplier, has launched a new Lifestyle Health Nutrition line of pet food, which includes formulations for URBAN LIFE and INDOOR LIFE. It's the first line of dog food researched and formulated to match the nutritional needs of a dog — based on where and how that dog lives.
"This is a major step forward in nutrition for dogs," says Steve Dale, certified animal behaviourist and author and TV host. "Urban dogs and indoor dogs live very different lives, with very different nutritional requirements. Whether you live an 'on the go' life in a high stress environment or live a quiet life at home with little exercise, you'd adjust your diet accordingly. The same should be done for the life your dog leads."
Urban dogs are those who frequently visit parks or public spaces, are exposed to crowds, walk near car and foot traffic and go to the bathroom on busy sidewalks or in parks. Indoor dogs are those who spend less than an hour a day being active outside, rarely visit parks or public places and may even use a pee-pad in the house or on the balcony.
"For urban dogs, the hustle and bustle of urban life — combined with constant visual, smell and sound stimulants — can be overwhelming and it can affect their health," says Dr. Sara Ritzie, a veterinarian at Royal Canin Canada.
Ritzie says that many urban dogs show subtle signs of stress that dog owners don't pick up on. This includes licking lips when no food is nearby, panting when not hot or thirsty, pacing, yawning when they shouldn't be tired, putting their ears to the side, moving in slow motion and being hyper-vigilant.
URBAN LIFE is high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory OMEGA-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), which will help support health against pollution. It also contains an Advanced Adaptogen, which naturally helps dogs adapt to highly stimulating environments and can ease a dog's anxiety. In fact, a research study of urban dogs, conducted in 2014 by Royal Canin, validated noticeable improvements in the participating dogs' behaviour within one month when fed URBAN LIFE.
"It's important to ensure that we are addressing our best friends' mental health which may include surprisingly common anxiety issues that can come when dogs are exposed to traffic, city noise and crowds — as well as meeting new dogs and people daily," says Dale. "Often the signs of anxiety can be subtle and surprisingly difficult to detect. No one wants their dog to be anxious."
Many indoor dogs will have a lifestyle that is the polar opposite of an outdoor dog. The dry indoor climate and low activity level can lead to dry skin and a sensitive coat as well as soft and smelly stools. It can also make them much more prone to gain weight.
"INDOOR LIFE supports digestive health and promotes a healthy body condition as well as healthy skin and coat," says Ritzie. "It's specifically developed for dogs living indoors most of the time."
INDOOR LIFE has L.I.P.s (low indigestible proteins), optimal fibre content and prebiotics that help with the digestive health. Its moderate fat and energy content as well as L-carnitine assist in promoting a healthy body weight. Anti-inflammatory OMEGA-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA), Vitamin A, biotin and a high quality protein help achieve and maintain a healthy skin and coat.
It's a nutritional approach that has become particularly important today, considering it's estimated more than half of all dogs are considered overweight or obese.
"By precisely adapting nutritional solutions to their lifestyle, we can allow our dogs to live a better life," says Ritzie.
Both URBAN LIFE and INDOOR LIFE are available in specialty pet stores across Canada. For more information, visit www.royalcanin.ca.
About Royal Canin
Royal Canin is a worldwide manufacturer and supplier of high quality, specialized dog and cat foods in the veterinary, pet specialty and breeder channels. Its headquarters are in France and production operations exist in 12 countries around the world, including the Canadian plant based in Guelph, Ontario. Royal Canin offers a comprehensive veterinary exclusive line of therapeutic and life stage formulas.
SOURCE Royal Canin
Media Contact: Jo Ann Robinson, ON Communication, 519.963.1946, [email protected]
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