HYDRATION IN PETS: Strategies To Manage Water Balance In Cats And Dogs
Water is an essential nutrient and is considered the nutrient most critical for survival. Losses in body water of just 10-15% can cause death, with animals able to tolerate much higher fat or protein losses.
Ash (also referred to as "crude ash," "inorganic matter" or "incinerated residue") is a regulatory or technical term that represents the mineral content of a food. Ash is what remains of a pet food after a sample is incinerated as part of a laboratory analysis.
The organic content (i.e., carbohydrate, fiber, fat and protein) will be totally combusted and only the minerals will remain (e.g., calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, etc.). The mineral content in pet food comes from ingredients and supplements added to the formula. Some regulatory agencies require pet food companies to declare ash content on the pet food label.
Practice Scenario
SPARKS, a Cat With Suspected Adverse Food Reaction
Get to know Sparks, a young, adult cat with pruritus.