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Q: Will my dog benefit from a nutritional supplement? He is already
on a good diet.
A: An optimal diet is one that delivers the proper amount of each
nutrient with respect to the caloric density of the diet for a specified
purpose or condition. In the United States, minimum requirements for nutrient
content with respect to caloric density are given by the Association of
American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Pet Food Nutrient profiles. Once
established, these AAFCO requirements must be translated into a practical
diet and diet feed management system. These minimum requirements serve
as a guide to pet food manufacturers to the formulation of foods to meet
the requirements of dogs of average circumstances of age, function, physiologic
state and environmental condition. Special circumstances and experience
may warrant modification of these requirements to provide higher or lower
concentrations of individual nutrients or groups of nutrients.
All nutrients, whether essential or non-essential, can adversely affect
an animal if included in the diet at excessively high or low levels. Undoubtedly,
OPTIMAL nutrient intake ranges vary from animal to animal and even from
day to day in a single animal! Many factors such as age, physiological,
reproductive and health status, level of various dietary components, diet
delivery system and biological availability of ingredients affect the
optimal range.
Pet food companies today have the mission to provide you, the owner, with
a starting point to achieve this goal. It is up to you to build on your
commercial diet of choice with supplements and effective feed management
systems.
Kauffman's Canine dietary supplements are essential tools to be used with
a high quality base diet (commercial or home prepared) to improve the
nutrient balance (not unbalance it), utilization and overall performance
of the total intake. By providing high quality bio-available protein,
amino acids, vitamins, chelated trace minerals, Enzymes and Gastrointestinal
Bacteria, they give you the chance to customize your dog's diet based
on your observations to achieve buoyant health.
Home prepared diet enthusiasts, read on! For tips on home prepared diets,
see "Chef Ned's Corner".
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Q: I feed a home prepared diet, how do these supplements fit in to
my feeding program? Click here for an example diet
A: As with commercial diets, an optimal diet is one that delivers
the proper amount of each nutrient with respect to the caloric density
of the diet for a specified purpose or condition. AAFCO minimums should
be the starting point for your home prepared diet. You will then need
to balance your dog's diet to meet his requirements with respect to age,
function, physiologic state and environmental condition. Special circumstances
and experience may warrant further modifications to provide higher or
lower concentrations of individual nutrients or groups of nutrients.
All nutrients, whether essential or non-essential, can adversely affect
an animal if included in the diet at excessively high or low levels. Undoubtedly,
OPTIMAL nutrient intake ranges vary from animal to animal and even from
day to day in a single animal! Many factors such as age, physiological,
reproductive and health status, level of various dietary components, diet
delivery system and biological availability of ingredients affect the
optimal range.
Kauffman's Canine dietary supplements can be essential tools to balance
a high quality home prepared diet. They can increase utilization and overall
performance of the total intake by providing highly bio-available protein,
amino acids, vitamins, chelated trace minerals, Enzymes and Gastrointestinal
Bacteria. They give you the opportunity to customize your dog's diet based
on your observations to achieve bouyant health.
NOTE: When fed at the recommended level, neither, of these supplements
will provide a significant portion of your dog's daily calcium and phosphorus
requirements. Always remember to include Bone Meal or another bio-available
source of Calcium and Phosphorus in your dog's diet to meet their Calcium
and Phosphorus requirements. See "Chef Ned's Corner" for additional tips
and recipes for providing quality home prepared diets.
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Q: Why should I feed Kauffman's Stress Formula during Lactation and
Gestation?
A: Kauffman's Stress Formula has been designed to optimize pre-breeding
health, allow optimal fetal development, maximize milk production, and
minimize loss of weight and body condition in the bitch during gestation
and lactation. It contains highly bio-available protein, amino acids,
vitamins, chelated trace minerals, Enzymes and Gastrointestinal Bacteria.
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Q: Can I feed Kauffman's Stress Formula at other times too?
A: Yes. Stress formula is safe to feed anytime. Dogs will benefit
from the additional nutrients at any life stage. The balance of nutrients
will compliment high quality diets or home prepared diets during any life
stage.
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Q: Is Stress Formula just for bitches in gestation and lactation?
A: While Stress Formula was originally developed for bitches in gestation
and lactation, any dog, male or female, can benefit from it's balanced
nutrition. Stress Formula can provide critical nutrients for any dog under
stress. Depending on the level of work or stress, some dogs may benefit
more from our Coat & Skin Formula.
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Q: Why should I feed Kauffman's Coat & Skin Formula?
A: Coat and skin condition are the mirror of nutritional health. The
balance of nutrients in Coat & Skin Formula can improve the nutritional
health of any and all breeds of dogs. It will compliment NOT compromise
high quality diets. Most, if not all dogs can benefit from the highly
bio-available protein, amino acids, vitamins, chelated trace minerals,
Enzymes and Gastrointestinal Bacteria.
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Q: What is the difference between the Stress Formula and the Coat
& Skin Formula?
A: Both formulations are similar, however, there are some different
nutrient levels in each formulation critical to the product purpose. Stress
Formula was the first supplement that we brought to the market. Originally
developed for bitches in gestation and lactation, it has higher levels
of Protein and Fat to provide additional energy for bitches under the
stress of gestation and lactation. It is safe for use with any dog in
stress - male or female.
Virtually all of the first users of Stress Formula reported the improvement
of their dog's coat and skin condition as well as general body condition
and health. This lead our development team to the idea of producing a
separate supplement targeted at dogs with high-energy requirements and
show dogs needing that competitive edge. The Coat & Skin Formula has increased
levels of Copper, Zinc and Biotin, as well as increased levels of the
antioxidants Beta Carotene, and Vitamins E & C. Additionally we have included
the amino acid Taurine. These subtle differences make Coat & Skin Formula
the premium choice for dogs with high-energy requirements or compromised
coat, skin and body condition.
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Q: Are these supplements safe for all breeds of dogs?
A: Yes. These supplements have been developed for all breeds by a
top canine nutritionist, Edward Moser, MS, VMD, DACVN. Feeding directions
are given based on the dog's body weight, therefore, each breed gets size
appropriate dosing.
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Q: Can I feed either of these supplements to a puppy?
A: Yes, Either supplement is safe for puppies. They too, can benefit
from the nutritional value of either supplement. We would suggest feeding
Coat & Skin Formula to puppies during the first year based on body weight
and continuing into adult life whenever necessary to achieve optimum body,
coat and skin condition. Pups that have been weaned, but are still with
their mother can be fed Stress Formula based on body weight. This would
eliminate the need for a second supplement, since you, as the breeder,
would already have the Stress Formula at your kennel.
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Q: What makes the protein bio-available and what effect does the amino
acid profile have on protein quality?
A: In general, two components make up the "quality" of a protein 1)
digestibility, and 2) amino acid profile. The protein sources in both
of these supplements are highly digestible by the canine digestive tract,
which make them highly bio-available. If an animal cannot digest a protein
source, it will simply pass the protein through the digestive tract. Protein
quality is also related to amino acid profile. Different animals need
different quantities of essential amino acids - a protein source that
is excellent for one species may have an inappropriate digestibility or
amino acid profile for another. The protein sources (casein, dried whole
egg and liver) have been balanced with the free form amino acids dl-Methionine,
l-Lysine, and Taurine (Coat & Skin Formula) to provide superior digestibility
and amino acid profiles for the canine species.
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Q: I know vitamins are important to my dog, but how do I know what
vitamins he needs?
A: We have taken the guess-work out of vitamin supplementation. Both
of these supplements have a balanced vitamin content much the same as
your own daily vitamin. Key vitamins and antioxidant levels have been
adjusted to specific requirements of dogs under stress and dogs needing
improved coat and skin condition.
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Q: What is a chelated trace mineral?
A: Without getting too technical, chelated trace minerals are trace
minerals or elements (Iron, Copper, Zinc and Manganese) that have been
chelated or chemically bound to a protein. Studies have shown chelates
or proteinates as they are sometimes referred to, are more easily absorbed
by the digestive tract. Additionally, studies have shown chelated trace
minerals to be less likely to cause vitamin degradation through oxidation
than traditional sulfate or oxide forms of the same minerals. The net
result is highly bio-available minerals in a more stable supplement.
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Q: What are Enzymes and why should I use them to supplement my dog's
diet?
A: Enzymes are the catalysts that help the digestive tract breakdown
food into smaller molecules. Enzymes can enhance a premium diet by providing
more effective digestion of the ingredients. In a nutshell, enzymes can
increase the efficiency or utilization of the food you are already feeding.
For example: the enzyme protease breaks down proteins into their individual
amino acid components. These individual amino acids are what the dog will
utilize to build overall body condition including coat and skin. In addition
to Protease, we have included Lipase for the breakdown of fat into individual
fatty acids, Amylase for the conversion of carbohydrates to energy and
Cellulase to break down cellulose for the breakdown of plant based proteins
and carbohydrates.
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Q: What are Gastrointestinal Bacteria and does my dog need to have
a supplemental source?
A: Gastroinstestinal Bacteria are referenced by many names - probiotics,
prebiotics, direct fed microbials (DFM's), lactic acid bacteria - just
to name a few. All of these reference the microflora or bacteria that
occur naturally in the digestive tract of all animals. Digestive health
of the animal hinges on these "good" bacterium, as they are necessary
for digestive balance. During times of stress, the bacterial populations
in the digestive tract are depleted leaving the door wide open for the
growth of pathogenic (bad) bacteria. Stress Formula and Coat & Skin Formula
contain four strains of "good" bacteria that have been dried in a manner
that will preserve their viability. Supplementing these bacteria during
times of stress can enhance the population of "good" bacteria and help
keep the digestive tract of your dog in top condition.
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Q: Should I feed other supplements with either of the Kauffman's
Canine supplements?
A: In general, the answer to this question is no. Both supplements
are nutritionally balanced to be fed with a quality diet or home prepared
diet. Additional supplementation from other sources (other than Calcium
Phosphorus supplements) may cause serious nutritional imbalances. The
exception to this is of course a veterinarian prescribed medication or
supplement. If your dog is under the care of a licensed veterinarian for
a pre-existing condition, you should consult her prior to beginning this
or any other nutritional supplement.
Note: if you do home prepare your dog's diet, don't forget to include
bone meal or another bio-available source of Calcium and Phophorus in
the diet. When fed at the recommended levels neither of these supplements
will provide a significant portion of your dog's daily calcium and phosphorus
requirements.
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Q: Will my dog eat either of these supplements?
A: Even though it may not be palatable to the human senses (smell
and taste) your dog thinks it smells and tastes great - give him a try!
Both supplements have been used as a method to encourage food intake in
sick, anorexic dogs. With over 10 years of field use, and many repeat
customers, the answer is a confident yes.
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Q: How should I feed these supplements?
A: Both of our canine supplements are easy to administer. They are
both palatable to dogs and dogs will readily eat their daily dosage when
sprinkled over their daily food. No pills to trick your dog into swallowing!
- Simply divide the daily dosage amount (based on body weight) equally
among the daily feedings.
Many dog owners are including these supplements in their home baked biscuits
to enhance the nutritional value of the treat. Why not give your dog a
treat with a purpose? Try some of the recipes available at "Chef Ned's
Kitchen".
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