Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
Found throughout the body, especially the brain and eyes. As you might expect, these nutrients are crucial for supporting healthy brain function, growth, and development (particularly for puppies and kittens). But they also play an important role in helping your pet’s blood vessels, heart, immune system, and lungs work properly.
They’re also great for supporting healthy skin and coat. Poultry is an important source of Omega-6 fatty acids, while New Zealand green mussels and other seafoods are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Glucosamine is a combination of ‘glucose’, a sugar, and ‘glutamine’, an amino acid. It helps form and repair cartilage. Together, they’re ideal for building healthy joints and resisting joint tissue breakdown - particularly crucial for our senior pets and puppies. Beef, lamb, poultry, and bones are a good source of these nutrients.
Taurine
An amino acid and one of the building blocks of all proteins. Necessary to maintain normal vision, digestion, heart muscle function, and to maintain a healthy immune system. Dogs can make taurine, but cats rely on taurine exclusively from their diets. All animal proteins are an excellent source.
Calcium
Calcium builds and maintains strong bones. But it’s also needed for the heart, muscles, and nerves to function properly. In the wild, cats and dogs would eat bones along with meat to get the calcium they need. We think they have the right idea, so ZIWI Peak recipes include ground bone to reflect what your pet would eat in the wild.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for a healthy immune system, to make proteins and DNA, for healing, to maintain a strong sense of taste and smell, and for puppy and kitten growth. So, rather important then! The good news is that red meat and poultry are good sources of zinc, which you’ll find plenty of in ZIWI’s PeakPrey® recipes.
Thiamine (B1)
Regulates energy and carbohydrate metabolism, and activates ion channels in neural tissue. Found in liver and kidney throughout ZIWI Peak recipes.
Niacin (B3)
Facilitates enzyme function. Sourced from dark, oily fish, organs, and meat.
Pantothenic acid (B5)
Helps energy metabolism and is sourced from organs and eggs.
Biotin
Involved in certain steps of fatty acid, nonessential amino acid, and purine synthesis. Found in many different foods, particularly liver and eggs.
