Functions Of Protein In Pet Nutrition

There are a great many different important components to pet food. Each of these is necessary and performs its own functions and must therefore be catered to by an expert. Achieving a balance is what ultimately makes the food healthy and one of the most important of these compounds is protein which is necessary for the proper development of cartilage, ligaments and tendons. Insufficient amounts of this substance can lead a pet to more easily sustain injury when playing or exercising. However, protein does much more than this in pet nutrition, also playing an integral role in creating the actin and myosin that helps muscles to contract properly. It also helps the growth of hair, nails and skin, making it one of the most important building blocks of our bodies.

Still, protein has more to offer a pet, since it is used in the creation of vital blood proteins such as haemoglobin, albumin, globulin and transferrin. A lack of protein can therefore have a systemic effect on a pet, far greater than simply causing damage to ligaments. It is also used in the production of hormones, keeping the body in regulation when producing insulin and oestrogen, for instance. It also helps in creating antibodies which are produced in the lymphocytes for the immune system. Considering all of this, protein shines as a versatile substance that really keeps a pet’s body functioning normally from the blood to musculature, then on to hormones and the immune system itself.