Hill's Pet Nutrition Science Plan™ Nutrition Basics Course

The pet Nutrition Basics Course will help educate you and convey what your pet needs to stay healthy and fit and to help him or her with special needs. It's part of our mission — to enrich and lengthen the special relationship between people and their pets.

Science Plan™ Nutrition Basics Course

Proper and balanced nutrition helps prevent disease and promote optimal health. A pet needs to acquire six key nutrients: water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Like humans, dogs and cats need the right nutrients in the right quantities and their needs change depending on age, lifestyle and activity.


Basics Course

The Right Nutrients

Some nutrients are known as essential. This means the body cannot make them so they need to be provided in the food. Amino acids are one example. Dogs have a list of 11 essential amino acids and cats have 10. Taurine is an amino acid vital for cats to keep their hearts and eyes healthy and is only found in meat ingredients.


The Right Nutrients

Water — the most essential nutrient. A 15 percent loss in body water can make a pet seriously ill. All foods contain water, and pet food is no exception, but the food needs to be supplemented with fresh, clean water at all times. This especially pertains to cats in spite of their low thirst drive.


Key Facts:

1)Other nutrients are considered conditionally essential. These can be made from other nutrients in the body and are not needed in the food except during special situations such as during the growth phase or when encountering a disease. L-Carnitine, a vitamin-like substance, is an example.

2)A pet should consume approximately the equivalent amount of water per day to his or her daily energy intake in kilocalories. This means that a healthy dog or cat would normally need about 50 millilitres per kilogram body weight per day.


The Right Nutrients

Energy Providers

Protein, carbohydrates and fats are energy-boosting nutrients and help the body perform day-to-day functions.

Proteins — compose the main element of body tissues like muscles, blood, skin, organs, hair and nails. Proteins are:

• Described as the backbone of cells becauseproteins have a structural role in all cell walls• Required for all tissue growth, replenishment and repair (for example, maintaining ahealthy skin)


Energy Providers

Key Fact: If a pet eats too much protein, the excess is burnt as energy. If he does not need the energy immediately, it is made into fat and stored for future use.


Energy Providers

Carbohydrates — simple carbohydrates and starches in foods are used by the body as a source of glucose. As a result, the carbohydrates, besides providing energy, also:

• Produce heat when metabolized for energy• Can be used as building blocks for nutrients (for example, specific amino acids, lactose — the sugar in milk)• Provide storage of energy in the form of glycogen or fat


Energy Providers

Key Fact: Carbohydrates are not considered essential for dogs or cats. However, at times carbohydrates are considered conditionally essential and helpful. An example is growing kittens and puppies.


Essential fatty acids

Fats — provide numerous benefits. They absorb, store and transport vitamins; moisturise the skin and coat; and provide great taste to healthy pet food. Some fats, which are required for physiological function, such as certain long-chain fatty acids, cannot be made by your pet’s body. Therefore, pets need to obtain fats from the ingredients in their food.



Fats —• Dietary fats are required to aid absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K

• Essential fatty acids are split into different groups: omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (the two groups best known)-- Fish oil and flaxseed are rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids, which help keep joints supple and help brain and eye development for puppies and kittens-- Vegetable oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which maintain healthy skin and a glossy coat



Key Fact: DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is useful for growth and development of healthy organs. Once a puppy or kitten is weaned, it’s important to ensure that there is a DHA supply for further development. Food supplemented with extra DHA helps improve puppies’ ability to learn, interact and socialise.


Vitamins and minerals

Vitamins — don't supply energy, but trigger many chemical reactions in the body needed to release energy.

• Vitamins provide benefits for skin, eyesight and the immune system

• Unlike dogs, cats need additional B vitamins — thiamine and niacin

Vitamins and minerals are vital for your pet's health. They act as components of messengers in the metabolism and in building strong bones and teeth.



Key Fact: Some vitamins (B and C) are water-soluble, and others are fat-soluble (A, D, E and K). Some fats are vital in the diet because it helps absorb, store and transport fat-soluble vitamins.



Minerals — are found in multiple ingredients and are necessary to develop healthy skin and hair and proper skeletal support. But you must be cautious and avoid any imbalances.

• Meat contains the mineral phosphorous; too much phosphorous can upset the delicate mineral balance in the body, leading to

bone and kidney problems in older pets• Salt helps maintain body fluids and muscle movement; it is a necessary mineral for pets, but again, excessive salt can alter blood pressure, especially if the pet already possesses a heart and kidney condition



Key Fact: Hill's™ Science Plan™ carefully controls and perfectly balances mineral content within pet food products.



Thank you for attending Science Plan™ Nutrition Basics Course.

Thank you

Hill's Pet Nutrition Science Plan™ Nutrition Basics Course

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