As our pets age, it\u2019s important to keep them\nactive. Activity stimulates blood flow and metabolism, which helps them manage\ntheir weight and cognitive (mental) health \u2014 just as it does in humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the worst things we can do as we age is\nto abandon exercise or to stop communicating and learning. When we do, we\naccelerate the decline of our overall health and well-being. The same is true\nfor our pets. If we keep them active, like continually teaching them new\ntricks, they\u2019ll stay much more mentally alert as they age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But nutrition also plays a key role in an\nanimal\u2019s cognitive health. A large portion of our pets\u2019 brain is fat \u2014 not fat\nlike adipose tissue we\u2019re all familiar with that stores energy and insulates\nour bodies, but a soft fatty tissue that\u2019s cholesterol dependent. Cholesterol\nis an essential component of cell membranes used to help cells send communication\nsignals. While high levels of cholesterol have been shown to increase the risks\nof heart disease, the brain needs cholesterol to function properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One reason pet health often declines with\naging is due to a failure to maintain body weight as they get into their\ngeriatric years. It\u2019s not uncommon for dogs and cats in their middle years to\ngain weight, but when they get older, they often begin to lose weight, likely a\nresult of loss of eyesight, smell, oral\/dental health, taste or simply the\nability to absorb nutrients. This loss in body fat can catabolize key nutrients\nfrom the brain. A higher-fat, higher-energy diet, in the geriatric years, may\nhelp pets stay more alert, improve their focus and help them better remember\nthings like training commands, a favorite park or where the litter box is\nlocated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One way to ensure your aging dog and cat get\nenough fat and energy is by providing food that includes omega-3 fatty acids\n(EPA, DHA, etc.). Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that animals can only\nget from their diet, and they help maintain your pet\u2019s cognitive health. These\nfats are key components in not only responding to health and joint challenges,\nbut also in maintaining neural function and mental health, all important to a\ngraceful aging process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for fatty acids and the brain to function properly, zinc is necessary. Zinc plays a key role in mental activity, focus, emotional behavior, learning and memory as it\u2019s a key component in the development of brain tissue and signaling. For these reasons, feeding your pet food that contains Zinpro Performance Minerals\u202fcan help maintain your pet\u2019s mobility to do their normal activities, improve their ability to digest food and help them absorb nutrients in a more efficient way. Each of these can significantly benefit an animal\u2019s cognitive health as they age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re researching or purchasing food for\nan older pet, make sure the label includes \u201cZinc amino acid complex\u201d or \u201cZinc\nmethionine complex\u201d as a nutrient. This is the Association of American Feed\nControl Officials (AAFCO) designation for how these trace minerals are\nidentified in companion animal products, and it\u2019s a key nutrient they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can visit our website to learn more about the benefits of trace minerals and essential nutrients for companion animals<\/a>. And to learn more about dog nutritional needs, visit the AAFCO<\/a> and AKC<\/a> websites. For cat nutrition, be sure to look for sites that are either sponsored or managed by veterinarians. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What you feed your aging pets impacts their mental state. Feeding them foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and zinc will help them stay more focused and alert. Learn more about the benefits of trace minerals in this blog post.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":57044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_eb_attr":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_ecp_custom_2":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2682],"tags":[2692],"species":[1271],"class_list":["post-57043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-animal-welfare"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n