NUTRIÇÃO DE CÃES E GATOS EM SUAS DIFERENTES FASES DE VIDA

The objective of this review is to conduct a survey on the main concepts related to dog and cat nutrition in the different life stages. The market for pet products and services has been expanding worldwide and is a lucrative new segment of the economy. Advances in research with pet nutrition have occurred to meet a growing demand both for product innovation that catches the attention of owners and animals, as well as for ensuring that nutritional requirements are met at each age and a better quality of life. Dogs and cats present themselves as carnivores, but with habits and food forms often classified as an omnivorous species, with carnivorous cats being strict and dogs being facultative. Just like the human diet, dogs' health depends on a correct and balanced diet that contains a broad set of nutrients to meet all daily needs. Functional foods encompass both foods and ingredients that have the basic nutritional functions and also produce metabolic and / or physiological health benefits. The addition of functional ingredients to dog and cat foods is already a reality in the nutrition of pets. In addition, there are a variety of food products for dogs and cats, being classified as dry, moist and semi-moist.