Are there no options to see maximum safe limits for nutrients within the program itself?

Hi homecooker,

Safe upper limits are built into the next update. In the meantime, please read this blog and just compare your percentages in the Nutrient Summary to the listed value percentages in the blog (for your pet's life stage).

https://www.petdietdesigner.com/en/learning-and-support/community-blogs/entry/safe-upper-limits-for-cat-diets

Hope this helps.

Rene

I noticed where it mentioned 'arachadonic acid' upper limits and that the recipe in that page's (linked above) example recommendation to adjust it down....

Is there any way to balance the amount of it with a supplement that will counteract its effects? I am putting together a recipe that is mostly protein and so forth...but can't seem to figure out how to lower the arachadonic acid content without giving my cat fillers. She can't tolerate fillers. The protein source I'm using is chicken (cooked)...is there a better protein to use to offset this upper limit on arachadonic acid? Or something that isn't a fibrous vegetable or starch that takes care of the excess arachadonic acid?

TIA for assistance.

Great link above, by the way.

Hi homecooker,

Uncheck each ingredient one by one in the Recipe Balancer to see what affect it has on the arachidonic acid. Then either replace the ingredient or lower the amount. Also, you can use the Nutrient Search button on the ribbon to find out what foods have the most of a certain nutrient. Please see the Nutrient Search video on this page to learn how to use this feature:

https://www.petdietdesigner.com/en/pet-diet-designer-for-windows-video-tutorials

Rene

Thanks -- that's something I've been aware of, was moreso looking for a way to keep the chicken protein and hopefully "balance out" the arachidonic acid content....but alas, that isn't possible. Chicken just is loaded with it, so I'll have to change my protein source.

Here's another question: you only have a handful of things with "upper level toxicity limits" listed in that link...you did not list the upper limit for iron. And there are other things that have upper safe limits too. Idodine is another.

Will you be including ~all~ the upper limit toxicity limits for each and every nutrient that can be overdosed with the forthcoming update? Or...are those nutrients the only things you'll be listing for a "max safe dosage" in the update?

If those few nutrients are the only things you'll be listing the maximum safe dosage for.....why? Are you not concerned with someone overdosing their pet? I can't believe you don't care. You seem like a caring company.

I sure hope you're gonna tell me ALL maximum safe limits will be included -- God I hope so.

Hi homecooker,

Many nutrients don't have established safe upper limits, however we will be using arbitrary amounts (10x) which can be changed by the user. This is mentioned in the blog post. This will make our software the only product in the world that has safe upper limits for all nutrients.

Rene

So, as to 'arachidonic acid'...I tried to find out what the side effects were for exceeding a maximum dose in cats, and the only data I found on it was that it is pro-inflammatory and has been implicated in human studies as promoting autoimmune conditions such as arthritis and ulcerative colitis.

Didn't find anything on how it affects cats tho.

It is an omega-6 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid)....could a MUFA omega-3 offset the inflammatory action of arachidonic acid?

Because...I can't find any other protein source local to me, and the one that is lowest in arachidonic acid is chicken.

And I'm sure others are in the same position.

So, what are the side effects of too much arachidonic acid in cats? And is arachidonic acid just suspected as a contributor to gut issues in cats, or is there study data confirming this?

And ultimately, I need to know -- outside of possible gut issues developing due to excessive arachidonic acid consumption, what is the worst that can develop in cats?

Thoughts???

HI homecooker,

Different types of fats affect cats differently. MCT fats (coconut oil) are not well tolerated by cats. Beef fat is better tolerated than chicken fat or butter.

Cats (and dogs) need more fat than humans.

To reduce the Arachidonic Acid (AA), try using less organ meat. Ostrich, lamb, duck, pork are all lower in AA.

Rene

So what happens if I give her too much AA one day?

I mean...you DID specify it as having an upper limit for toxicity...and you haven't said why. So please let me know why. Please.

I'm not the only one wondering this, I'm sure.

Hi homecooker,

We did not set the safe upper limits. These are set by the National Research Council after they reviewed hundreds of publications.

Regards,

Rene

Thank you for including this in the next update. I was really concerned about it as well. Also, as an aside, the link to the blog that is within the program itself is broken.

Hi homecooker,

Safe upper limits are built into the next update. In the meantime, please read this blog and just compare your percentages in the Nutrient Summary to the listed value percentages in the blog (for your pet's life stage).

https://www.petdietdesigner.com/en/community-blog/entry/safe-upper-limits-for-cat-diets

Hope this helps.

Rene

That link is no longer valid (404 error)
I am looking for new link for a dog

Looking for a version for dogs too!

Also, when would the next update launch?