Miss julie Varley

by julie varley
(hull,uk)

Please can you tell me why the active dog food has higher levels of vitamin E than the adult dog food?

My Comment:

Hi Julie.
Feels pleasant, getting mail from Hull, being my former hometown for a couple of years.
Vitamin E is important for cell respiration, forming the membranes of cells, and it aids in fat metabolism.
It is also an antioxidant, that shields different hormones from the effects of oxidation.
Active dog food often contain more fat and vitamin E is used as as preservative protecting the fat from oxidating (in the same way it protects the cells from oxidation).
If active dogs is getting too less vitamin E their cells will get oxidative damaged.
In order to make "extra" fat in the dog food oxiadative protected AND still maintain the increased needs of vitamin E in active dogs to maintain normal cell functions - more E vitamin is needed in the food.
Lack of Vitamin E has been thought to cause exertional rhabdomyolysis which has been seen in Alaskan Sled dogs.
They are very active, but same principles are used in dog food in active dogs in general.
All the best
DVM Per Schonbeck