Algae are aquatic plants. Unlike land plants they have no roots, stems or leaves – they absorb nutrients through their entire surface directly from the water.
Algae » Nutrients from the sea
Algae are aquatic plants and provide an unusually dense mix of micronutrients, among them iodine, calcium, magnesium and zinc as well as vitamins A, C and E. In canine nutrition they are used to supplement the daily ration with precisely these trace elements. One group of brown algae, kelp, is also traditionally associated with oral hygiene.
What algae are and where they grow
Algae are among the oldest forms of life on earth. Botanically they are not land plants: they form neither roots nor stems nor leaves, but absorb everything they need to grow through their entire surface, directly from the water.
Broadly speaking there are three groups: brown algae, red algae and green algae. They differ in their pigments, in the depth of water they grow in and in their composition. For animal nutrition it is above all brown algae from cold, clean coastal waters that are of interest.
What algae bring to nutrition
Because algae draw their nutrients directly from seawater, they are natural collectors of minerals and trace elements. Typical are iodine, calcium, magnesium and zinc as well as vitamins A, C and E, a combination that hardly any land plant offers in this density.
Iodine is the best example: in many feedstuffs it occurs only in small amounts, whereas algae absorb it from seawater and store it. How much it ends up being depends on the species of algae and on the harvesting area. The choice of raw material therefore determines its quality.
What algae are valued for in your dog's diet
Iodine contributes to the normal production of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism. Calcium and magnesium contribute to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, zinc to the maintenance of normal skin and coat.
The brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum is also valued for supporting daily oral hygiene as a complement to dental care.
Kelp, the brown algae and oral hygiene
Kelp is a collective term for large brown algae that grow in cool coastal waters. This group has a particular feature in animal nutrition: it is valued not only for its minerals but has long been used in connection with teeth and oral flora.
Algae are therefore often given with the food, as a complement to daily dental care. A study has also looked at the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum in food.
Source: Gawor J. et al. (2018), Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
Origin and quality
We have worked with the same regular suppliers for many years. Their goods are tested for residues and are additionally examined by independent laboratories before they go into production.
Frequently asked questions about Algae
Broadly speaking, brown, red and green algae. They differ in their pigments, their habitat and their composition.
Among others iodine, calcium, magnesium and zinc, as well as vitamins A, C and E.
They absorb iodine from seawater and store it. How much depends on the species of algae and on the harvesting area.
After harvesting they are washed, gently dried and finely ground. Drying at a low temperature preserves the nutrients they contain.
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