Soy is becoming one of the most popular and preferred proteins globally. The increased demand consumption is leading to the processing and manufacture of new verified soy products, amongst them pet foods. The soy-based pet foods are not popular due to the few options available, and they are relatively new.
Many pet owners question whether such foods are safe for pets. Being a good source of sustainable protein or people, one assumes that they are safe for pets. Well, there is a lot to learn about soy pet food products. Instead of feeding them human products such as tofu, ensure you give them soy pet foods to discover the benefits of soy on pets.
Can pets eat soy?
The general rule is that anything good for human beings is suitable for pets, especially food, but this is not always true. Some human foods can be adversely harmful to pets; hence, you must select them keenly. Soy is one of the most popular proteins for human beings, and it can also be suitable for pets, but only if you choose soy pet foods and not any other soy products manufactured for human consumption.
Why should you feed your pet soy?
Animal soy-based products will be necessary for your cat or dog due to the following benefits:
Rich source of nutrition
Soy pet foods are not only rich in proteins alone. There are other nutrients they can get from eating soy foods. Being a good source of animal nutrition, it can help pets deal with different conditions related to nutritional deficiencies.
One of the essential nutrients is fiber which can help pets with weight management. If your dog is struggling with obesity, you can rely on the fiber from soy products to help in weight reduction. You should feed the pet soy to help them manage their weight. The fiber is also good for helping them with digestion issues, hence improving the digestion process.
Pet soy foods also contain other nutrients such as calcium, iron, and potassium, ideal for helping the pest develop stronger bones. Therefore, soy can boost a balanced diet and ensure that pets have all the essential animal nutrition. If your pet is suffering from hair issues, such as hair loss, you can feed them a few soy chunks to help them with hair growth. The nutritional benefit will help them grow hair, maintain a smooth texture, and prevent hair loss.
Good source of animal protein
When your pet has protein allergies, especially when consuming meat and other animal proteins, soy foods can be a good protein alternative. In a vegan house, you do not have to worry about the pets; you can also buy them their pet vegan meals, such as soy meals. The protein from soy will be richer in protein than animal-based proteins. This makes soy meals suitable for puppies and kittens to speed growth and development.
How much soy should you feed your pet?
You should observe the amount of soy you feed your pet. Consult your vet before you feed the pet anything new, including soy products. When the pet is new to the soy, you can begin by feeding them a few amounts of soy as you observe their reaction to the latest products. Observe the dog’s response for about a month to determine the ideal amount of soy you should feed them.
Feeding your pet too much soy may not be a healthy choice or decision. Do not feed them human soy meals such as tofu since such meals may contain flavorings and other additional ingredients that are only healthy to human beings but harmful to pets.
Why do you need to limit feeding soy foods?
Excess soy can have devastating effects on the pet; hence you should maintain a low soy amount. If your pet is allergic to soy, you should avoid feeding them soy protein foods. The signs of allergy to observe include hair loss and ear infection. Observe how the pet behaves; excessive licking can also indicate an allergy. If the pet develops an ear allergy, you should limit the soy you feed them.
You can feed them a limited amount of soy daily to ensure they do not suffer from allergic reactions and infections. The allergies are more prominent in dogs than cats.
Besides, soy products such as soy sauce contain a high amount of sodium, which may be suitable for humans but can lead to complications for pets. The increased amount of soy sauce can also lead to poisoning, consequently damaging the kidneys and liver, especially if you feed them food with too much soy sauce. Whenever you notice any poisoning, ensure you give the pet a lot of water to reduce the sodium concentration. It can lead to mouth and throat dryness, causing discomfort.
Remember to only give them animal or pet-verified soy meals. These foods also contain a lot of salt that can cause neurological complications in pets. Soy contains inflavones, a compound beneficial for boosting estrogen levels in women and preventing osteoporosis. However, it has the opposite effects on dogs and cats since it can impair fertility, especially when pets consume it daily.
Conclusion
Soy-rich meals are suitable for your pets, but you should only feed them pet-verified soy foods. Feeding them human soy foods and products can lead to poisoning and other complications. You should also avoid feeding them excess soy to the side effects of excessive pet food consumption.
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