Enzymes are those mysterious forces that convert substances in our body to useable nutrients. They are activated, energized protein molecules, and can be thought of as the construction workers in the body, that build the structure and keep it repaired. Unfortunately, a body can only call upon its enzyme reserves once in a while without overworking the pancreas. Enzymes that are used up in the digestion of food cause the enzyme storage banks to become depleted. Raw food contains its own enzymes necessary for digestion. When pets chew either raw food or prey, enzymes from that food are activated. After this initial pre-digestion, the food moves to the upper stomach where it continues to break down, remaining in this location for an hour before gastric secretions move in. At this point, the enzymatic action is disabled by the acids and doesn’t kick in again until the food reaches the small intestine, where pH is more alkaline.Cooked food contains no live enzymes. It is therefore a problem to feed pets cooked and processed food day in and day out unless you are supplementing their diet with enzymes.
If not enough enzymes are produced, then the food won’t digest properly, and not only could your pet get a stomach ache, but other effects of maldigestion could appear in the form of food allergies. The pancreas can produce digestive enzymes to digest the cooked food, although it was not designed to work overtime. Eventually, the pancreas loses the ability to make enzymes, and degenerative disease sets in. Adding enzymes to your pets’ diet helps their food to be assimilated. This facilitates the repair of organs, glands, bones, muscles and nerves. Any excess is stored in the liver and the muscles. Like any addition to the body, introduce enzymes slowly, so your pet’s body can make the proper adjustment to the extra help being given.
We’ve used many enzymes for our animals but the one we like best is RiteZyme
–extracted from the book, Super Nutrition for Dogs n’ Cats by Nina Anderson and Dr. Howard Peiper
Keep My Pet Healthy 