The ingredients matter

"For working dogs in particular, high-quality nutrition and supplementation are crucial to achieve peak performance," states Asta Real. Dogs used for activities such as hunting, sledding, rescue or guiding the blind can suffer muscle fatigue, soreness and inflammation.
Carbohydrates act as a quick source of energy, while lipids provide a slower but more sustained source of energy during strenuous exercise. While muscles burn lipids and oxygen for energy, a harmful by-product occurs - reactive oxygen species (ROS). If this is not neutralised with antioxidants, the resulting oxidative stress can damage the mitochondrial membranes, and impair the body's energy production process. If mitochondrial function is impaired, the muscles receive less energy, which can contribute to fatigue and even muscle atrophy.
Asta Real astaxanthin from the microalga haematococcus pluvialis is one of nature's most powerful antioxidants. It is able to reduce exercise-induced inflammation, deposit in muscle mitochondria and promote higher levels of endurance and faster recovery. A study with 10 high-performance husky pointers revealed faster recovery among those who consumed a high-carb, high-protein bar with added astaxanthin. The dogs fed with natural astaxanthin did not deplete their carbohydrate stores and had only a 4.1 per cent drop in plasma glucose levels, while others which were not fed added astaxanthin had a drop of 34 per cent. In Novasta, Asta Real has developed an effective and scientifically backed pet food ingredient, suitable for use in a wide array of applications from dry and wet food to treats, flakes and capsules.

Astaxanthin can also be beneficial for companion dogs who are overweight or obese. Excessive fat accumulation, oxidative stress and liver function are closely related, which means weight issues can shorten their life span and cause conditions such as diabetes. However, the addition of astaxanthin formulations to dogs' diets has been shown to increase antioxidant activity and liver function due to improved lipid metabolism.
The ability of Asta Real's astaxanthin to improve conditions associated with obesity, while also reducing inflammation and contributing to higher levels of endurance, makes it a key ingredient for dog food, both for highly active working dogs and their household companion counterparts.