HEALTHY FOR THE TUMMY

The company spent a long time researching the eating habits of cats and dogs. They combined proteins with herbs to produce a well-balanced range of food products suitable for animals.

“[An] important thing to consider about pet food is what goes in it,” Ricky Santillan, general manager of Rubicon Crossings, told Animal Scene. “We studied the process of making pet food and [what’s really] important is for it to be gluten-free and grain-free.”

Gluten in pet food may cause diarrhea and poor hair coat, while grains may cause difficult digestion, added Santillan. “The protein is the main [ingredient of the pet food], and the herbs compliment the protein. So, think of it like tea,” said Luis Mercado, president of official distributor Rubicon Crossings. “For those who drink tea, they drink it because it helps with the digestive system. It energizes you, nourishes you, and it relaxes you depending on the type of tea that you use. The same concept works with herbs.”

Different types of protein sources, such as salmon, turkey, and chicken, were combined with herbs, such as seaweed, ginseng, lily root, wolfberry, and green tea, among others. Ginseng can help prevent congestive heart failure, cognitive dysfunction, and stress. Seaweed can help remove heavy metals from the body, while wolfberry prevents joint issues, especially among senior pets.

“Vigor & Sage incorporated these herbs in order to combat the free radicals that our pets encounter every day. So, the antioxidants are not only important for us humans, but also our pets,” said Dr. Maricelle Licuanan, founder and veterinarian of the Philippine Pet Birth Control Center (PPBCC).