D-Calcium Pantothenate is an organic form of Vitamin B5, or panthothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin essential in animal metabolism for releasing energy from carbohydrates, fats and protein. It also aids in the utilization of other vitamins and helps support the body's resistance to stress.

DL-Methionine is an essential amino acid, which is one of two sulfur-containing amino acids (cysteine being the other) that helps to build proteins. It is essential for all animals and also helps to naturally acidify foods. Nature’s Variety uses DL-Methionine to promote optimal pH in our feline diets.

Enterococcus faecium is a species of prokaryotic microorganisms (bacteria) in the Order Lactobacillae. It is a commensal (non-pathogenic) bacteria that inhabits the intestines of mammals where it ferments fiber into beneficial end-products such as lactic acid. It is a beneficial bacteria that may help protect against the entrance and proliferation of "bad" organisms that can cause disease. Probiotics are defined as live prokaryotic or eukaryotic microorganisms, including Lactobacillus species, Bifidobacterium species and yeasts, which may improve the balance of the intestinal microflora in the host’s intestinal tract following ingestion. The intestinal microflora is important for maturation of the immune system, the development of normal intestinal morphology and in order to maintain a chronic and immunologically balanced inflammatory response. Probiotics also generate food for the cells lining the large intestine. Nature’s Variety adds probiotics only after the product has been cooked and cooled in order to retain viability; microorganisms are destroyed by heat.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most commonly used species of probiotic, or "friendly" bacteria. Such beneficial bacteria protect against the entrance and proliferation of "bad" organisms that can cause disease. Probiotics are defined as live prokaryotic or eukaryotic microorganisms, including Lactobacillus species, Bifidobacterium species and yeasts, which may improve the balance of the intestinal microflora in the host’s intestinal tract following ingestion. The intestinal microflora is important for maturation of the immune system, the development of normal intestinal morphology and in order to maintain a chronic and immunologically balanced inflammatory response. Probiotics also generate food for the cells lining the large intestine. Nature’s Variety adds probiotics only after the product has been cooked and cooled in order to retain viability; microorganisms are destroyed by heat.

Duck is the clean combination of flesh and skin (with or without accompanying bone), that comes from the parts or whole carcasses of ducks. Duck is an alternative meat protein that helps to nourish your pet’s muscles and build strong bones. This unique protein can be a healthy solution for pets with allergies to more common proteins.

Often known as one of the best complete foods, duck eggs provide a complete amino acid profile including other essential nutrients necessary to ensure optimal health. Nature’s Variety includes a wide variety of eggs (in some cases including the shells) in our diets for natural calcium and to ensure a better and more complete nutrient profile.

Duck meal is the clean combination of the flesh and skin of duck with the moisture removed. Our high-quality duck meal is an excellent source of highly digestible protein and essential amino acids, which never contains added antibiotics or growth hormones. This unique protein can be a healthy solution for pets with allergies to common proteins. High quality, protein specific meals are simply a dried and more concentrated form of the meat, poultry or fish protein. It is important to make sure the meal is protein specific (Beef Meal, Lamb Meal), and not generic like Meat Meal or By-Product Meal which by definition can contain any species of animal. While duck is technically “poultry”, it is not the same species as chicken and should not trigger a true food allergy because each animal species has a unique genetic code and protein signature.