Manganese is a trace mineral critical for brain and nervous system function. Our manganese is specially bonded (chelated) with amino acids to enhance absorption and assimilation. Manganese is also a key component of several cell enzymes that catalyze metabolic reactions and help the body use vitamin E and B1. Manganese is necessary for normal bone development and reproduction. Foods that are good sources of manganese include legumes and whole-grain cereals. Naturally occurring manganese deficiency has not been reported in either dogs or cats.

Meal is a dried and more concentrated form of the mammal, poultry or fish protein from striated muscle. If you feed a high quality kibble diet with “Chicken Meal” as the first ingredient, you know your pet is getting all of the benefits of this highly digestible 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.

Menhaden are cold water, free ranging fish and a rich source of nutritious oils to help support healthy skin and a glossy coat. They are caught fresh and immediately frozen at sea to retain freshness and quality.

Menhaden Fish Meal is the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole menhaden or menhaden cuttings. Menhaden are caught fresh and immediately frozen at sea to retain freshness and quality prior to processing. Menhaden are cold water, free ranging fish. Menhaden fish is an excellent source of protein, essential amino acids, and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Menhaden are cold water, free ranging fish. They are caught fresh and immediately frozen at sea to retain freshness and quality. The whole fish is then used to extract oil, which is never preserved with chemicals. The oil is a rich source of nutritious Omega 3 fatty acids to help support healthy skin, glossy coat, and a balanced immune system.

Millet is the term used to describe a group of small-seeded plants that belong to several different genera. Millets have been used for human food for thousands of years, long before rice. It is rich in B vitamins (especially niacin, B6, and folic acid), calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. Millet, while technically a grain, is gluten-free.

NV uses the whole crushed leaves from the mint herb (Mentha spicata) in our Instinct Lamb Biscuits. Mint contains a number of beneficial compounds that allows it to be used in a variety of ways: flavoring in many items, an ingredient in food and candy, and even brewed into a tea. In ancient times, Mint was valued for its purported ability to help alleviate symptoms of nasal congestion, motion sickness, indigestion, and burns. Today, Mint is best known for its ability to freshen breath.

Tocopherols are a mixture of vitamin E isomers. When mixed with rosemary and citric acid, they provide a potent natural preservative, which also supplies a small amount of the benefits of dietary vitamin E.

Molasses is a flavorful, natural sugar extracted from the sugar cane plant.  Nature’s Variety uses only Blackstrap Molasses that is US sourced and human edible.  Blackstrap Molasses is produced from the third boiling of cane sap, and has a dark, rich color.

Montmorillonite is a clay that is primarily colloidal silicate, which contains over 50 ultra-trace mineral compounds including Antimony, Barium, Beryllium, Boron, Bromine, Cadmium, Carbon, Cerium, Cesium, Chloride, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Dysprosium, Fluoride, Gadolinium, Gallium, Germanium, Iodine, Lanthanum, Lithium, Manganese, Neodymium, Nickel, Phosphorus, Rhenium, Rubidium, Samarium, Scandium, Silicon, Silver, Strontium, Sulfur, Tellurium, Thallium, Thorium, Tin, Titanium, Vanadium, Ytterbium, Yttrium, Zinc, and Zirconium. Feed studies by the Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory at Texas A&M University have shown that Montmorillonite clays can sequester (bind) aflatoxins contained in grains and oilseeds.