Amicus is a dietary innovation from Horizon that is unlike any product on the market today. Amicus offers a superior grain free kibble diet manufactured for the unique requirements of mini and small breed dogs. Combining the best of nutritional science with bold and distinctive packaging, amicus now offers consumers searching for a better small breed formula a choice without ever sacrificing value or style. This isn't just another "small bite" formula but rather a "small breed" diet specifically formulated and manufactured for breeds that need an alternative to the "one size fits all" approach to many commercial foods offered today.
Benefits of amicus
- A grain free formula utilizing fresh human grade turkey, chicken, salmon and farm fresh eggs as animal protein sources fit for human consumption
- A low glycemic index ingredient composition to fight against obesity leading to diabetes in small breeds
- Low temperature cooking process to retain and preserve the key elements found in the fresh, raw ingredients we use in all of our formulas
- Red lentils as the primary carbohydrate and fiber source which have the added benefit of an exceptionally low glycemic index and naturally contain concentrated levels of antioxidants
- Smaller kibble providing easier chewing and digestion for small breeds
- All formulas naturally preserved and free of waste product like byproducts, soy, corn, wheat...
Why is Horizon Amicus unique?
Choosing the right food for your pet can be a challenge. It's a combination of finding a food you can trust and feel good about giving to your pet, a food they can easily digest and enjoy eating and finally offers affordability. With amicus, we now offer a new formula specifically made for mini and small breed dogs that isn't just innovative, but it's affordable. One of the bold changes we made with amicus was the inclusion of red lentils as an alternate carbohydrate source. It has a compelling story to tell, so please take some time to learn more and understand why we are so excited to offer it to you right now.
Red Lentils - The Wonder Ingredient
At Horizon, we are always seeking new combinations of exceptional ingredients to optimize pet nutrition and push the boundaries of dietary science. Our formulation in amicus breaks new ground and sets the bar on dietary excellence. The cornerstone of this innovation is the incorporation of red lentils as a primary carbohydrate and fiber source. In many ways, red lentils are a wonder ingredient and when you learn more, we hope you are as excited about red lentils as we are.
Reducing the levels of blood sugar in formulations
What is the Glycemic Index (GI)? The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Foods with a high GI are those which are rapidly digested and absorbed and result in marked fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Low-GI foods, by virtue of their slow digestion and absorption, produce gradual rises in blood sugar and insulin levels, and have proven benefits for health. Low GI diets have been shown to improve both glucose and lipid levels in people with diabetes (type 1 and type 2). They have benefits for weight control because they help control appetite and delay hunger. Low GI diets also reduce insulin levels and insulin resistance.
The amount of carbohydrate in the reference and test food must be the same. Source: Home of the Glycemic Index www.glycemicindex.com
Measuring GI
To determine a food's GI rating, measured portions of the food containing 10 - 50 grams of carbohydrate are fed to 10 healthy people after an overnight fast. Finger-prick blood samples are taken at 15-30 minute intervals over the next two hours. These blood samples are used to construct a blood sugar response curve for the two-hour period. The area under the curve (AUC) is calculated to reflect the total rise in blood glucose levels after eating the test food. The GI rating (%) is calculated by dividing the AUC for the test food by the AUC for the reference food (same amount of glucose) and multiplying by 100 (see Figure 1). The use of a standard food is essential for reducing the confounding influence of differences in the physical characteristics of the subjects. The average of the GI ratings from all ten subjects is published as the GI of that food.
Dietary Fiber - Integral to good health
Fiber in your pet's diet is an unquestioned benefit; the source of fiber is essential for rapid digestion and maximum absorption. Red Lentils rank as one of the best sources of dietary fiber available. Dietary fiber improves digestion through the better absorption and assimilation of the essential vitamins and minerals. It increases stool weight allowing bulkier stool that more easily passes through the colon and reduces intestinal transit time. Fiber also helps to manage obesity by inducing satiety, enhancing blood sugar control and greatly slowing down the eating process.
Antioxidants - Packing a big punch
Antioxidants are nature's way of fighting off potentially dangerous molecules in the body. Such molecules come in the form of synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, plastics, and chlorine byproducts and are called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that essentially feed off of otherwise healthy molecules in order to survive. Every day tens of thousands of free radicals are generated within the body, causing cell damage that can lead to chronic and degenerative diseases if left unchecked.
The body sometimes creates its own free radicals in order to destroy viruses or bacteria. To balance out these unruly molecules, the body also creates antioxidants, which have the sole purpose of neutralizing free radicals. The body is only designed to create a certain amount of antioxidants on its own, however, and as we are faced with an ever-growing number of environmental toxins, the body is less capable of fighting off the unwanted harmful invaders.
When you consider the combination of low GI, high antioxidant content and concentrations of dietary fiber, red lentils as a carbohydrate source is truly a step forward. It is another example of the science and boldness to the evolution of premium pet food Horizon is bringing to the evolution of premium pet diets everyday.
| Brand | Horizon |
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| Type | Dry Food |
| Flavour | Chicken |
| Special Diet | Gluten Free, GMO Free, Grain Free, Low Glycemic, No Corn, Wheat or Soy |
| Health Feature | Digestive Health, Heart Care, Hip & Joint Support, Vitamins & Minerals |
| Lifestage | Adult |
| Breed Size | X-Small, Small |
| Ingredients | Turkey, chicken meal, red lentils, peas, pea starch, salmon, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, form of vitamin e), turkey meal, flax, salmon oil, (preserved with mixed tocopherols, form of vitamin e), alfalfa meal, egg product, pea fibre, carrots, apples, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, blueberries, dried saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation extract, fructooligosaccharides, yucca schdigera extract, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, dried aspergillus niger fermentation extract, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, pinapple, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried lactobaciluus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium bifidum fermentation product, dried lactobacillius plantarum fermentation product, vitamin a acetate, vitamin d3 supplement, vitamin e supplement, vitamin b12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, biotin, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin c) ferrous sulfate, iron proteinate, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, manganous oxide, manganese, proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, magnesium oxide. |
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