Flavor is the main criterion once the dog has the food in its mouth. The sensitivity of dogs to different tastes helps optimize the flavor of food.

5 TYPES OF TASTE RECEPTORS

Acid taste is highly attractive to cats, and can be profitably used to enhance palatability.

Sweet taste does not appeal to cats at all; they reject all synthetic sweeteners, which are perceived as bitter. Dogs, however, strongly favor this taste, reinforced by being rewarded with sweets.

Salty taste is clearly detected by dogs, much less by cats.

Bitter ness is very easily perceived by cats, which helps them avoid certain toxic substances (like strychnine).

Umami, a less known taste, indicating the presence of glutamate, is perceived by both dogs and cats.

VARIABLE APPRECIATION OF FLAVORS

The perception of taste varies according to:

sex: female dogs are more receptive to sweetness.
age: taste perception and sensitivity decrease with age.

Some drugs and diseases alter taste perception, which also depends on experience. Like humans, animals savor their memories! The key factors for making highly palatable diets and foods are the quality of the ingredients (selected non-oxidized raw materials), the formula, the manufacturing method and preservation.