Weight management system for animals

Abstract

A pet food product for promoting comprehensive weight management in companion animals. The pet food includes, on a dry matter basis, about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient. In a preferred embodiment a diacylglyceride is the functional ingredient.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The invention generally relates to a pet food for use in a weight management system for companion animals. More particularly, the weight management system includes a high protein, low caloric daily diet that includes a functional ingredient that further modulates metabolism and build lean muscle mass in companion animals.[0003] 2. Related Art[0004] In westernized societies the most prevalent form of malnutrition in humans is over-consumption of calories resulting in excess body fat. Studies have shown that approximately 20-30% of dog and cat populations are overweight and obese (over-fat). Obesity in domesticated dogs and cats has been linked to the development of numerous diseases including renal failure, diabetes, arthritis and thyroid dysfunction. Overweight dogs have an increased risk of developing transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Further, it is well established that obesity is a predisposing factor to idiopathic hepatic lipidosi...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In westernized societies the most prevalent form of malnutrition in humans is over-consumption of calories resulting in excess body fat.

Overweight dogs have an increased risk of developing transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Further, it is well established that obesity is a predisposing factor to idiopathic hepatic lipidosis in cats, however, their inability to convert dietary C18 essential fatty acids into long chain fatty acids creates a need for dietary consumption of 20 carbon long chain fatty acids.

Such a dietary requirement leaves cats extremely vulnerable to weight disorders and weight-associated diseases such as diabetes (Appleton et al., 2000).

However, obesity commonly goes unnoticed by the animal's owner and, thus, poses a life-threatening problem to domesticated animals.

Such diets are not completely without credence because hypertension, and thus risk of developing cardiovascular disease, in obese patients have been linked to disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism (Nobels et al., 1989).

However, low caloric diets comprising increased ratios of amino acids to carbohydrates, such as the diet taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,265, cause increased blood urea concentrations.

The kidneys function to remove urea from the plasma, and in this regard high protein diets place an unusual burden on the kidneys which can lead to severe consequences over time including developing azotemia or uremia.

However, this metabolic shift is undesirable and also leads to severe renal damage if experienced over long periods of time.

Most diets simply lower caloric density, increase total carbohydrates by increasing fiber which leads to reduced palatability, thereby creating a diet that leaves the animal hungry and, sometimes, induces lean muscle loss.

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