Diet and Feeding – Page 2

Science diet reformulated

Hill’s Pet Nutrition to reformulate Science Diet petfoods

Release Date: 09/12/2012
Hill’s Pet Nutrition will reformulate its Science Diet dogs and cat foods to add more natural ingredients.

The company made the decision to reformulate the Science Diet petfoods because some consumers were making product choices based primarily on a set criteria for ingredients, rather than the overall promise of nutrition and clinical research. Hill’s says the new Science Diet dog and cat food formulas will feature:

• Quality protein as the first ingredient
• Natural ingredients
• No chicken by-product
• No artificial colors or flavors
• Great taste, guaranteed

Along with the new formulation, Hill’s also will introduce new packaging designs, as well as new color-coded product groupings under Life Stage, Life Style and Life Care, which will soon appear in pet stores to make it easier for pet owners to select the right food for their pet. Hill’s will begin shipping the new petfood formulations to specialty pet stores and veterinarians in December.

Merrick acquires natural, organic petfood company Castor & Pollux

Acquisition allows Merrick to expand its petfood brand into the super-premium petfood segment
Merrick Pet Care Inc. signed an agreement to acquire Castor & Pollux Natural PetWorks, a privately held natural and organic petfood company based in Oregon, USA.

Although specific terms of the deal were not disclosed, Merrick Pet Care says the acquisition of Castor & Pollux further advances its key growth strategies of expanding the company’s brands in the super-premium petfood segment and allows for greater utilization of its manufacturing facilities located in Hereford, Texas, USA. Continue reading Merrick acquires natural, organic petfood company Castor & Pollux

Obesity in Dogs

Quality of life is reduced in obese dogs but improves after successful weight loss
Sponsored Article

A.J. German (a), Corresponding author contact information, S.L. Holden (a),M.L. Wiseman-Orr(b),J. Reid(b), A.M. Nolan(b),V. Biourge(c),P.J. Morris(d),E.M. Scott(b)

Abstract

Obesity is thought to affect quality of life, but limited objective data exist to support this supposition. The current study aim was to use a questionnaire to determine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) both before and after weight loss, in obese client-owned dogs. Fifty obese dogs were included, and represented a variety of breeds and genders. Prior to weight loss, owners were asked to complete a validated standardised questionnaire to determine HRQOL. Thirty of the dogs successfully completed their weight loss programme and reached target, and owners then completed a follow-up questionnaire. The completed questionnaire responses were transformed to scores corresponding to each of four factors (vitality, emotional disturbance, anxiety and pain), and scored on a scale of 0–6. Changes in the scores were used to explore the sensitivity of the questionnaire, and scores were correlated with responses to direct questions about quality of life and pain, as well as weight loss.

You can try with the best CBD dog treats is medically probed that using this type of treats helps dogs to lose weight, since it helps with the digestion and reduces the symptoms of anxiety.

Dogs that failed to complete their weight loss programme had lower vitality and higher emotional disturbance scores than those successfully losing weight (P = 0.03 for both). In the 30 dogs that completed, weight loss led to an increased vitality score (P < 0.001), and decreased scores for both emotional disturbance (P < 0.001) and pain (P < 0.001). However, there was no change in anxiety (P = 0.09). The change in vitality score was positively associated with percentage weight loss (rP = 0.43, P = 0.02) and percentage body fat loss (rP = 0.39, P = 0.03). These results indicate demonstrable improvement in HRQOL for obese dogs that successfully lose weight.

a Department of Obesity and Endocrinology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
b Pain and Welfare Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QW, United Kingdom
c The WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, Freeby Lane, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray LE14 4RT, United Kingdom
d Royal Canin Research Center, B.P.4 – 650 Avenue de la Petite Camargue, 30470 Aimargues, France

Accepted 22 September 2011. Available online 8 November 2011.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.09.015,

Canine;
Obesity;
Wellbeing;
Weight management;
Health-related quality of life

Nutri-Scan saliva test patented by Dr. Jean Dodds

NutriScan is our novel patented diagnostic test based on saliva, which can reveal the latent or pre-clinical form of food sensitivity or food intolerance. Our first test panel for six of the most common allergens has been available since May 2011. Additional allergen panels will be offered in 2012.

Dr. Jean Dodds has introduced NutriScan, a novel, patented food intolerance and canine food sensitivity testing system. This assay system utilizes an important new approach in nutrition – that salivary diagnostics can more accurately identify the foods to be avoided rather than focus on those less like to be reactive. Continue reading

Saliva test for Food allergy in Dogs

Using Saliva to Detect Food Sensitivity and Intolerance in Dogs to Gluten And Other Food Ingredients

Summary: Surveys of purebred dog clubs have identified food sensitivity or intolerance as a common health concern. Other than time-consuming feeding trials, which eliminate potential reactive ingredients every several weeks, testing for this condition has used expensive and unsightly skin patch testing or screening of serum samples that often lacks specificity. An accurate and efficient canine food sensitivity and intolerance test can help owners recognize the symptoms and take the right steps to treat and alleviate this problem by using individualized case-specific nutrition. Continue reading

Flaxseed, soy and low thyroid

From the American Thyroid Assn (an association of professional
endocrinologists).

http://www.thyroid.org/patients/ct/volume4/issue6/ct_patients_v46_12_13.html

“This is the first study to show that dietary supplementation with very high
doses of soy phytoestrogen (at levels typical of a vegetarian diet), may
result in a 3-fold increase in the risk of progression from subclinical to
overt hypothyroidism, suggesting that vegetarian patients with mild
subclinical hypothyroidism may need more careful monitoring of thyroid
function. The mechanism for this effect is not well understood.
On the other hand, high dose phytoestrogen also resulted in improvement in
cardiovascular risk factors despite worsening of thyroid function and may be
beneficial to patients with increased cardiovascular risk.”

[It should be noted that flaxseed contains 3x the phytoestrogen of soy, and
it is probably better absorbed from the gut (more digestible). With the
proliferation of flaxseed in both pet and human food, one has to wonder
about the increased numbers of hypothyroid animals and humans.]

What you need to know about Pet Food Labels

Pet Food Labels – General
http://www.fda.gov/

Pet food labeling is regulated at two levels. The federal regulations, enforced by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), establish standards applicable for all animal feeds: proper identification of product, net quantity statement, manufacturer’s name and address, and proper listing of ingredients. Some states also enforce their own labeling regulations. Many states have adopted the model pet food regulations established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). These regulations are more specific in nature, covering aspects of labeling such as the product name, the guaranteed analysis, the nutritional adequacy statement, feeding directions, and calorie statements.

Continue reading What you need to know about Pet Food Labels