CN101155518A - Pet food compositions comprising two components - Google Patents

Abstract

Pet food compositions comprising a first component comprising a source of protein, a source of fat, and a source of carbohydrate, and a second component comprising a biologic selected from the group consisting of a probiotic component; yeast; enzymes; antibodies; immunoglobulins; cytokines; and combinations thereof are useful for providing pet food compositions that are sufficiently stable such that effective amounts of the biologic are present in the pet food compositions at the time of ingestion by a pet.

Description

The pet food compositions that comprises two kinds of components

Invention field

The present invention relates to comprise the pet food compositions of two kinds of components, wherein first component comprises protein source, fat source and carbohydrate source, and second component comprises a kind of probiotic composition.The present invention is particularly suited for providing very stable pet food compositions, makes that probiotic micro-organisms is present in the composition when described composition is absorbed by mammal, and preferably wherein said mammal is behaved and/or pet.

Background of invention

This area expectation obtains to comprise the pet food compositions of probiotic micro-organisms.Though carried out multiple commercial these compositions of attempting obtaining, but many these compositions can not provide the active probiotic microorganisms of enough efficacy levels, this is because described microorganism can not be stood the manufacture process of standard commercial pet food, for example extrusion.For example, proposed the practice, but in fact usually proved unpractical with probiotic micro-organisms coating or the standard of filling pet kibble.Problem in the standard commercial pet food manufacture process, other manufacturer can provide probiotic micro-organisms powder wide-mouth bottle in order to powder is sprinkling upon on the standard pet food.Yet this has caused the problem of convenience and biddability, therefore still need in this area further research and development with obtain a kind of can be on market success and obtain pet monitoring person's widely used effective pet food compositions.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to pet food compositions, said composition can be highly stable, makes that biological components is present in the composition when described composition is absorbed by pet.Described pet food compositions comprises:

(a) comprise first component of protein source, fat source and carbohydrate source; With

(b) have about 0.2 or second component of lower water activity, wherein said second component comprises biological components, and this biological components is selected from: have at least about 10 ⁵The probiotic composition of the active probiotic microorganisms of CFU/g second component; Yeast; Enzyme; Antibody; Immunoglobulin (Ig); Cell factor; And their combination.

The invention still further relates to method that preventative, therapeutic treatment or non-therapeutic handle disease, comprise and use composition as herein described with the pet that weakens the effect.

Detailed Description Of The Invention

Running through this has openly enumerated and has comprised for example various kinds of document of publication and patent.The relevant portion of all these documents is incorporated herein by reference.Quoting of any specific document all may not be interpreted as its approval as prior art of the present invention.When any implication of term in any implication of term in this written document record or definition and the document that is incorporated herein by reference or define when conflicting, will be as the criterion with the implication or the definition of giving term in this written document record.

Except as otherwise noted, all percentages and ratio are all calculated by weight.Except as otherwise noted, all percentages and ratio all calculate based on total composition.

What this paper quoted is the trade name of the used component that comprises multiple composition of the present invention.The inventor of this paper is not intended to be subject to the material of a certain trade name.Can be substituted and be used for the explanation of this paper with the material of those material equivalences of mentioning with trade name (for example, those that obtain from the difference source with different titles or reference number).

Multiple embodiments or independent feature are disclosed in specification of the present invention.It is evident that for those of ordinary skill in the art all combinations of these embodiments and feature all are possible, and can cause preferred enforcement of the present invention.

The composition of this paper can comprise, basically by or form by any key element as herein described.

Though illustrate and described multiple embodiments of the present invention and independent feature, under the situation that does not deviate from the spirit and scope of the present invention, can carry out multiple other change and modification to it.It is evident that equally all combinations of aforementioned open middle embodiment that proposes and feature all are possible and can cause preferred enforcement of the present invention.

Term used herein " pet " is meant domestic animal, includes but not limited to domesticated dog, cat, horse, cow, ferret, rabbit, pig etc.Preferred domesticated dog of this paper and cat.

Term used herein " pet food compositions " is meant a kind of composition of being absorbed by pet of being intended to.Pet food compositions can comprise the nutrient balance composition that is applicable to daily feeding without restriction, and enriching substance (for example, rewarding food with bounties).Enriching substance can be a nutrient balance or unbalanced.

Term used herein " active probiotic microorganisms " or similar terms are meant the probiotic micro-organisms of activated state, and this paper is defined as and includes but not limited to those probios at resting state and spore state.

Composition of the present invention

The present invention relates to pet food compositions, said composition is highly stable so that biological components is present in the composition when pet food compositions is absorbed by mammal, thereby keeps the activity of composition.Described pet food compositions comprises:

(a) comprise first component of protein source, fat source and carbohydrate source; With

(b) have about 0.2 or second component of lower water activity, wherein said second component comprises biological components, and described biological components is selected from: have at least about 10 ⁵The probiotic composition of the active probiotic microorganisms of CFU/g second component; Yeast; Enzyme; Antibody; Immunoglobulin (Ig); Cell factor; And their combination.

Pet food compositions can be taked any oral form.Pet food compositions is that this area is understandable, for example, and dry food (that is the kibble of extruding at least in part) and non-friable food (for example, half-dried food) or their mixture.In one embodiment of the invention, pet food compositions is the mixture of dry food (first component) and non-friable food (second component, the lipid constituent of dependence this paper).

First component of described composition and second component be the component that differs greatly of physical property (for example, first component and second component are because be as United States Patent (USP) 6,254, the double structure component that 910 described " softer lipoid parts " and " shelly or harder host material part " constitute can not combine).In one embodiment, the bigger processing conditions of relative intensity in the extrusion, second component does not use the method for extruding to obtain.Pet food compositions can multiple arbitrarily first component and the form of the different compositions of second component provide.For example, pet food compositions can first component and the form of the mixture of second component provide.In order to illustrate, first component can a plurality of kibble (it is extruded at least in part) form provide, and second component can a plurality of piller forms provide, and wherein said composition provides with the form of the different mixtures of kibble and piller.

As another example, can the disperse form of packing composition of first component and second component provides, and they can any required mode make up when feeding.In order to illustrate, pet food compositions can comprise first and comprise device and second and comprise device, and wherein first comprises device and comprise at least a portion first component, and second comprises device comprises at least a portion second component.For example, first to comprise device can be a bag, and second to comprise device can be a jar.For the purpose of consumer's convenience, the bag that comprises at least a portion first component also can comprise the jar that contains at least a portion second component.Arbitrarily multiple other composition will be that those those of ordinary skill in the art are known.

Pet food compositions or its component can be nutrient balance or unbalanced.Term used herein is that " nutrient balance " is meant that according to the suggestion of generally acknowledging the authoritative sources in the pet nutrition field, described composition or component comprise the known required nutriment that earns a bare living that removes the additionally required water with proper content and ratio about pet food compositions or its component.

First component

First component of pet food compositions of the present invention comprises draws together protein source, carbohydrate source and/or fat source.The example of first component comprises traditional pet food compositions, as kibble.First component itself can be a nutrient balance or unbalanced.In one embodiment, first component is a nutrient balance.

In one embodiment, first component can comprise by described first composition weight based on about 20% to about 50% crude protein of dry or about 22% to about 40% crude protein.The crude protein material can comprise anyly having by weight at least about the material of 15% protein content, and its limiting examples comprises vegetable protein such as soybean, cottonseed and peanut, animal protein such as casein, albumin and meat tissue.The limiting examples that can be used for meat tissue of the present invention comprises fresh meat and dried or refining meat, for example fish meal, poultry powder, digested tankage, bone meal etc.Other crude protein source that is suitable for comprises wheat gluten or corn gluten, and extracts from microbe-derived protein as yeast.

First component comprises fat source.In one embodiment, first component can comprise by about 5% to about 35% the fat of described first composition weight based on dry, preferred about 10% to about 30% fat.Fat source is widely known by the people, and comprises those fat source about lipid constituent hereinafter described.

Cereal or cereal such as rice, corn, chinese sorghum, Chinese sorghum, barley, alfalfa, wheat etc. are illustrative carbohydrate sources.These carbohydrate sources and typical content thereof are widely known by the people in traditional pet food compositions.

Cure the method suitable with other though can use, the appropriate method for preparing pet food compositions first component of the present invention is extrusion method at least in part.Dry pet food provides with the kibble form when being extruded usually.EP 0,850, described the method in 569.

Second component

Be present in second component in the pet food compositions of the present invention and have about 0.2 or lower water activity.Second component comprises biological components, and described biological components is selected from: have at least about 10 ⁵The probiotic composition of the active probiotic microorganisms of CFU/g second component; Yeast; Enzyme; Antibody; Immunoglobulin (Ig); Cell factor and their combination.

This paper finds that so low water activity is most important to success of the present invention.For example, be not bound by theory, low water activity can make the probiotic micro-organisms of some or all existence keep resting state, or has in other words kept biological integrality.Some has higher water pet food active and that comprise probiotic micro-organisms may be unsettled.That is, nearly all this microorganism may not be active when commercial distribution.An example that comprises the commercial pet food of probiotic micro-organisms is BLUE (advertisement claims it to comprise " active body ", can be used for adult dog), can be commercially available from Blue BuffaloCompany.Other biologic product may be less known in the pet food field.

Second component has about 0.2 or lower, and perhaps about 0.1 or lower water activity.For example, second component can have about 0.5 to about 0.15 water activity.Term used herein " water activity " (a _w) be often referred to the amount of the free water that can be used for chemical reaction.The water activity can use method known to those skilled in the art to measure.The active NovaSina TH200 water determination of activity meter that uses of water is determined down at 25 ℃ herein.Say that simply this measures meter and uses correction salt to proofread and correct.The sample that needs to measure is the temperature balance in measuring meter.(typical case 10 to 20 minutes) water activity is determined after reaching balance, represents divided by 100 with percentage relative humidity (%RH).

Second component comprises biological components, and described biological components is selected from: have at least about 10 ⁵The probiotic composition of the active probiotic microorganisms of CFU/g second component; Yeast; Enzyme; Antibody; Immunoglobulin (Ig); And their combination.

Second component can comprise a kind of probiotic composition.Described probiotic composition comprises one or more probiotic micro-organisms, it is edible and effective to the microbial balance that improves in the pet intestines and stomach that these microorganisms are fit to pet, perhaps have other beneficial effect, for example alleviate or prevent pet disease or illness (beneficial effect of the present invention method hereinafter partly have more specifically describe).Multiple probiotic micro-organisms known in the art is applicable to the present invention.Referring to for example WO 03/075676, Societe DesProduits Nestle is published on September 18th, 2003.

In one embodiment of the invention, probiotic composition is selected from bacillus, bacteroid, Bifidobacterium, enterococcus (for example, VREF DSM 10663), lactic acid bacteria and leukonid and their combination.In another embodiment of the invention, described probio is selected from Bifidobacterium, lactic acid bacteria and their combination.

Those bacillus can form spore.In one embodiment, probiotic composition does not form spore.

The limiting examples of the lactic acid bacteria that this paper is suitable for comprises streptococcus lactis, streptococcus cremoris, the biacetyl streptococcus, streptococcus thermophilus, lactobacillus bulgaricus, lactobacillus acidophilus, (for example, lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 13241), Switzerland's Bacillus acidi lactici, the bifid lactobacillus, Lactobacillus casei, lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, lactobacillus thermophilus, lactobacillus fermenti, Lactobacillus salivarius, lactobacillus reuteri, long Bifidobacterium Bifidum, bifidobacterium infantis, bifidobacterium bifidum, the animal Bifidobacterium Bifidum, false Bifidobacterium, with the pediococcus cerevisiae bacterial strain, or their mixture, preferred Lactobacillus salivarius, bifidobacterium infantis, or their mixture.

As a limiting examples, preferably from the excision and the washing the isolated bifidobacterium bacterial strains of human gi-tract, as disclosed bacterial strain in WO 00/42168.For example, can use the bifidobacterium infantis that is designated as UCC35624, this bacterial strain was left with at National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Ltd. (NCIMB) on January 13rd, 1999, and numbered NCIMB 41003.May be particularly useful from the dog or the isolated bacterial strain of cat intestines and stomach of excision and washing.

As another limiting examples, preferably from the isolated lactobacillus salivarius strains of human gi-tract of excision and washing, as the bacterial strain of in WO 98/35014, describing.More preferably be designated as the lactobacillus salivarius strains of UCC 1 and UCC 118, this bacterial strain is stored at National Collections of Industrial and MarineBacteria Ltd (NCIMB) on November 27th, 1996 and also numbers NC IMB 40830 and NCIMB 40829 respectively.

The amount of the active probiotic microorganisms that second component has is that every gram second component is at least about 10 ⁵CFU (CFU), or every gram second component is at least about 10 ⁶CFU, or every gram second component is at least about 10 ⁸CFU.For example, the amount of second component active probiotic microorganisms that can have is every gram second component at most about 10 ¹²CFU, or every gram second component maximum about 10 ¹⁰CFU, or every gram second component maximum about 10 ⁹CFU.The counting of CFU definition is measured by method provided below.Advantageously, composition provided herein comprises and has at least about three months, and alternatively about three months to about 24 months, alternatively about six months second components to about 18 months shelf life.Term used herein " shelf life " is meant in second component about 1% or more, alternatively about 5% or more, alternatively about 10% or more, alternatively about 25% or more, alternatively about 50% or more, alternatively about 75% or more probiotic micro-organisms be active in prescribed period of time after being exposed to ambient environmental conditions.

Second component can comprise yeast.It will be well known in the art can utilizing any multiple yeast and these yeast, and for example those saccharomyces comprise for example saccharomyces cerevisiae (being sometimes referred to as " Saccharomyces cerevisiae "), and candida utili (also can be described as the torulopsis bacterium).Yeast used herein includes but not limited to that those take in the yeast of one or more components, for example mineral matter enrichment yeast from the culture environment of its growth.Multiple fermentation process is widely known by the people in this area.

Second component can comprise one or more enzymes.For example, because heating or other harsh processing conditions, but enzyme variability and so loss of biological activity.Enzyme comprises that especially those have the enzyme of beneficial organism activity in pet body, for example digestive ferment or other treatment enzyme.Limiting examples comprises protease, clostridiopetidase A, lipase, amylase, cellulase, lysozyme, yeast enzyme, lactase, kinase, invertase, gala candy glycosides enzyme, pectase, ribalgilase (comprising deoxyribonuclease) and their combination.

Second component can comprise one or more antibody.The antibody such as antibody preferred virus, pathogen, parasite that can be used for this paper.Limiting examples comprises Feline Rhinotracheitis antibody, panleukopenia antibody, feline calicivirus antibody, cat's flu antibody, cat leukaemia antibody, distemper antibody, canine parvovirus antibody, coronavirus antibody, borrelia burgdorferi (lime disease) antibody, toxoplasma gondii antibody, Escherichia coli antibody, campylobacter antibody, antibodies toward salmonella, clostridium antibody, bacteroid antibody, giardia lamblia antibody, tapeworm antibody, roundworm antibody, coccidia antibody, Cryptosporidium antibody, and their combination.

Second component can comprise one or more immunoglobulin (Ig)s.Limiting examples comprises immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and their combination.

Second component can comprise one or more cell factors.Limiting examples comprises transforming growth factor (TGF-β), interleukin-4, interleukin-10, il-1 2 and their combination.

Among other embodiment, second component can comprise weight by second component at least about 0.001%, alternatively at least about 0.01%, alternatively at least about 0.1%, alternatively at least about 0.5%, alternatively at least about 1% biological components.In other example, second component can comprise by the weight of second component about 99% or still less, alternatively about 75% or still less, alternatively about 50% or still less, alternatively about 25% or still less, alternatively about 10% or still less and alternatively about 5% or biological components still less.

Second component also can comprise prebiotics." prebiotics " comprises material or the compound that the intestines bacterium colony fermentation of pet produces, and therefore promotes growth or the development of the lactic acid bacteria in the pet intestines and stomach and suppresses growth of pathogenic bacteria.The result of fermentation is release fat acid, specifically the SCFA in the colon.This has the effect that reduces the pH value in the colon.The limiting examples of suitable prebiotics comprises compound sugar, and for example inulin and hydrolysate thereof are commonly referred to FOS, galactooligosaccharide, xylo-oligosaccharide or oligomeric starch derivatives.Prebiotics can any suitable form provide.For example, the prebiotics vegetable material form that can comprise fiber provides.Suitable vegetable material comprises the dregs of asparagus, globe artichoke, onion, wheat or witloof or these vegetable materials.Alternatively, prebiotic fiber can the inulin extract form provide, and for example the extract of witloof is suitable.Suitable inulin extract can be obtained from Orafti SA of Tirlemont 3300, Belgium, trade mark " Raftiline ".For example, inulin can Raftiline (g) ST form provide, and this is a kind of refining white powder, comprises about by weight 90% to about 94% inulin, at most about 4% glucose and fructose and about sucrose of 4% to 9%.Alternatively, fiber can be the form of FOS, for example is obtained from Orafti SA of Tirlemont 3300, Belgium, the FOS of trade mark " Raftilose ".For example, inulin can Raftilose (g) P95 form provide.In addition, FOS can pass through hydrolytic inulin, enzyme process or use microorganism to obtain.

In the embodiment of this paper, second component be a kind of bag by component, promptly a kind ofly comprise core and at least in part around the component of the dressing of core.In a this embodiment, core comprises at least a portion probiotic composition, and dressing comprises multiple typical coating substance arbitrarily.For example, dressing can comprise lipid constituent or sweetener component (for simplicity, this two kinds of components being described hereinafter).For example, dressing can comprise the sweetener component that contains sucrose, is similar to dressing or other similar substance on the standard candy.

Pet food compositions of the present invention comprises first component and second component.In one embodiment of the invention, first component and second component can be by weight at least about 2: 1, or at least about 5: 1, or exist at least about 10: 1 ratio.In another embodiment of the invention, first component and second component can about by weight 2: 1 to about 50: 1, or about 5: 1 to about 25: 1, or about 10: 1 exist to about 20: 1 ratio.In another embodiment, first component provides (for example, at least in part for extruding kibble) with the form of a plurality of discrete fritters, and second component provides (for example, semi-solid fritter) with the form of a plurality of discrete fritters.In this embodiment, the number of the discrete fritter of first component and second component can be at least about 2: 1, or at least about 5: 1, or exist at least about 10: 1 ratio.In another embodiment of the invention, the number of the discrete fritter of first component and second component can be at least about 2: 1 to about 50: 1, or about 5: 1 to about 25: l, or existed to about 20: 1 ratio in about 10: 1.

Other optional components

Except the required component of first component and second component, first component also can comprise optional components, for example those described any components that are used for second component.Equally, second component can comprise optional components, and those described any components that are used for first component for example are though first component is different with second component on forming.

Pet food compositions can comprise one or more other components that is applicable to pet food compositions.These optional components can be present in other different component that first component, second component or this paper clearly do not describe.Illustrative (non-limiting) optional components is described below:

In one embodiment, composition can comprise lipid constituent, and this component can be used for providing the stability of probiotic composition.When first component needed fat source, lipid constituent also can preferentially provide in second component.Lipid constituent can be any component that comprises fat source, and this paper is defined as it and comprises for example wax, fat, aliphatic acid and lipoid.The special embodiment of wax, fat, aliphatic acid or lipoid often is interchangeable according to the common nomenclature in this area.For example, lipoid often also can be described to fat.The inventor of this paper does not desire to be subjected to the restriction of any concrete nomenclature, and it only is for convenience needs that concrete material is categorized as wax, fat, aliphatic acid, lipoid etc.

For example, lipid constituent can comprise fat, and this fat is the coconut oil component; The coconut oil component of this paper definition comprises one or more coconut oil, a kind of coconut oil filler, a kind of coconut oil substitute or a kind of coconut oil substitute.Given fat can be classified into the wherein a kind of of coconut oil filler, coconut oil substitute or coconut oil substitute, or can be classified into two or more coconut oil fillers, coconut oil substitute or coconut oil substitute sometimes.When using, each coconut oil filler, coconut oil substitute or coconut oil substitute can be a kind of concrete fat or these the fatty any mixtures in the reference kind.

Coconut oil is that this area is known usually, typically refers to from the fat that is used to prepare chocolate cocoa bean.Cocoa bean is obtained from the beans that cocoa chocolate tree is tied.

The coconut oil component additionally or alternatively can comprise a kind of coconut oil filler.These fillers also are that this area is known usually, typically refer to other and have SFI (SFI) feature, and are similarly fatty with coconut oil.The coconut oil filler can comprise and contain C ₁₆Or C ₁₈The fat of aliphatic acid or its combination.Palm oil, shea oil, mist ice grass grease oil, cottonseed oil and soybean oil comprise its cut and/or partial hydrogenation form, are the limiting examples of coconut oil filler.

The coconut oil component additionally or alternatively can comprise a kind of coconut oil substitute.These substitutes also will be that this area is known usually, typically refer to its fusion or other character, or the structure fat similar to coconut oil, and they are based on non-bay acid type fat (for example, C ₁₆Or C ₁₈).These fat comprise vegetable oil such as palm oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil and rapeseed oil, comprise its cut and/or partial hydrogenation form.An embodiment is ASTRAL ^R (partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean oil and cottonseed oil), from being positioned at Cordova, the Humko 0il Products of TN is commercially available).

The coconut oil component additionally or alternatively can comprise a kind of coconut oil substitute.These substitutes also will be that this area is known usually, typically refer to its fusion or other character, or the structure stearic fat similar to coconut oil, but they are based on bay acid type fat (C ₁₂).These coconut oil substitutes can be tending towards having the fusing point higher than coconut oil, make that these substitutes are interesting, because it gives the composition heat resistance.These fat comprise vegetable oil such as palm-kernel oil and coconut oil, comprise its cut and/or partial hydrogenation form.

In one embodiment, the coconut oil component comprises at least a lipoid, and described lipoid is selected from the cut of soybean oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, rapeseed oil, palm-kernel oil, aforementioned substances and the partial hydrogenation form of aforementioned substances.

Alternatively or additionally, lipid constituent can comprise a kind of fatty ingredient of animal origin.The fatty ingredient of animal origin comprises a kind of fat derived from animal, and this point will be that this area is known usually.Limiting examples comprises beef, poultry, pork and mutton (for example, lard and butter).Dairy fat can be an example also, comprises butterfat, fractionating milk fats and butterfat.

In one embodiment, lipid constituent can comprise the combination of coconut oil component and animal origin fatty ingredient, and its ratio is about 5: 95 to about 95: 5 by weight, or about 5: 95 to about 25: 75, or about 5: 95 to about 50: 50.In another embodiment of this paper, lipid constituent comprises coconut oil component and animal origin fatty ingredient, and its ratio is about 20: 80 to about 45: 55 by weight, or about 25: 75 to about 40: 60.

Alternatively or additionally, lipid constituent can comprise aliphatic acid.Exemplary source comprises Ω-3 or Ω-6 aliphatic acid.

Omega-3-fatty acid (s) is preferably derived from ocean (fish) resource, comprises catfish (a kind of fish of black carp sample) and therefore can originate derived from these.The limiting examples in omega-3-fatty acid (s) source comprises DHA (" DHA ") or eicosapentaenoic acid (" EPA "), and OMEGAPURE for example can be from being positioned at Inc., Houston, and the Omega Protein of TX is commercially available.This paper has also considered the form of ownership of aliphatic acid.For example, DHA usually provides with the triglycerides form.Equally, wherein mentioned a kind of special aliphatic acid (for example " DHA "), this aliphatic acid comprises free form and other form of aliphatic acid, for example naturally occurring triglycerides or other form.Utilize term DHA, EPA or other concrete term for simplicity, this will be commonly understood in the art to the form of ownership that comprises these term representative species.

This paper can utilize Ω-6-aliphatic acid.This is known in the art, and Ω-6-aliphatic acid is those when when carbon atom begins to count, having the fatty acid material of two keys from the Ω (end) of carbochain between the 6th and the 7th carbon atom of fatty acid chain.

Other aliphatic acid example that is suitable for can comprise oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid and laurate, comprise their suitable salt.More suitable fatty acids embodiment comprise its ester or other derivative, for example cetyl palmitate, acetate, lactic acid or citric acid monoglyceride and triglyceride fatty acid, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate and monoglyceride, diglyceride and triglycerides (some in them also can be described as fat).

Lipid constituent can comprise the mixture of omega-3-fatty acid (s) and Ω-6-aliphatic acid, often by utilizing the multiple material that comprises these components to obtain.The preferred composition that can be used for this paper can be rich in one or more special omega-3-fatty acid (s)s or Ω-6-aliphatic acid.

Alternatively or additionally, composition can comprise wax.For example, exemplary wax comprises that paraffin, beeswax (for example, white or yellow), Brazil wax, candelila wax, microwax, rice bran wax, spermaceti and emulsification are cured.

Alternatively or additionally, described composition can comprise a kind of polysaccharide such as lac or chitin.

Arbitrarily multiple other lipoid source can be additionally or alternatively as this paper part or all lipid constituent be utilized.

Pet food compositions can comprise sweetener component, and it can be used for the probio ingredient stability.The sweetener component of this paper definition is a kind of monose, disaccharides, complexing carbohydrate or any their mixture.

In one embodiment, the pet food compositions of this paper comprises a kind of monose.In one embodiment, second component comprises monose.The monose general molecular formula C that this paper utilizes _nH _2nO _n, wherein n is equal to or greater than 3 integer.The limiting examples of available monose comprises sorbierite, mannitol, erythrose, threose, ribose, arabinose, wood sugar, ribulose, glucose, galactolipin, mannose, fructose, sorbose and their mixture.In one embodiment, monose can comprise sorbierite, mannitol, glucose, mannose, fructose and their mixture.In another embodiment, described monose is sorbierite.

In one embodiment, the pet food compositions of this paper comprises a kind of disaccharides.In one embodiment, second component comprises disaccharides.The disaccharides general molecular formula C that this paper utilizes _nH _2n-2O _N-1, wherein disaccharides contains 2 monosaccharide units that connect by glycosidic bond.In the formula, n is equal to or greater than 3 integer.This paper can comprise sucrose, maltose, lactitol, maltitol, maltulose, lactose and their mixture with the limiting examples of disaccharides.In another embodiment, described disaccharides is a sucrose.

In one embodiment, the pet food compositions of this paper comprises a kind of complexing carbohydrate.In one embodiment, second component comprises the complexing carbohydrate.The complexing carbohydrate of this paper utilization is compound sugar, polysaccharide and/or carbohydrate derivates, for example compound sugar and/or polysaccharide.Term as used herein " compound sugar " refers to have the digested linear molecule of 3 to 9 monosaccharide units, and wherein these unit link to each other by the glycosidic bond covalency.Polysaccharide can be straight or branched.Preferably, polysaccharide contains 9 to 20 monosaccharide units.Carbohydrate derivates, polyalcohol (for example, glycerine) for example also can be used as the complexing carbohydrate utilization of this paper.

The limiting examples of complexing carbohydrate comprises gossypose, stachyose, maltotriose, maltotetraose, glycogen, amylose, amylopectin, dextrosan and maltodextrin.

In one embodiment, the complexing carbohydrate is a maltodextrin.Maltodextrin is a kind of like this complexing carbohydrate, and its length is equivalent to several glucose units.Be not bound by theory, because maltodextrin is hydrolyzed to glucose in alimentary canal, it can be used as the expansion source of glucose.Maltodextrin can be by cornstarch being controlled the spray-dired carbohydrate component of hydrolysis preparation.

In one embodiment, the sweetener component that comprises monose, disaccharides or complexing carbohydrate has about 80 ℃ to about 140 ℃, or about 90 ℃ to about 120 ℃ fusing point, this stability to the probiotic composition of wherein having utilized sweetener component is especially favourable.Limiting examples comprises monose, for example sorbierite or xylitol.

As an example, wherein utilized sweetener component, the pet food compositions of this paper can comprise weight by described composition at least about 0.001%, or at least about 0.1%, or at least about 1%, or at least about 5%, or at least about 10%, or at least about 20% sweetener component.As more example, the pet food compositions of this paper can comprise by the weight of described composition about 99% or lower, or about 90% or lower, or about 95% or lower, or about 75% or lower, or about 50% or lower sweetener component.

Pet food compositions can comprise for example does whey or other dairy products byproduct component.

Pet food compositions can comprise fiber.In certain embodiments, composition can comprise supplementary fibre source (that is the fiber the intrinsic fiber in being present in for example protein source, fat source or carbohydrate source).

The supplementary fibre source can comprise fermentation property fiber.Fermentation property fiber is known in the art.Fermentation property fiber can be any fibre source, and the enteric bacteria that is present in the animal body can make its fermentation, to produce SCFA or other metabolism component.The limiting examples of above-mentioned fermentation fiber comprises megasse (from sugar beet), gum arabic, talha gum, plantain seed, rice bran, locust bean gum, oranges and tangerines slag, pectin, FOS, sweet dew poly oligosaccharide, fibre and soya, Arabic glycosyl galactolipin, galactooligosaccharide, arabinose sill glycan and their mixture.

Usually, mammal can not digest fermentation property fiber, but enteric bacteria such as Bifidobacterium can be with its metabolism.Yet not every enteric bacteria can both metabolism fermentation property fiber.Specifically, bacterium such as salmonella, Escherichia coli and clostridium can not be with this fiber metabolism to any significant degree.This preferred digestic property that can be applicable to fermentation property fiber-like is used to improve the enteral overall flora of pet.Because only " good " bacterium such as lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium can be food with fermentation property fiber, harmful bacteria such as salmonella, Escherichia coli and clostridial quantity are owing to the minimizing of food source can descend.Therefore, by preferred food source is provided to probiotics, there is the additional diet of fermentation property fiber can increase the amount that " good " enteric bacteria also reduces " bad " bacterium simultaneously.

Megasse and FOS especially short chain FOS are the especially preferred fermentation fibers that can be used for this paper.As an example, FOS is naturally occurring compound, and it can be present in multiple fruit or the vegetables, comprises banana, barley, garlic, honey, onion, naked barley, brown sugar, tomato, asparagus, globe artichoke, wheat, Smallantus sonchifolium or witloof.FOS can be for example be provided with the form of cichory root, as long-chain FOS (for example inulin), or as short chain oligofructose.What this paper was particularly useful is to comprise one of them 1-ketose (to be called for short GF ₂), Nystose (GF ₃) and 1F-β-fructofuranose base Nystose (GF ₄) FOS.Though FOS can extract from those plants mentioned in this article, they also can be by one, two or three fructose units being added on the sucrose molecule and artificial formation connects the fructose units of fructose units to sucrose by B-(2-1)-glucosides.For example, by Golden TechnologiesCompany, Incorporated is commercially available, and (it is a kind of short chain oligofructose to FOS, comprises 1-ketose, Nystose and 1F-β-fructofuranose base Nystose with trade name NUTRAFLORA.And for example, the mixture of a kind of short chain oligofructose and inulin can be PREBI01 or commercially available RAFTILOSE and the mixture of RAFTILINE.

FOS can be the short chain FOS, and this is that those of ordinary skill in the art is known.What this paper was particularly useful is to comprise the 1-ketose (to be called for short GF ₂), Nystose (GF ₃) and 1F-β-fructofuranose base Nystose (GF ₄) the short chain FOS.In a preferred embodiment, the short chain FOS comprises the 1-ketose by the weight of short chain FOS about 25% to about 45%, about 25% to about 45% Nystose and 1F-β-fructofuranose base Nystose of about 1% to about 20%, alternatively by the 1-ketose of the weight of short chain FOS about 30% to about 40%, about 50% to about 60% Nystose and 1F-β-fructofuranose base Nystose of about 5% to about 15%.For example, the short chain FOS with trade name NUTRAFLORA by Golden Technologies Company, Incorporated commercially available (it is a kind of short chain oligofructose, comprises 1-ketose by the weight of short chain FOS about 35%, 55% Nystose and 1F-β-fructofuranose base Nystose of 10%).

In one embodiment, fermentation property fiber can show some organic conversion percentages.In this optional embodiments, fermentation property fiber when by fecal bacteria external when surpassing glycolysis in 24 hours, its conversion rate of organic matter (OMD) will reach about 15% to about 60%.That is to say that about 15% to about 50% of the original total amount of this organic matter can be by fecal bacteria institute's glycolysis and conversion.The conversion rate of organic matter of described fiber alternatively is about 20% to about 50%, alternatively about 30% to about 40%.

Like this, the percentage of conversion rate of organic matter can be calculated by following formula in the test tube:

(1-((OM remnants-OM blank)/original OM)) * 100

Wherein OM remnants are organic matters of regaining after fermentation in 24 hours, and the OM blank is the organic matter (that is, comprise medium and dilution ight soil in the pipe, but do not have culture medium) that corresponding blank pipe regains, and original OM is prepended to organic matter in the pipe in fermentation.Other details of relevant this process see also people such as Sunvold, J.Anim.Sci., 73,1099-1109 (1995).

In the embodiment of this paper, composition can comprise by the weight of described composition at least about total fermentation fiber of 0.25%." fermentation property fiber always " is meant the reference content of measuring by the amount of each the fermentation property fiber that exists in the composition that adds up.For example, wherein a kind of composition comprises by the FOS of the weight 1% of described composition and 0.5% megasse, does not have other fermentation fiber.Described composition comprises the total fermentation fiber by the weight 1.5% of described composition.Alternatively, this composition can comprise by the weight of pet food compositions at least about total fermentation fiber of 0.5%, total fermentation fiber at least about 1%, total fermentation fiber at least about 2%, total fermentation fiber of alternatively about 1% to about 20%, total fermentation fiber of alternatively about 1% to about 10%, total fermentation fiber of alternatively about 2% to about 10%, or total fermentation fiber of alternatively about 3% to about 8%.

In the embodiment of this paper, pet food compositions can comprise nutraceutical.Health food used herein is meant a kind of food (as a kind of condensed food or dietary supplement) that healthy and helpful effect is provided.

Composition as herein described can comprise multiple arbitrarily to making the component of pet food processing conditions sensitivity commonly used.The integrality (perhaps fully or partly) that for example, can keep these sensitive ingredients.The limiting examples of sensitive ingredients comprises such component: when component is comprised in the commercial pet food of standard, in the standard extrusion, show to have and surpass about 10% loss (by weight), alternatively surpass about 20% loss, alternatively surpass about 50% loss.Extrusion method is known in the art.Comprise sensitive ingredients or alternative example comprise antioxidant such as vitamin, include but not limited to vitamin A (comprising its derivative form) as beta carotene and carotenoid, vitamin C (comprising its derivative form), vitamin E (comprising its derivative form), vitamin D (comprising its derivative form), phenol, carotenoid, alkaloid, xanthone, polyphenol, beta carotene, organic sulfur-containing acid, Indian yellow, kaemnferide, astaxanthin, γ-paddy oxygen acyl cystine, catechin, pterostilbene, canthaxanthin, cysteine, ellagic acid, quercetin, tuna lutein, isothiocyanates, baicalin, tocopherol, myricetin, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, resveratrol, anthocyanidin, annatto, isoflavones, vinpocetine, flavonols, lutein, coenzyme-Q10, OPC, lycopene, lipoic acid etc.

Other material that can exist in the present composition comprises mineral matter, such as but not limited to calcium carbonate, calcium, boron, selenium, calcium chloride, chloride, Ferrous Fumarate, zinc acetate, Choline Chloride, chromium, ferrous gluconate, zinc sulfate, methyl is than pyridine chromium, cobalt, magnesia, zinc gluconate, Dicalcium Phosphate, copper, magnesium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, iodine, magnesium carbonate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, iron, chromium picolinate, potassium chloride, magnesium, calcium citrate, potassium citrate, manganese, calcium lactate, potassium sorbate, phosphorus, calcium gluconae, niter cake, potassium, chromium chloride, calgon, sodium, nicotinic acid chromium, tricalcium phosphate, zinc, chromium citrate, comprise the yeast of any of these mineral matter etc.

Use method of the present invention

This composition can be used to send beneficial effect after oral by animal, preferred pet.This beneficial effect keeps and improves the general health of animal usually.Animal health and physiological non-limiting factor are of value to mitigation symptoms on acology, and perhaps prevent disease is perhaps improved holistic health, comprise immune system treatment, gastrointestinal system treatment, skin or fur treatment, pressure therapy and their combination.Limiting examples comprises the inflammatory imbalance, immune deficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer (especially those stomach and immune system), otitis externa, diarrhea disease, the diarrhoea that antibiotic is relevant, appendicitis, the autoimmunity imbalance, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer disease, amyloidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, joint motion, hip dysplasia, diabetes, insulin resistance, bacterial infection, virus infections, fungal infection, periodontosis, the urogenital disease, spontaneous cystitis, interstitial cystitis, the damage that operation is relevant, the metastatic disease that operation is induced, septicaemia, body weight goes down, body weight increases, the adipose tissue excessive buildup, apocleisis, fever control, cachexia, the wound rehabilitation, ulcer, the intestines wall infects, irritated, asthma, breathe imbalance, circulatory disorder, coronary heart disease, anaemia, the imbalance of blood clotting system, ephrosis, central nervous system disorder, hepatopathy, ischemic, trophic disturbance, treatment or prevention and the relevant imbalance of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axle, osteoporosis, endocrinopathy, and epidermis imbalance.Preferred GI treatment comprises treatment or prevention diarrhoea; Immune system is regulated, preferred therapeutic or prevention autoimmune disease and inflammation, keep or improve skin and/or fur system health, the atopic diseases of preferred therapeutic or prevention skin, treatment or prevention and the relevant imbalance of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axle, improve or reduce the effect of aging, comprise spirit and consciousness and activity level; And stoping body weight to go down between infection period and after infecting.

Immunological regulation

Above disclosed imbalance treatment can use technology known to those skilled in the art to measure.For example, the inflammatory imbalance that comprises autoimmune disease and inflammation can use the interior immunologic function test of body to detect and monitor, for example lymphocyte blastogenesis, natural killer cell activity, vaccine antibody reaction, delayed allergy and their combination.This paper has briefly described these methods, but this also is that those skilled in the art is known.

1. lymphocyte blastogenesis: this check and analysis method detects the in-vitro multiplication reaction of the lymphocyte of separation self-checking and control-animal fresh whole blood to different mitogens, is a kind of measuring method to all T-and B-cell function.Concise and to the point says, separates PMNC (PBMC) by Ficoll-Hypaque Density Gradient Centrifugation well known by persons skilled in the art from whole blood.The PBMC that separates is washed twice in RPMI 1640 cell culture mediums that add HEPES, L-glutamine and penicillin/streptomycin.Cell after the washing is resuspended among the RPMI 1640, and counting is suitably adjusted cell density.2 * 10 of trisection sample ⁵Individual cell is being exposed under the different mitogens of finite concentration scope (0.1mg/ml to 100mg/ml), and some examples comprise dyers' grapes mitogen (Gibco), phytohemagglutin phytolectin (Gibco) and companion's concanavalin A (Sigma), at 37 ℃ of following and 5%CO ₂And in 10% the hyclone (Sigma), cultivated 72 hours.At 54 hour cell 1mCi ³The H-thymidine impacts, and reads the cell harvesting amount in 72 hours on TopCount NXT.

2. natural killer cell activity: as United States Patent (USP) 6,310,090 is described, and this check and analysis method is measured the vitro effect activity of the NK that separates self-checking and control-animal fresh whole blood.NK is a component of mammal innate immunity function.The dog thyroid carcinoma cell is used as target cell when assessment NK cellular cytoxicity activity.This clone demonstration in the past is easy to the cell killing by dog NK.Target cell is cultivated in a T75 flask, and the MEM (MEM of 20mL is arranged in the flask; Sigma Chem.Co., St.Louis Mo.), has added 10% tire calf serum (FCS), the penicillin of 100U/mL and the streptomysin of 100mg/mL.When cell was paved with, target cell was washed 3 times, with 5 * 10 by trypsin treatment ⁵Cell/mL is suspended in (streptomysin of penicillin+100mg/mL of RPMI-1640+10%FCS+100U/mL) in the complete medium again.The 100mL trisection sample of target cell changed over to by pipette in the U-base plate in 96-hole (Costar, Cambridge, Mass.) and cultivate and made cell adhere in 8 hours.Lymphocyte (effector cell; 100mL) separate, join in the target cell effector cell/target cell (E: T) ratio then to provide 10: 1 by Ficoll-Hypaque separator (as indicated above).37 ℃ cultivate 10 hours after, add 20ml comprise 5mg 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-y1)-2, the culture medium of 5-diphenyl Thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide indigo plant (MTT).Mixture was cultivated 4 hours at 37 ℃.Remove the MTT of not metabolism after this by suction.The 95% ethanol dissolving first complex crystallization that adds 200mL.Use the microplate reader in 570nm measuring light density.The molten born of the same parents' of NK cell-specific percentage calculation is as follows:

SC (%)=100 * 1-[(target cell and effector cell's OD-effector cell's OD)/(OD of target cell)]

3. vaccine antibody reaction: the experimenter is given one group of (maximum 5) vaccine at least feeding probio or tester after 12 weeks.Vaccine can be the mixture of new generation vaccine and unnecessary vaccine.The limiting examples of spendable vaccine group comprises the vaccine mixture of Fort Dodge AnimalHealth preparation.The limiting examples of the vaccine that this paper is suitable for comprises distemper vaccine, adenovirus vaccine, coronavirus vaccine, parainfluenza virus vaccine and parvovirus vaccine.Experimenter's vaccine history will determine the vaccine of use.The specific antibody of given vaccine was measured for 3 weeks in blood, relatively the length and the intensity of control group and the group reaction of probio feeding.

4. delayed allergy: this is the method for non-damage in a kind of body of assessing the immune system state.This test comprises intracutaneous injection polyclone mitogen phytohemagglutin phytolectin (PHA) and sheep red blood cell (SRBC) polyvaccine, histamine (the 0.0275g/L histamine phosphate of 100 μ L; Greer, Lenoir, NC) or PBS (phosphate buffer of 100 μ L, 8.5g/L; Sigma).Immune response to antigen is registered as skin fold thickness, uses caliper to measure in 0,24,48 and 72 hour after injection.The stronger hypersensitivity of increase indication of skin fold thickness, it will reduce after using bacterium of the present invention to treat.

Other method of measuring present composition effect is described in United States Patent (USP) 6,133,323 and 6,310,090.

Organization

Aging improves effect and can use two X-line absorption instrument or computer tomography instrument (CT) scanning to measure.These instruments are used to measure organization, comprise BFM, non-fat mass and BMC.Equally, the method can be used for measuring the anatomy change as metainfective weight loss of experimenter or bone density decline.

Ease off the pressure

The present invention also can be used for alleviating the method for the imbalance relevant with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axle overactivity, and the level that for example eases off the pressure comprises and improves the pet mood or alleviate the pet depression.The blood pressure hormone comprises adrenaline, norepinephrine, dopamine, cortisol and C-reactive protein, can measure these hormones with measure stress level with and alleviate or keep.These hormones are considered to the biomarker of pressure, use technology well known by persons skilled in the art easily to be measured.In addition, because the adrenal gland hypertrophy is the result of the active increase of hpa axis, therefore can use the CT imaging directly to measure adrenal size.The biochemistry of hpa axis activity and physiologic measurement also can carry out with the behavior assessment of confirming mammal mood or stress level.

Skin and fur health

In addition, keeping or improving and comprise treatment skin atopic diseases, improve skin barrier function or optimize the skin microbial ecological that this can measure by skin and the fur assessment that carry out through the personnel of training by two pet skin or fur system health.The example of check criteria comprises during this assessment:

A) index that comes off: come to be tried the individual exponential valuation that comes off to each by being collected in the hair that comes off in the standardized bristle program.Hair is retained and weighs, and will contrast individual and be tried individuality and compare.

B) skin/fur subjective evaluation: through the panelist of training by assessment comes off, scurf, gloss, the uniformity, flexibility and density are come subjective evaluation skin and fur situation.

C) skin function assessment: skin barrier function can be coated with by the gauze that soaks with acetone to be put skin surface on the skin and assesses.This technology has been destroyed skin barrier by removing monolayer effectively with the cuticula lipoid part that links to each other.Use method known to those skilled in the art, quantize by measuring through the increase situation of epidermis dehydration (TEWL) and the degree that reddens in infringement site, can destroying to barrier.Use (erythema) score that obtains to redden of aforementioned camera and illuminator.Obtain the TEWL reading and the score that reddens before skin destroys and after destroying immediately, and when the end points of five hours and 24 hours, also obtain these data to assess the protective value and the healing properties of skin.

Stomach health

The present invention is used to improve gut health or treatment or prevention intestinal disease, comprises diarrhoea and inflammatory bowel disease, can use defecation frequency to measure to pet.The defecation mark can carry out record according to following guilding principle, uses control group and test group before the bacterium as described in the present invention and situation afterwards compares.

Mark: 5 is extremely dry

This ight soil is hard and can not adhere on the surface.Ight soil will roll when being pushed.Non-notch when ight soil is picked up.Ight soil is discharged with the form of one group of single ight soil, rather than a monoblock.Ight soil keeps original shape after collection.

Mark: 4 hard (desirable ight soil)

This ight soil be hard, moulding is good and be cylinder.This ight soil is not easy fracture when picking up.This ight soil can stay remnants on surface and gloves.This ight soil is usually discharged with a monoblock form.Ight soil keeps original shape after collection.

Mark: 3 softnesses, shape had

This ight soil is soft, yet has certain shape.This ight soil ruptures easily, and is bound to stay remnants on surface and gloves.Ight soil is usually lost original shape after collection.This ight soil usually exists with another kind of ight soil, but can comprise whole fecal sample.

Mark: 2 softnesses, shape do not had

This ight soil is soft and do not have a cylindrical shape.This shape usually interrelates with " 2 ", is the shape of a kind of " cow dung cake ".This ight soil can be lost original-shape when collecting, and is bound to stay remnants on surface and gloves.This ight soil usually exists with another kind of ight soil, but can comprise whole fecal sample.The zone that the extensible covering of this fecal sample is several inches.

Mark: 1 liquid

This ight soil is similar liquids always, wherein is with or without particulate matter and exists.This ight soil is usually discharged with piles and piles of form, rather than a monoblock.Mucus usually exists with fecal sample.The extremely difficult collection of this fecal sample, and must on surface or gloves, stay remnants.The zone that the extensible covering of this fecal sample is several inches.

In addition, also will write down other observed result, comprise: the blood in the ight soil; Foreign matter in the ight soil; The perhaps mucus in the ight soil.

The method that the present invention uses can be used for reducing the smell of ight soil and/or bedpan by reducing the compound that produces smell in ight soil and the urine.The limiting examples that produces the compound of smell comprises ammonia, indoles, phenol, amine, branched chain fatty acid and volatile sulfur-containing compound.For example, use drainage ammonia concentration after following method can be measured animal via the present invention treatment: put into the plastic jar that comprises 40mL 2N HCl after fresh drainage sample (5.0g) is weighed.Sample storage in 4 ℃ till when sampling.Prepare sample then and be used for NH ₃N and lactate analysis.The supernatant of this prepared product is used to NH ₃N and lactate colorimetric analysis.In addition, perceptible odor of excreta can be scored as follows by the people: when collecting fecal matter sample, they are scored to smell by the personnel through training.The odor of excreta mark is also based on one 1 to 5 ratio.The 1st, minimum smell, the 5th, maximum smell.

In addition, the treatment of pet gastrointestinal infection can comprise the intestines microbial ecological that improves pet.The microbial ecological that improves pet preferably includes the pathogen content that reduces in the pet dung.The pathogen content that exists in the pet dung can use Standard Plate Count method well known by persons skilled in the art to count.More preferably, pathogen is selected from clostridium, Escherichia coli, salmonella, bacteroid, arc bacillus and their mixture.The limiting examples of suitable pathogen bacterial strain comprises that C.perfringens, difficulty distinguish clostridium, Escherichia coli, salmonella typhimurium and their mixture.

Urethra health

Method of the present invention also can comprise treatment, perhaps the urethra of prevention or the preferred pet of treatment animal.The limiting examples of urethra treatment comprises that treatment or prevention urinary tract infection, treatment or prevention ephrosis comprise urethral calculus, treatment or prevention bladder infection etc.Be not bound by theory, it is believed that the present invention can be used for preventing these diseases because they external proof can degrade comprise oxalic acid-, guanite-or uratic crystal.Oxalic acid is the accessory substance of urine metabolism, and it can form undissolved precipitation, causes kidney, bladder and other urethral calculus and causes infection.By the oxalic acid of degraded in the intestines, and therefore potential its precipitation of prevention and in urethra, accumulating, the present invention can treat and prevent urinary tract infection and other disease.The oxalic acid degraded can use oxalic acid detection kit cat #755699 to carry out vitro detection, and this kit can be commercially available from Boehringer Mannheim/R-Biopharm, and can detect urine specimen by high performance liquid chromatography.

Nutrient digestion

The present invention can be used for improving or the method for keeping pet health comprises digestion or the absorption (being referred to as " nutrient digestion ") that improves fiber, fat, proteins,vitamins,and minerals.Improving fiber digestion is to be worth expectation, because it promotes the growth of described probio and useful endogenous flora, this helps to suppress some potential pathogens.In addition, and the minimizing of the toxic metabolites that produces by colon fermentation in document the is verified human body and the amount of harmful enzyme (Tomomatsu, " Healtheffects of oligosaccharides ", (1994) Food Technol, 48,61-65).Fiber digestion can use following method to measure: be described in people such as Vickers, " Comparison of fermentation of selected fructooligosaccharidesand other fiber substrates by canine colonic microflora ", (2001) Am.J.Ve t.Res., 61,4,609-615.Except the inoculation method that uses the dilution fecal matter sample, the pure culture base of desiring test strain is used in each test.

Articulation health

The present invention also is used to treat or prevent the joint disease of pet, therefore can increase the activity and the quality of these animal lives.The example of joint disease comprises movable bad, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, stern, elbow and knee is unusual, spondylosis and post-traumatic arthritis disease.For example, have the dog of some cyllopodias can be by feeding with this composition 90 days altogether, the animal doctor checks body weight, physical condition scoring, skin and fur assessment and outward appearance assessment respectively at the 0th, 30,60 and 90 day.The outward appearance assessment will comprise assessment cyllopodia degree, load-bearing, load-bearing tolerance level, back leg elongation and the eye impressions of dog being walked and running ability.Also can measure joint angles and scope of activities by manual angle measurement mensuration.In addition, can make firmly-plate analysis mensuration articulation health.The owner finished comprehensive quality of life and the perceptible articulation health of application form with the assessment animal at the 0th, 30,60 and 90 day.

In one embodiment, the method relates to directly oral composition as herein described of pet.The multiple embodiments of the method composition therefor comprises form or composition, and the content of the various ingredients that wherein comprises, and describes in detail in this article.

The term " oral " of the method about this invention used herein is meant that pet takes in or take in one or more compositions as herein described under guidance, and perhaps the owner of this pet provides one or more compositions to pet under guidance.Wherein the owner is provided composition by guidance, and this guidance can or be informed the owner for indication, uses said composition that one or more beneficial effects as herein described can maybe will be provided, and for example treats intestines and stomach or other method as herein described.Additionally or alternatively, described guidance can be that described composition comprises active probiotic culture medium (randomly comprising the guidance about the active probiotic culture medium content that exists or guarantee).For example, this guidance can be verbal assistance (as, by from for example being benefited, other professional medical-care personnel, sell professional or tissue and/or radio or television media (promptly, advertisement) verbal assistance) or written guidance (for example, by from the animal doctor, or other health professional (as, prescription), sale professional or tissue (as, by for example selling brochure, brochure or other illustrative annex), written medium (as, the internet, Email, or other medium relevant) with computer, and/or relevant with composition comprise device (as, comprise and label on the packing of composition).

Described composition can be used according to multiple frequency or duration.For example, described composition is typically used weekly at least, and is perhaps inferior at least on every Wendesdays, perhaps once a day to about four times a day, alternatively once a day to about every day three times, alternatively, alternatively arbitrarily use once a day to every day twice approximately.In order to reach beneficial effect as herein described, composition was preferably used at least about a week, alternatively at least about two weeks, alternatively at least about three weeks, alternatively at least about around, alternatively at least about six weeks, alternatively at least about eight weeks, or the unlimited duration.

Analytical method

Second component of this paper comprises and has at least about 10 ⁵The probiotic composition of the active probiotic microorganisms of CFU/g second component.Active probiotic microorganisms is counted in accordance with the following methods:

Sample preparation

Insert an aseptic stomach bag (can be from Interscience Laboratories Inc., Weymouth, MA is commercially available), the sample that is used to measure (second component) is weighed and is write down weight by aseptic.The Butterfield phosphate buffered dilution (microbiological analysis handbook, the 8th edition) that sample adds room temperature is diluted to 1: 10 dilution factor (being meant that if sample weighs 3 grams then adding buffer solution is 30 grams until balance reading).Allowed sample softening about 20 to 30 minutes, floating and sample is broken into fritter, put into MINIMIX homogenizer (can be from being positioned at Weymouth, the Interscience Laboratories Inc. of MA is commercially available) then, kept 2 minutes in speed 9.

The sample dilution

After homogeneous was finished, 1 milliliter of mixing sample was changed in 9 milliliters of dilution tubes that comprise Butterfield phosphate buffered dilution (carrying out-2 dilutions).Change another 9 milliliters of dilution tubes (carrying out-3 dilutions) over to by the sample of taking from-2 dilutions with 1 milliliter and finish serial dilution.This step repeats up to obtaining the required dilution that is used for plating.Each pipe carries out the vortex processing before carrying out next step dilution.

The sample plates inoculation

Sample is inoculated in Difco LactobacilliMRS agar plate (DeMan, Rogosa and Sharpe agar) with-6 ,-7 and-8 dilution factor five equilibrium.In order to inoculate-8 dilutions, 0.1 milliliter of dilution from-7 dilution tubes is transferred on the room temperature MRS flat board.Suitable dilution repeats, and vortex is handled dilution tube immediately before inoculation.Sample is expired the surface of whole flat board with an aseptic spreader tiling.Flat board is inverted in 7 liters of anaerobic wide-mouth bottles (Mitsubishi).Place an anaerobic indicator lamp (Oxoid) in the wide-mouth bottle.Obtain also to open three AnaeroPack (Mitsubishi) pouch, pouch place compartment one side and in addition two pouches place the another side of compartment.Capping is placed in the top of wide-mouth bottle and guarantees good sealing property.The anaerobic wide-mouth bottle is placed in 37 ℃+/-2 ℃ the incubator and cultivated 48 hours.

The probiotic micro-organisms counting

After cultivating 48 hours, flat board removes from incubator, and bacterium colony uses the Quebec Colony counter in order to amplify bacterium colony to carry out artificial counting.Flat board is counted in 25 to 250 bacterium colony scopes.In case original count (the bacterium colony number counting on the flat board) is finished, dilution has just been finished counting.Therefore, original count multiply by the CFU/g that dilution inverse just provides sample.

Embodiment

Providing following embodiment is in order to demonstrate the invention, rather than limits its scope by any way.Use probiotic composition to come illustrated example.Yet this component can or be replenished with any or multiple following component replacement: yeast, enzyme, antibody, immunoglobulin (Ig), cell factor and their combination.

Embodiment 1

The pet food compositions that comprises the nutrient balance of first component and second component prepares according to following method:

First component comprises multiple kibble, wherein every kind of pet food compositions that kibble all is a nutrient balance.For example, first component can be to be fit to the edible kibble of adult dog, available from being positioned at Dayton, OH, the Iams Company of U.S.A.

Second component comprises the independent component of following indicatrix:

Component	Amount (by the weight percent meter of second component)
		Coconut oil	12.2
Bifidobacterium infantis	3
		Culturetech 064, can be commercially available from Foremost	6.3
Palm-kernel oil	6.3
		Milky white coating can be commercially available from Blommer	71.8
Lactic acid powder can be commercially available from Purac	0.4

It is as follows to prepare second component: with the coconut oil of about 75% (by weight) be heated to 100 ℃ about 1 hour, be cooled to 40 ℃ then.Bifidobacterium infantis with about 50% (by weight) in the glove box of relative humidity 10% joins in the coconut oil.Culturetech 064 (heated overnight in 82 ℃ of baking ovens), palm-kernel oil (121 ℃), lactic acid powder (heated overnight in 82 ℃ of baking ovens) and milky white coating (about 60 ℃ of Rotary dryings spend the night) are mixed about 30 minutes to 1 hour down so that a kind of white coating mixture to be provided at 35 ℃.Remaining coconut oil and bifidobacterium infantis are ground into the particle of the about 1mm to 2mm of diameter, sneak in the white coating mixture.Final mixture is cooled to 15 ℃ and is cured, and provides with the small particles form that is applicable to pet food compositions.Before the use, second component is stored in the aluminium foil bag that fills nitrogen.

First component and second component provide with the form of the mixture of a plurality of kibble and a plurality of fritters separately, and its weight rate is about 10: 1.When being eaten by pet, the amount of active probiotic microorganisms is about 6 * 109CFU/g, second component in second component.

Embodiment 2

The pet food compositions that comprises the nutrient balance of first component and second component prepares according to following method:

First component comprises multiple kibble, wherein every kind of pet food compositions that kibble all is a nutrient balance.For example, first component can be to be fit to the edible kibble of adult dog, available from being positioned at Dayton, OH, the Iams Company of U.S.A.

Second component comprises the independent component of following indicatrix:

Component	Amount (by second weight percentages of components)
		Butterfat	24.4
The animal Bifidobacterium Bifidum	6
		Culturetech 064, can be commercially available from Foremost	5.2
Palm-kernel oil	5.2
		Milky white coating can be commercially available from Blommer	58.9
Lactic acid powder can be commercially available from Purac	0.3

It is as follows to prepare second component: with the butterfat of about 75% (by weight) be heated to 100 ℃ about 1 hour, be cooled to 40 ℃ then.Animal bifidobacteria with about 50% (by weight) in the glove box of relative humidity 10% joins in the butterfat.Culturetech 064 (heated overnight in 82 ℃ of baking ovens), palm-kernel oil (121 ℃), lactic acid powder (heated overnight in 82 ℃ of baking ovens) and milky white coating (about 60 ℃ of Rotary dryings spend the night) are mixed about 30 minutes to 1 hour down so that a kind of white coating mixture to be provided at 35 ℃.Remaining butterfat and animal bifidobacteria are ground into the particle of the about 1mm to 2mm of diameter, sneak in the white coating mixture.Final mixture is cooled to 15 ℃ and is cured, and provides with the small particles form that is applicable to pet food compositions.Before the use, second component is stored in the aluminium foil bag that fills nitrogen.

Provide first component and second component with about 7: 1 weight rate.First component places one big jar, and the big jar of following information of mark: composition (randomly comprising the viable count level in composition or the part composition) comprises " active probiotic "; Second component places a less jar, and the canister that wherein fills up is placed in before commercial distribution in big jar that fills up.When by pet when edible, the consumer removes the canister that fills up, and aequum that will obtain from fill up big jar or first component of recommended amounts add in the bowl, and adds the aequum that obtains from the canister that fills up or second component of recommended amounts.When being eaten by pet, the amount of active probiotic microorganisms is about 4 * 109CFU/g, second component in second component.

Embodiment 3

The pet food compositions that comprises the nutrient balance of first component and second component prepares according to following method:

First component comprises multiple kibble, wherein every kind of pet food compositions that kibble all is a nutrient balance.For example, first component can be to be fit to the edible kibble of adult dog, available from being positioned at Dayton, OH, the Iams Company of U.S.A.

Second component comprises the independent component of following indicatrix:

Component	Amount (by second weight percentages of components)
		Coconut oil	3.8
Bifidobacterium infantis	1
		Sorbierite (70% aqueous solution)	95.2

With coconut oil be heated to 100 ℃ one hour, be cooled to 40 ℃ then.In the glove box of relative humidity 10%, probiotic micro-organisms is joined in the coconut oil.Heating sorbierite to 204 ℃ is cooled to 49 ℃ then under 12% relative humidity.Sorbierite is mixed so that equally distributed material to be provided with the mixture of coconut oil and probiotic micro-organisms.This material is injected the mould of a plurality of required forms and size, and can further cool off.Provide first component and second component with about 7: 1 weight rate.First component places one big jar; The separation fritter (from mould) of second component places a blister package, and the blister package of wherein filling up is put together with big jar when commercial distribution.When by pet when edible, aequum that will obtain from fill up big jar or first component of recommended amounts add in the bowl, and add the aequum that obtains from the blister package of filling up or second component of recommended amounts.When being eaten by pet, the amount of active probiotic microorganisms is about 8 * 10 in second component ⁷CFU/g second component.

Embodiment 4

The pet food compositions that comprises the nutrient balance of first component and second component prepares according to following method:

First component comprises multiple kibble, wherein every kind of pet food compositions that kibble all is a nutrient balance.For example, first component can be to be fit to the edible kibble of adult dog, available from being positioned at Dayton, OH, the Iams Company of U.S.A.

Second component comprises the independent component of following indicatrix:

Component

Amount (by second weight percentages of components)

Coconut oil	3.8
		Bifidobacterium infantis	0.9
Sorbierite (70% aqueous solution)	93.7
		Anhydrous citric acid	1.3
The raspberry flavouring agent	0.2
		Food coloring FD﹠C is red	0.1

It is as follows to prepare second component: with the coconut oil of about 75% (by weight) be heated to 100 ℃ about 1 hour, be cooled to 40 ℃ then.Bifidobacterium infantis with about 50% (by weight) in the glove box of relative humidity 10% joins in the coconut oil.Heating sorbierite to 204 ℃ is cooled to 49 ℃ then under 12% relative humidity.Coconut oil, bifidobacterium infantis, citric acid, raspberry flavouring agent and food coloring agent and sorbierite are mixed together so that equally distributed material to be provided.This material is injected the mould of a plurality of required forms and size, and can further cool off.Before the use, second component is stored in the aluminium foil bag that fills nitrogen.

First component and second component provide with the form of the mixture of a plurality of kibble and a plurality of fritters separately, and its weight rate is about 10: 1.

Claims (11)

1. pet food compositions, described pet food compositions is characterised in that it comprises:

(a) comprise first component of protein source, fat source and carbohydrate source; With

(b) physical property is different with described first component and have 0.2 or second component of lower water activity, and wherein said second component comprises biological components, and described biological components is selected from: have at least 10 ⁵The probiotic composition of the active probiotic microorganisms of CFU/g second component; Yeast; Enzyme; Antibody; Immunoglobulin (Ig); Cell factor; Antioxidant; Mineral matter; Health food; And their combination.

2. pet food compositions as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first component also comprises the supplementary fibre source, and described second component comprises and is selected from following component: lipid constituent, sweetener component, antioxidant ingredients, mineral component and their combination.

3. the described pet food compositions of each claim as described above, wherein said first component is extruded at least in part.

4. the described pet food compositions of each claim as described above, wherein said biological components comprises probiotic composition, and described probiotic composition has at least 10 ⁵The active probiotic microorganisms of CFU/g second component; Preferably have 10 ⁵To 10 ¹²The active probiotic microorganisms of CFU/g second component.

5. the described pet food compositions of each claim as described above, wherein said probiotic composition comprise and are selected from following bacterial classification: bacillus, bacteroid, Bifidobacterium Bifidum, enterococcus, lactic acid bacteria, leukonid and their combination; And preferably wherein said probiotic composition comprises Bifidobacterium Bifidum.

6. the described pet food compositions of each claim as described above, wherein said second component also comprises prebiotics.

7. the described pet food compositions of each claim as described above, wherein first component and the second components contents ratio are at least 2: 1 by weight; Preferably wherein first component and the second components contents ratio are at least 5: 1 by weight; More preferably wherein first component and the second components contents ratio are at least 10: 1 by weight.

8. the described pet food compositions of each claim as described above, described composition is a kind of pet food compositions of nutrient balance.

9. the described pet food compositions of each claim as described above, described composition comprises that also first comprises device and second and comprise device, wherein said first comprises device comprises described first component of at least a portion, and described second comprises device and comprise described second component of at least a portion.

10. the described pet food compositions of each claim is in the purposes of making aspect the medicine of described enhancement pet health as described above, and wherein said improving health is selected from the group of being made up of following: treatment disease of immune system, treatment gastrointestinal system disease, treatment skin or coat diseases, treatment pressure, promote healthy and their combination of intestines and stomach.

11. purposes as claimed in claim 10, wherein said improving health comprises oral described medicine, and be wherein said oral for once a day to four times a day; Preferably weekly at least; More preferably every month once at least.