ANIMAL FOOD COMPOSITIONS FOR PROMOTING LIVER CLEANSING AND MITIGATION OF INTESTINAL DYSBIOSIS

BY

W. JEAN DODDS

BRUNO STEFANON

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is directed to pet food compositions.

Studies have indicated that specialized nutrient intake extends and improves life, delays onset and slows progression of disease, and enhances the quality of life of animals.

Changing the proportions of macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients in different nutrient and food products is important in obtaining the right balance. The utility of such characteristics and components has been limited or not as useful as possible.

There is a need to provide food compositions which enhance the health of the liver or cleanse the liver from a state of poor health.

The present disclosure provides dietary compositions which are advantageous and commercially useful for liver health and cleansing and mitigate intestinal dysbiosis. The pet food is highly palatable for the animal.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to pet food for a domestic animal, particularly for a dog or cat. In particular, the disclosure relates to a complete food or food supplements in a dry form, semi-dry form, powdered, or a wet form integrated with functional or nutraceutical compounds from plant or other origins. The pet food is designed for different animal species and biological conditions.

The disclosure is directed to formulate foods specifically designed for different animal species and physiological, psychological and disease-related needs. The food can be in different configurations and shapes, for instance as a meal, biscuit, snack, treat, sprinkles, candy, powders, flakes, crumbles, pellets or other forms. The food may be an entire food or a supplement for another food. The food or some of its components may be the entire food or a supplement for another food. As a supplement it could be for addition to another regular or target group nutritional or therapeutic food.

The pet food composition of the disclosure relating to liver health comprises at least several active components of potato, fish, white fish, fish oil, vegetable oil, carrots, squash, spinach, egg, and beans. In one form all these components are included, and they are included in raw state and then cooked together.

Different botanicals or other micronutrients are added. The activity and the efficacy of the botanicals or other micronutrients depend upon the individual genetic make up of an individual.

Further the pet foods of the disclosure can be fed to the companion animals for the long term, intermittently or transiently. As such there can be a base or basic food for the companion animals and then intermittent or transient use of specialty or tissue cleansing foods. The specialty or tissue cleansing foods can be used for a relatively short time to cleanse and improve the health conditions of the animals and thereafter the animals can be managed on a base or basic food. In some cases the base or basic food can be used with lesser amounts of the specialty or tissue cleansing foods for different time periods. There can be different feedings protocols, which can be different foods for different times so that the health conditions of the animal can be modulated appropriately with the different foods, the food for promoting liver cleansing or mitigating intestinal dysbiosis can be used for a predetermined time, and thereafter a different specialty or base food can be used.

The disclosure is further described in detail. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one form the pet food composition comprises at least several active components of sweet potato, flesh & skin, cod, or other white colored fish, fish, canola or other oil, fish oil, carrots, winter squash, spinach, egg shells, and dried or fresh snap beans.

Other constituents include a group of and at least macro- and micro- components such as vitamins, amino acids, and one or more plant, part of plants and plant extract(s) having functional and nutraceutical properties selected from a group consisting of Portulaca oleracea; Andrographis paniculata; Butea frondosa; Silymarin marinarum; Echinacea angustifolia; Curcuma longa; Eleutherococcus senticosus; Panax ginseng; Camelia sinensis; Ginkgo biloba; Harpagophytum procumbens; Vaccinus myrtillus; Lycoperison esculentum, and Vitis vinera seeds.

Other plants, plant extracts, fractions of plant extracts and phytocomplex with functional, nutraceutical or therapeutic properties as a compound or as botanicals can be included.

The functional, nutraceutical and therapeutic properties of compounds are related to bioactive peptides and to the primary and secondary metabolites of plants, as acids, terpenes, terpene derivatives, glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, fatty oils, steroids, sterols, flavonoids, mucilages, and pectins.

Bioactive peptides and primary and secondary metabolites can be included in the food alone, as a phytocomplex or in combination.

The activity of every single compound can vary when the compounds are in association among them or when they are in the form of phytocomplex.

The activity of single compound, their mixtures and the phytocomplex depends from the doses included in the food.

The activity of the mixture of compounds and of the phytocomplex depends upon the ratios among them. The activity of single compounds, their association and the phytocomplex depends upon the food compositions, the time of administration during the day to the animal, the physiology of digestive tracts and the individual genetic make up.

The pet food compositions or supplements are also supplemented and improved with functional and nutraceutical compounds.

The pet food improves the health and cleansing of the liver and works against heritable liver diseases, to ameliorate physiological and psychological dysfunction, support body functions and enhance the biological liver response of the liver of pet animals and mitigates intestinal dysbiosis.

The disclosure also provides that the individual response to functional, nutraceutical or therapeutic compounds depends upon the genetic make up of the animal, which differs from the ability to adapt to the environment and to interact with nutrients.

The activity and the efficacy of functional, nutraceutical and therapeutic compounds of plant or other origin depends upon their molecular signature, which is related to the individual genetic make up, according to the concept of nutrigenomics.

The level of inclusion of different components in a pet food influences its activity, which can change to and from phytotherapeutic to nutraceutical and functional effects.

The compositions can have different characteristics.

The response of a pet animal is dependent upon its genetic make up that is the coordinated and integrated relationship among genes which can be differently regulated from botanicals or other compounds, according to the individual genotype; the gene(s) act downwards (down-regulated) and upwards (up-regulated) in the regulation of molecular, cellular and biological pathways.

In the formulations the lowest and highest amount of active compound per kg of live weight of a pet animal is set out, the pet animal being a dog or cat. Amounts lower than the lowest threshold can have little effect on the animal and amounts higher than the highest threshold can possibly have a toxic activity. Formulation of Diets:

The diet is set out below in column 2 and the scope of a variation of the diet is set out in column 3.

In addition one or more of the following are added to the pet food compositions comprise at least one active component contained in botanicals at least selected from the group of:

Vaccinus myrtillus Polip enols European blueberry

Lycoperison esculentum Lycopene Tomato

Vitis vinera seeds Procyanidine Grape seed extract

The activity of the plants and extracts depends also on the presence of other functional and nutraceutical compounds, namely so-call phytocomplexes.

The content of a phytocomplex in the plant and extract is standardized in comparison to the main active compound reported in the table.

An example of the nutrient content of a diet for liver cleansing

Folate, total 14.88

Vitamin C 9.81

Fatty Acids Saturated 0.22

Fatty Acids, Mono-unsaturated 1.20

Fatty Acids, Poly-unsaturated 0.70

Alpha Carotene 573.71

Beta Carotene 1503.32

Lycopene 0.17

Lutein+Zeaxanthine 51 .98

C18:2, n-6, Linoleic Acid 0.03

C18:3, n-3, alpha-Linolenic acid 0.02

C20:5, n-3, Eicosopentaenoic acid 0.04

C22:6, n-3, Docosohexaenoic acid 0.08

Sum of omega 3 0.15

Sum of omega 6 0.03

Isoleucine 0.28

Leucine 0.44

Lysine 0.53

Methionine 0.18

Cystine 0.04

Phenylalanine 0.23

Tyrosine 0.21

Threonine 0.25

Tryptophan 0.06

Valine 0.33

Arginine 0.35

Histidine 0.12

Alanine 0.35

Asparagine 0.70

Glutamine 0.86

Glycine 0.28

Proline 0.19

Serine 0.25

Expected nutrient content of the diet, on dry matter basis

Crude fiber 0.00

Starch 29.34

Calcium 0.20

Phosphorus 0.05

Magnesium 0.01

Potassium 0.20

Sodium 0.02

Iron 2.53

Copper 0.34

Zinc 1.64

Manganese 0.55

Selenium 55.30

Vitamin A, IU 15866.84

Vitamin A, RAE 808.75

Vitamin E 3.32

Vitamin K 20.19

Thiamine 0.34

Riboflavin 0.27

Vitamin B6 1.09

Vitamin B12 1.49

Niacin 6.54

Pantothenic acid 1.16

Choline, total 143.67

Folate total 78.78

Vitamin C 51.97

Fatty Acids, Saturated 1.17

Fatty Acids, Mono-unsaturated 6.38

Fatty Acids, Poly-unsaturated 3.69

Alpha Carotene 3038.25

Beta Carotene 7961.31

Lycopene 0.87

Lutein+Zeaxanthine 275.25

C18:2, n-6, Linoleic Acid 0.18

C18:3, n-3, alpha-Linolenic acid 0.11

C20:5, n-3, Eicosopentaenoic acid 0.20

C22:6, n-3, Docosohexaenoic acid 0.44

Sum n-3 fatty acids 0.77

Sum n-6 fatty acids 0.18

Isoleucin 1.51

Leucine 2.32

Lysine 2.80

Methionine 0.94

Cystine 0.23

Phenylalanin 1.23 Tyrosine 1.11

Threonine 1.31

Tryptophane 0.32

Valine 1.73

Arginine 1.86

Histidine 0.63

Alanine 1.88

Asparagine 3.70

Glutamine 4.55

Glycine 1.48

Proline 1.03

Serine 1.32

The activity of the ingredients can also be wider than that related to the active compounds of the formulations, since the ingredients can contain other active compounds.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the effect of the ingredients can also vary according to the genotype of pet animals, and the variability of individuals also should be considered.

Another characteristic of the amount of the active ingredient that may be added to the pet food can depend upon its effect on the palatability of the food. In addition, the use of too high an amount of active ingredient increases the cost of manufacture.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ingredients are included in pet foods, meals, biscuits, snacks, treats, sprinkles, candies and other form of foods to exploit the functional and nutraceutical biological effects of the ingredients, other than that of the active compounds.

Plants, part of plants and plant and other extracts are mixed with food ingredients and other additives (vitamins, macro and micro-minerals, amino acids) to obtain foods, meals, biscuits, snacks, treats, sprinkles, candies and other form of foods.

As an example, a formulation of treats for a dog or cat is set out, considering the purity of active compounds. In this case, standardized pure extracts are mixed with other food ingredients and additives and as an example of the amount of treat for a dog or cat of 10 kg of live weight is 25 grams of dry matter.

The disclosure relates not only to the compounds, their concentration and combinations in mixture, but also the other ingredients such as "macro" and "micro", to booster the functional and nutraceutical activities of the plant or other active compounds.

The compounds and food ingredients can vary in response to the reaction or physiological or psychological response of an individual pet animal.

As an example, a formulation for a treat for dogs is set out in the following TABLE. In this case, standardized pure extracts are mixed with other food ingredients and additives and the amount of treat for a dog of 10 kg of live weight is 25 grams of dry matter.

TABLE: The diet composition is set out below in column 3 and the scope of a variation of the diet is set out in column 4.

L-Carnitine ppm 0 0

Conjugated linolenic

acid ppm 0 0

Na Condroitin sulphate ppm 0 0

Glucosamine HCI ppm 0 0

Vitamin E ppm 0 0

Vitamin C ppm 0 0

Vitamin B1 ppm 400 100-4000

Vitamin B2 ppm 200 20-3500

Di-methylglycine ppm 0 0

EPA+DHA ppm 0 0

PLANTS,

BOTANICALS

Portulaca oleracea ppm 0 0

Andrographis

paniculata ppm 0 0

Butea frondosa ppm 0 0

Silymarin marinarum ppm 860 10-5500

Echinacea angustifolia ppm 0 0

Curcuma longa ppm 0 0

Eleutherococcus

senticosus ppm 0 0

Panax ginseng PPm 0 0

Camellia sinensis ppm 0 0

Vaccinum myrtillus ppm 0 0

Plants, main active compound of the phytosome, expected purity and dose for unit of live weight.

Harpagophytum procumbens Arpagoside 2 0.20

Vaccinus Myrtillus Poliphenols 25 0.20

Lycopersicom esculentum Lycopene 1 0.04

Vitis vinifera seeds Procyanidins 10 0.40

Dose (mg) of plant extracts for animals with increasing live weights, considering the requirements as a function of metabolic live weight (kg ^{0 75} )

Composition of the semi moist pet food for dogs.

Premix 1.0%

Other Mineral and Salt 1.5%

Water 40.0%

Total 100.0%

Chemical composition of the semi moist pet food.

Composition of the premix that can be included in the basal formula of the semi moist pet food.

The amount included in the food is 1 %, and cover the requirements of a 20 kg live weight of dog. The pet food premixes are intended for normal conditions of dogs.

TAURINE mg 60000 60000 60000 60000 60000 60000

CHOLINE CHLORIDE mg 106700 106700 80000 106700 106700 80000

SILIMARINA FOSFOLIPIDI mg 0 0 0 0 0 0

ELEUTHEROCOCCUS mg 0 0 0 0 0 0

POLINACEA ECHINACEA mg 0 0 0 0 0 0

VACCINUM MYRTILLUS mg 2000 2000 2000 0 0 0

LYCOPERSICOM mg

ESCULENTUM 0 0 0 4500 4500 4500

VITIS VINIFERA SEEDS mg 0 0 0 4500 4500 4500

Formulation of moist diets for liver cleansing and kidney diseases.

Chemical composition of liver cleansing moist pet food.

Methionine, g 0.18 0.21 0.14

Composition of the premix that can be included in the basal formula of the liver cleansing diets.

The amount included in the food is 0.8-1.0%, and cover the requirements of a 12 kg live weight of dog. The pet food premixes are intended for preventing or treating or mitigating liver diseases.

Dehydrated eggs 3

Cod 8

Pork liver 3 4 4 4 4

Venison 18

Premix - TOJU 1

Premix - TOAD 1

Premix - TOVL 1

Premix - TOSH 1

Premix - TOSE 1

Total 100 100 100 100 100

Chemical composition of extruded foods.

Composition of the premixes included in the basal formula of the extruded pet food.

The amount included in the food is 1 %, and cover the requirements of an 80 kg live weight of dog. The pet food premixes are intended for normal conditions of dogs.

THIAMINE (B1 NITRATE) mg 350 250 250 250 350

PYRIDOXINE (B6 HCI) mg 250 160 160 160 250

BIOTIN mg 50 50 50 50 50

L-CARNITINE mg 12000 12000 12000 12000 12000

VITAMIN C (as Mono Phosphate) mg 1500 1000 1000 1000 1000

COBALT (as Carbonate) mg 15 10 10 10 15

SELENIUM (as Sodium Selenite) mg 20 20 20 20 20

IODINE (as Calcium lodate) mg 90 90 90 90 90

IRON (as Sulphate) mg 3000 3000 3000 3000 3500

COPPER (as Sulphate) mg 600 600 600 600 600

MANGANESE (as Sulphate) mg 500 500 500 500 600

ZINC (as Sulphate) mg 6000 6000 6000 6000 6000

TAURINE mg 80000 80000 80000 80000 80000

CHOLINE HCI mg 240000 213300 213300 213300 213300

GLUCOSAMINE HCI mg 18000 0 0 0 18000

Na CHONDROITIN SULPHATE mg 4400 0 0 0 4400

CURCUMA LONGA mg 44000 0 0 0 0

VITIS VINIFERA SEEDS mg 0 8000 8000 8000 8000

LICOPERSYCOM ESCULENTUM mg 0 8000 8000 8000 8000

EPA+DHA mg 80000 0 80000 80000 80000

Formulation of nutrigenomic extruded food for dog.

Premix - PP_EL 1

Premix - PP_EV

Premix - PP_ES

100.0 100.0

Chemical composition of nutrigenomic extruded foods.

Composition of the premixes that are included in the basal formula of the extruded pet food, nutrigenomic foods.

The amount included in the food is 1 %, and cover the requirements of an 80 kg live weight of dog. The pet food premixes are intended for normal conditions of dogs.

Vit B6 mg/kg 200 300

Vit B12 mg/kg 2.5 2.5

Niacin mg/kg 1700 1700

Biotin mg/kg 50 50

Folic acid mg/kg 30 30

Choline mg/kg 240000 280000

Taurine mg/kg 80000 80000

L-Carnitine mg/kg 12000 12000

EPA-DHA mg/kg

Vaccinium myrtillus mg/kg 6000

Lycopersicom esculemtum mg/kg 30000

Vitis Vinifera seeds mg/kg 30000

Camelia sinensis mg/kg

Andrographis paniculata mg/kg

Curcuma longa mg/kg

Sylibum marianum mg/kg 20000

Na chondroitin sulphate mg/kg

Glucosamine HCI mg/kg

Eleutherococcus senticosus mg/kg

Ginkgo Biloba mg/kg

NOTE:

The composition of the formulations can vary according to the chemical composition of the individual's ingredients, to obtain the final chemical compositions.

Dehydrated eggs 20

Pork liver 20

Oat flakes 20

Potato 20

Potato, flakes 20

Rice 20

Sweet potato 20

Carrot cubes 25

Beet pulp, dehy 25

Green beans 25

Kale 25

Soy hulls 25

Spinach 25

Whole egg 25

Zucchini 25

Calcium carbonate 30

Dicalcium phosphate 30

DL-Methionine 30

EPA+DHA 30

Fish oil 30

L-Lysine 30

Vegetable oil 30

Other Mineral and Salt 30

Sodium Chloride 30

The chemical compositions of the pet food can vary as follow:

Premixes are formulated considering the losses for degradation during processing and storage.

Ingredients of the premixes can vary in the range of plus/minus 40%.

The inclusion of the premix in the final formula of pet food can vary from 0.5 to 2%.

Sprinkles for Dogs for liver and related conditions.

Sprinkle formulations, containing bioactive compounds of plant origin and supplemented with vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids, indicated to support nutrition and physiological functions of dogs under environmental challenges and diseases.

The sprinkles are formulated to contain appropriated amounts of variable functional compounds, allowing an optimal exploitation of their bioactivity alone or in association.

Composition of the sprinkles, % of premix formulation

Andrographis paniculata % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.31 0.00 0.00

Butea frondosa % 0.00 0.00 38.09 0.00 0.00 44.24 53.53 0.00

Camelia sinensis % 0.00 0.00 16.00 0.00 0.00 18.58 0.00 10.69

Curcuma longa % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Echinacea angustifolia % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Eleutherococcus

senticosus % 0.00 4.76 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.71 0.00

Lycopersicom

esculentum % 2.00 1.91 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Panax Ginseng % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.42 0.68

Phaseolus vulgaris % 0.00 0.00 0.00 36.85 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Portulaca oleracea % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 84.97

Sylibum marianum % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.65 0.00 0.00 0.00

Vaccinum myrtillus % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.59 0.00 0.00 0.86 0.00

Vitis vinifera seeds % 2.00 1.91 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Total % 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

Daily amounts of sprinkles for dog with increasing live weight.

Sport

Energy and amino acids supplement for dog with intensive and short physical activity. Contains branched chain amino acids, L-alanine, L-glutammine, L-taurine and L- carnitine, glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate, vitamin complex, omega 3 fatty acids and natural antioxidants (from tomato and grape seeds).

Endurance

Energy and amino acids supplement for dog in endurance physical activity. Contains branched chain amino acids, L-alanine, L-glutammine, L-taurine and L- carnitine, glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate, vitamin complex, omega 3 fatty acids, extracts of Eleuterococcus senticosus and natural antioxidants (from tomato and grape seeds).

Veggie

Supplement for dog with food allergy.

Contains vitamin complex, L-taurine, L-carnitine, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), omega 3 fatty acids, extracts of Butea frondosa, Camelia sinensis.

ObesiX

Supplement for obese dog.

Contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate, vitamin complex, omega 3 fatty acids and extracts of Phaseolus vulgaris

Liver

Supplement for dog that needs liver cleansing.

Contains branched chain amino acids, L-alanine, L-glutammine, L-taurine and L- carnitine, glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate, L-taurine, L-camitine, vitamin mineral complex, omega 3 fatty acids and extracts of Silybum marianum

Anxiety

Supplement for dog with misbehaviour.

Contains L-glutammine, vitamin complex, extracts of Butea frondosa, Eleutherococcus senticousus, Panax ginseng and Vaccinum myrtillus

AniOX

Supplement to relieve dog stress.

Contains vitamin E and C, minerals, extracts of Camelia sinensis, Panax ginseng and Portulaca oleracea. The disclosure relates not only to the plant or vertebrate animal derived compounds, their concentration and combinations in mixture, but also the other ingredients, referred in the TABLE as "MACRO" and "MICRO", to booster the functional and nutraceutical activities of the plant active compounds.

The botanicals and the phytocomplex interact with food ingredients in determining the biological response of an individual pet animal.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the "MACRO" ingredients can vary plus or minus 15% of the concentrations indicated.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the "MICRO" ingredients can vary plus or minus 40% of the concentrations indicated.

The plant botanicals can vary in the range indicated, if not otherwise stated; the content of botanicals can also vary with the genotype of the individual pet animal.

In some embodiments, the term "dry pet food" as used means a pet food which has a water content of less than about 13%, preferably less than about 10%, by weight of the food.

In an alternative embodiment, the term "semi-moist pet food" as used means a pet food which has a water content of from about 55% to 75%, preferably from about 62% to about 68%, by weight of the food.

In another alternative embodiment, the term "wet pet food" as used herein means a pet food which has water content of from about 76% to 86%, preferably from about 80% to about 82%, by weight of the food.

The term "pet" means a domestic dog or cat. The term "pet food composition" means a composition that is intended for ingestion by the pet. Pet food compositions may include, without limitation, nutritionally balanced compositions suitable for daily feed, as well as supplements which may or may not be nutritionally balanced. "Plant extract" as used herein means any substance which is derived, obtained or extracted from a plant or plant part by conventional extraction techniques and that contains a phytocomplex.

In a preferred embodiment, the term "plant extract" as used herein is intended to mean any substance which is derived, obtained or extracted from a plant or plant part by conventional extraction techniques and which contains active compounds of the class of terpenes and derivatives, glycosides and saponins, alkaloids, tannins, fatty oils, steroids and sterols, flavonoids and mucilage and pectins and active peptides.

The pet food compositions may be prepared by any of a variety of processes. The components may be obtained from plant or vertebrate animal matter, or otherwise provided, and then subjected to pet food processing, as meal, pellet, cold extrusion, heat extrusion autoclaved tins and pouches.

Pet foods, meal, biscuits, snacks, treats, sprinkles, candies and other form of foods should be effectively palatable. These foods should have the effect of restoring physiological and psychological functions, and should restore normal behavior or correct or ameliorate behavioral disorders. The foods should permit the recovery of pet animals from stress conditions and illness, and the amelioration of pathological conditions. The foods should help to prevent infectious diseases and reduce the expression of genetic diseases, and the foods should integrate pharmacological and related therapies, and enhance productive, reproductive and athletic performances of pet animals.

The foods should be particularly suitable for consumption by domestic pets, including dogs and cats.

The plant, the part of the plant or vertebrate animal, or other plant or vertebrate animal extract may be added to the pet food composition at any stage of its manufacture. If it is added before heating or other known degrading processes, the plant, the part of the plant or vertebrate animal extract should be included in excess, to compensate for the relative extent of degradation. The amount of plant, part of the plant or vertebrate animal or other plant or vertebrate animal extract may be added to the pet food composition to ensure that the concentration of active compound and/or the phytocomplex is still effective until the expiration date. Typical expiration periods range from 3 to 24 months.

The dog food is prepared according to cold extrusion process and autoclaved in tins from 100 to 10000 grams or in pouches, from 00 to 20000 grams.

Other processes and packages can be adopted, as a function of the costs of processing and packaging, shelf life of the food and the ingredients, size of the dogs, storage conditions in the food processing unit, storage conditions in the sales, storage conditions in the home of the dog owner or keeper, and marketing requirements.

The liver cleansing diet supports and helps dogs and cats suffering from forms of acute, sub-acute or chronic liver conditions.

The food compositions of the present disclosure can be packaged as part of a selection of different ranges of specialty foods. Alternatively or additionally the compositions can be part of a range of different nutritional supplements to be added to other foods as selected or needed according to conditions of the pet.

In the specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the disclosure and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the disclosure being set forth in the claims.

Many modifications or variations of the disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

For instance, in some variations probiotics of various types can be used. These include those that can by-pass the denaturing effects of gastric secretions or acids. These can be included in or added to any of these compositions.

Some typical embodiments of the disclosure have been described. Many more examples, modifications or variations of the disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described, and the scope of the disclosure is set out in the claims.