Abstract: A system, apparatus, and/or method of identifying an activity of an animal. The activity may include the animal drinking, eating, urination, or defecating. Motion data of a first animal may be received, for example, via a sensor. Predetermined signatures of one or more second animals may be received. The predetermined signatures of the one or more second animals may be associated with one or more activities of the one or more second animals. A signature of an activity of the first animal may be determined based on the motion data of the first animal. Based on the signature of the activity of the first animal and the predetermined signatures of the second animal, the activity of the first animal may be identified. The identified activity of the first animal may be displayed via a display device.

Abstract: The current invention relates to animal food kibbles having a primarily disc shape and including botanicals such as curcumin. The current invention also relates to methods to reduce oral inflammation in an animal by feeding the animal with the food kibbles. The disc-shaped food kibbles induce a reduction of oral inflammation in the animal compared to control food kibbles having a different shape.

Abstract: Described herein are pet food compositions comprising an amino acid component comprising: lysine; betaine; and glutamic acid and/or a salt thereof present in an amount of about 7 wt. % or more, based on the total weight of the pet food composition; and about 3.3 wt. % or more, of a fatty acid component comprising a fatty acid having an aliphatic tail of 6 to 12 carbons and/or an omega-3 fatty acid, based on the total weight of the pet food composition.

Abstract: A pet amusement device may comprise at least one housing that may comprise, a memory, a power source, a transceiver, and/or at least one sensor. The sensor may be configured to detect one or more parameters corresponding to at least one pet interaction with the device. The device may comprise a processor that may be configured to receive the one or more parameters. The processor may be configured to generate data corresponding to the one or more parameters. The processor may transmit one or more signals corresponding to the data to one or more remote servers. The device may comprise at least one haptic motor configured to generate at least some vibration through the at least one housing. The processor may be configured to control the at least some vibration based on an occurrence of a predetermined condition, or a command from the one or more remote servers.

Abstract: Described herein are pet food compositions comprising propolis, along with methods of making and using same. According to an aspect of the disclosure, provided is a pet food composition comprising propolis in an amount greater than about 0.1 wt. %; about 10 to about 40 wt. % of protein; about 9 to about 25 wt. % of a fat; about 10 to about 90 wt. % of a carbohydrate, wherein all weight percentages are based on the total weight of the food composition.

Abstract: Described herein are pet food compositions and methods for using them. Such compositions may comprise betaine, carnitine, and a source of medium chain triglycerides. Methods of making and using the compositions described herein are also described.

Abstract: Pet food compositions and methods are provided herein. The pet food composition comprising a from about 5 g/1000 kcal to about 80 g/1000 kcal of a fat including one or more medium chain triglyceride, wherein at least one medium chain triglyceride comprises an octanoate component, the at least one medium chain triglyceride comprising the octanoate component comprises about 7 wt. % or more of the total weight of fat in the pet food composition; from about 40 g/1000 kcal to about 150 g/1000 kcal of a protein; optionally, from about 5 g/1000 kcal to about 55 g/1000 kcal of a fiber; optionally, from about 3 g/1000 kcal to about 130 g/1000 kcal of a carbohydrate, where all metabolizable energy amounts are based on the total metabolizable energy of the pet food composition on a dry matter basis.

Abstract: Pet food compositions and methods for minimizing tartar and/or improving the health of pets are disclosed herein. The pet food compositions typically include about 20 wt. % or more of fat comprising a medium chain triglyceride(s) having an octanoate component, wherein the medium chain triglyceride(s) comprising the octanoate component comprises about 10 wt. % or more of the fat, based on the total weight of the fat on a dry matter basis. The pet food compositions also may have a ketogenic ratio of about 1.5 or greater as calculated using Formula 1: (0.9 F+0.46 P)/(0.1 F+0.58 P+C), wherein F is the weight percentage of fat, P is the weight percentage of protein, and C is the weight percentage of carbohydrate.

Abstract: Pet food compositions and methods for improving the health of pets are disclosed herein. In accordance with one aspect, provided is a pet food composition comprising a fat; from about 15 to about 55 wt. % of a protein; from about 0.1 to about 5 wt. % of a crude fiber; and optionally, a carbohydrate, wherein the pet food composition has a weight ratio of the protein to the crude fiber of from about 25:1 to about 50:1, and wherein all weight percentages are based on the total weight of the pet food composition. In some embodiments of the pet food composition, the weight ratio of the protein to the crude fiber is from about 28:1 to about 45:1, preferably about 30:1 to about 40:1, preferably about 30:1 to about 38:1, or preferably about 32:1 to about 36:1.

Abstract: Described herein are pet food compositions and methods for using them. Such compositions may comprise soluble fiber and certain ratios of linolenic acid to fatty acids. The methods may include feeding the pet an effective amount of the pet food composition. The methods may include increasing the lean mass of a companion animal comprising feeding an effective amount of a pet food composition comprising soluble fiber and certain ratios of linolenic acid to fatty acids.

Abstract: Described herein are pet food compositions and methods for using them. Such compositions may comprise beta glucans, one or more medium chain saturated fatty acids and one or more omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and betaine. The pet food composition may further comprise botanicals. The methods include feeding the pet an effective amount of the pet food composition.

Abstract: Described herein are pet food compositions and methods for using them. Such compositions may comprise betaine and at least two omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; wherein each of the at least two omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids comprise an unbranched aliphatic tail having at least 20 carbons. The methods may include feeding the pet an effective amount of the pet food composition.

Abstract: Described herein are pet food compositions and methods for using them. Such compositions may comprise certain ratios of oleic acid to arachidonic acid. The methods may include feeding the pet an effective amount of the pet food composition.

Abstract: Pet food compositions, and particularly, pet food compositions comprising a botanical component are disclosed herein. In accordance with a first aspect, provided is a pet food composition that includes an effective amount of a plurality of botanical ingredients selected from cinnamon, green tea, pomegranate, ginger, lime peel, tulsi, and a combination of two or more thereof.

Abstract: Pet food compositions as well as methods for alleviating canines suffering from chronic gastroenteritis are disclosed herein. The pet food composition may comprise a fat; from about 15 to about 50 wt. % of protein comprising one or more amino acids, wherein the one or more amino acid comprise glycine, proline, or a combination of two or more thereof; from about 3.5 to about 35 wt. % of a fiber, the fiber comprising: (i) from about 3 to about 30 wt. % of insoluble fiber, (ii) from about 0.5 to about 5 wt. % of soluble fiber, optionally, a carbohydrate, wherein all weight percentages are based on the total weight of the pet food composition on a dry matter basis.

Abstract: Described herein are pet food compositions comprising from about 10 wt.% to about 50 wt.% protein; from about 10 wt.% to about 40 wt.% fat; up to about 20 wt.% fiber; and a moisture content of from about 6 wt.% to about 10 wt.%; wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the pet food composition; wherein the pet food composition has a peak force of from about 5 kg to about 11 kg. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described herein.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to methods for identifying pets prone to disorders and compositions for preventing, mitigating, delaying the onset and/or reducing the severity of conditions or disorders associated with insufficient nitrogen oxide and/or liver disorder. According to one aspect, provided is a method including determining a genotype of the argininosuccinate synthase gene for a subject being a pet, wherein the genotype is determined to be a minor allele, major allele, or heterozygous allele; and providing instructions to administer arginine based on the genotype of the argininosuccinate synthase gene of the subject.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and kits employing pattern recognition receptor expression as a measure of systemic health in a subject afflicted with an oral health condition. In particular, the present invention is directed to methods involving measurement of the expression levels of one or more Pattern Recognition Receptors including but not limited to Toll-Like Receptors, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), and Nucleotide Binding oligomerization domain containing protein 1 (NOD1), in a companion animal, e.g., a dog or a cat, afflicted with an oral health condition. The described methods enable evaluation of the systemic health of the animal afflicted with an oral health condition by measuring expression levels of the indicated genes as compared to suitable controls.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pet food composition and methods of making a pet food composition using an extrusion process, wherein the resultant pet food composition comprises an enhanced level of resistant starch. The pet food compositions disclosed herein may increase the proportions of beneficial gastrointestinal bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while decreasing deleterious bacteria such as Megamonas. The improved microbial environment resulting from the pet food compositions disclosed herein having an enhanced level of resistant starch may lead to both improved gastrointestinal and psychobiotic health for the animal consuming the pet food composition.