Abstract: The present invention provides a method for increasing mobility or activity in an animal or treating or preventing frailty in an animal, comprising identifying an animal with decreased mobility or activity or having frailty and administering a composition comprising one or more medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) to the animal in a therapeutically amount effective for increasing mobility or activity in the animal or treating frailty in the animal. Additionally, a food composition can comprise about 15% to about 50% protein, about 5% to about 40% fat, about 5% to about 50% carbohydrate, and about 1% to about 40% of one or more medium chain triglycerides (MCTs); wherein the composition has a moisture content of about 5% to about 20% and the MCTs are present in a therapeutically amount effective for increasing mobility or activity in the animal or treating frailty in the animal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing nutritional and other products to animals are provided. Generally, the invention provides a dispensing system comprising an activity monitoring device, and a dispensing device comprising a processor programmed to receive a communication generated by the activity monitoring device. The processor controls the dispensing device to dispense a nutritional or other product in response to the communication from the activity monitoring device. The activity monitoring device can be attached to an animal and communicate with the dispensing device information regarding the nutritional requirements of the animal.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining if an animal's metabolism has been shifted to ketogenic status by collecting a first urine sample from the animal when the animal's metabolism is not in a ketogenic status; collecting a second urine sample from the animal when the animal's metabolism is possibly in a ketogenic status; analyzing the first urine sample and the second urine sample for beta-hydroxy butyrate; and determining that the animal's metabolism has been shifted to ketogenic status if the concentration of beta-hydroxy butyrate in the second urine sample exceeds the concentration of beta-hydroxy butyrate in the first urine sample by ten percent (10%) or more.

Abstract: Methods for the reduction or prevention of oxidative stress in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a composition comprising astaxanthin and/or Vitamin E are described. Also described are compositions comprising astaxanthin and/or Vitamin E, the compositions being effective for the reduction or prevention of oxidative stress in an animal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing nutritional and other products to animals are provided. Generally, the invention provides a dispensing system comprising an activity monitoring device, and a dispensing device comprising a processor programmed to receive a communication generated by the activity monitoring device. The processor controls the dispensing device to dispense a nutritional or other product in response to the communication from the activity monitoring device. The activity monitoring device can be attached to an animal and communicate with the dispensing device information regarding the nutritional requirements of the animal.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the growth of Tyrophagus putrescentiae in a pet food product includes the step of adding at least 0.3% by weight conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to the pet food product. Specifically, adding conjugated linoleic acid to the pet food product includes the steps of adding conjugated linoleic acid to a pet food meal pre-mix, extruding the conjugated linoleic acid containing premix to form the pet food product, cutting the pet food product to size, and drying the pet food product. The method can further include the step of coating the dried, cut to size pet food product with conjugated linoleic acid.

Abstract: A digestive system bezoar in a human or non-human animal susceptible to bezoar formation can be reduced in size by administering to the animal a food grade agent for emulsifying fat in an amount sufficient to reduce the size of the bezoar so that the bezoar can pass out of the animal's digestive system. In a similar method for preventing bezoar formation in a human or non-human animal susceptible to bezoar formation, a food grade agent for emulsifying fat can be administered to the animal in an amount sufficient to prevent formation of bezoars, or at least to prevent formation of bezoars larger than a size that becomes trapped in the animal's digestive system.

Abstract: A digestive system bezoar in a human or non-human animal susceptible to bezoar formation can be reduced in size by administering to the animal a food grade agent for emulsifying fat in an amount sufficient to reduce the size of the bezoar so that the bezoar can pass out of the animal's digestive system. In a similar method for preventing bezoar formation in a human or non-human animal susceptible to bezoar formation, a food grade agent for emulsifying fat can be administered to the animal in an amount sufficient to prevent formation of bezoars, or at least to prevent formation of bezoars larger than a size that becomes trapped in the animal's digestive system.

Abstract: A digestive system bezoar in a human or non-human animal susceptible to bezoar formation can be reduced in size by administering to the animal a food grade agent for emulsifying fat in an amount sufficient to reduce the size of the bezoar so that the bezoar can pass out of the animal's digestive system. In a similar method for preventing bezoar formation in a human or non-human animal susceptible to bezoar formation, a food grade agent for emulsifying fat can be administered to the animal in an amount sufficient to prevent formation of bezoars, or at least to prevent formation of bezoars larger than a size that becomes trapped in the animal's digestive system.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the growth of Tyrophagus putrescentiae in a pet food product includes the step of adding at least 0.3% by weight conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to the pet food product. Specifically, adding conjugated linoleic acid to the pet food product includes the steps of adding conjugated linoleic acid to a pet food meal pre-mix, extruding the conjugated linoleic acid containing premix to form the pet food product, cutting the pet food product to size, and drying the pet food product. The method can further include the step of coating the dried, cut to size pet food product with conjugated linoleic acid.