Abstract: An animal food has a soft, chewy texture and a low water activity, includes starches such as wheat flour, wheat gluten, glycerin, soy flour, and high fructose corn syrup; a source of protein such as wheat gluten; polyols such as propylene glycol; distilled mono-glycerides; and a source of fat such as animal-based and vegetable-based fats, and preferably has a springiness, resilience, and hardness within a desired range. The animal food is preferably extruded.

Abstract: A digestible pet chew and method for making a digestible pet chew is provided. The method includes combining ingredients including a leavening agent and an acid to form a mixture having about 16 to 32% moisture, adding the mixture to a barrel of an injection molding machine and plasticizing the mixture with heat and pressure to form a plasticized material. The plasticized material is injected into a mold and cooled for a time sufficient to form a skin surrounding a center portion. When the mold is opened, the center portion expands to form a pet chew having an outer skin and an expanded center.