Pet treat coating composition and process

A composition for coating a dry pet treat or particulate pet food, the coating composition comprising:

• a) between about 50 and about 69 weight % of hydrogenated animal fat or hydrogenated vegetable oil, the hydrogenated fat or oil having a melting point between about 125 and about 150 degrees Fahrenheit;
• b) between about 10 and about 50 weight % of an edible, natural or artificial flavorant;
• c) between about 20 and about 40 weight % of an inert filler component;
• d) between about 1 and about 10 weight % of a nutritional additive;
• and
• e) between about 0.1 and about 3% weight of an edible, artificial or natural colorant.

A process for making a coated pet treat or coated particulate pet food, the process comprising the steps of:

• a) subjecting the pet treat or particulate pet food to a liquefied coating composition comprising at least about 25 weight % of hydrogenated animal fat or hydrogenated vegetable oil having a melting point between about 100 and about 160 degrees Fahrenheit, thereby forming a surface coating of such liquefied coating composition on the pet food or pet treat;
• and
• b) subjecting the coated pet food or coated pet treat to ambient air, allowing the coating composition to cool to room temperature;
• wherein the process does not comprise baking in an oven or drying in a drier.