US 2026/0272876 A1 · METHODS FOR DEVELOPING COMPANION SUPPLEMENTS FOR DOGS, RELATED COMPOSITIONS, AND SYSTEMS

Abstract

Methods for developing a well-rounded and nutritionally optimal nutritional plan for a dog are provided herein. The method comprises choosing a base food format, wherein the base food format comprises base food ingredients; determining post-cook characteristics of the base food format, wherein the post-cook characteristics are selected from the group consisting of nutrient levels, temporal nutrient degradation modeling across an expected shelf-life of the base food format, bioavailability, digestibility, nutrient antagonisms, chemical form, oxidation losses over a shelf-life of the base food format, stability over a shelf-life of the base food format, breed-specific risk factors, and combinations thereof; preparing a companion supplement based, at least in part, on the post-cook characteristics of the base food format, wherein the companion supplement comprises companion supplement ingredients, and wherein the companion supplement ingredients are selected from one of a limiting amino acid that is not present in the base food format, one or more enzymes calibrated to a protein:fat:carbohydrate ratio of the base food format, and combinations thereof; determining post-production characteristics of the companion supplement; and combining nutrient values of the base food format and the companion supplement to ensure safety and efficacy, and wherein the companion supplement and the base food format, when administered together, are sufficiently designed to provide the dog with a nutritionally optimal feeding system for the dog based on the dog's stage of life and nutritional requirements.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method of developing a companion supplement tailored to a dog's stage of life and nutritional requirements, the method comprising:

choosing a base food format,
wherein the base food format comprises base food ingredients;
determining post-cook characteristics of the base food format,
wherein the post-cook characteristics are selected from the group consisting of nutrient levels, temporal nutrient degradation modeling across an expected shelf-life of the base food format,
bioavailability, digestibility, nutrient antagonisms, chemical form, oxidation losses over a shelf-life of the base food format, stability over a shelf-life of the base food format, and breed-specific risk factors, and combinations thereof;
preparing a companion supplement based, at least in part, on the post-cook characteristics of the base food format,
wherein the companion supplement comprises companion supplement ingredients, and
wherein the companion supplement ingredients are selected from one of a limiting amino acid that is not present in the base food format, one or more enzymes calibrated to a protein:fat:carbohydrate ratio of the base food format, and combinations thereof, and
determining post-production characteristics of the companion supplement;
and
combining nutrient values of the base food format and the companion supplement to ensure safety and efficacy, and
wherein, the companion supplement and the base food format, when administered together, are sufficiently designed to provide the dog with a nutritionally optimal feeding system for the dog based on the dog's stage of life and nutritional requirements.

9 more elements

A method for developing and producing a companion supplement tailored to a dog's stage of life and nutritional requirements for co-administration with a base food format, the method comprising:

selecting a base food format comprising base food ingredients;
manufacturing a representative commercial production batch under a standard production process for that format;
determining a post-cook characterization set for the representative commercial production batch;
identifying nutrients for a companion supplement for the base food format based on at least one of:
(a) sensitivity to thermal, pressure, and mechanical stresses during base food processing;
(b) regulatory restrictions on inclusion in pet food;
(c) functional benefits supporting optimal health beyond baseline nutritional adequacy;
(d) a nutritional composition of the base food;
and (e) any combinations thereof;
developing the companion supplement for co-administration with the base food format, wherein the companion supplement comprises companion supplement ingredients selected to provide the dog with essential nutrients to ensure adequate intake of essential nutrients when co-administered, and wherein the companion supplement ingredients are selected from one of a limiting amino acid that is not present in the base food format, one or more enzymes calibrated to a protein:fat:carbohydrate ratio of the base food format, and combinations thereof;
producing the companion supplement according to the developed companion supplement and packaging the companion supplement physically separate from the base food format;
and
providing administration instructions and labeling that identify compatibility of the packaged companion supplement with the base food format and specify co-administration at feeding,
wherein the companion supplement is developed from the determined post-cook characterization set of the representative commercial production batch without reformulating the base food format, and when co-administered with the base food format, the companion supplement and the base food format are sufficiently designed to provide the dog with a nutritionally optimal feeding system based on the dog's stage of life and nutritional requirements.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods for developing companion supplements for dogs, related compositions, and systems

Life of this patent

Methods for developing companion supplements for dogs, related compositions, and systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30