Research Notes | PetfoodIndustry.com

Aging cats prefer wet food at prey body temperature

Pet owners with finicky older cats may benefit from instructions to warm a product and not serve it cold.

January 18, 2022

Tim Wall

In an experiment, aged domestic cats most preferred food served at the temperature of a warm-blooded prey item.

No confirmed human disease from raw pet food worldwide

The scientists’ findings cast doubt on a basic tenant of raw pet food use, that raw pet foods should be kept away from people’s food spaces and utensils.

January 14, 2022

Tim Wall

Scientists classified eleven households as having experienced “probable” transmission, and 20 households experienced “possible” transmission.

Silkworm may be novel, insect-based pet food ingredient

In Taiwan, an agricultural research station developed a means to use silkworm in cat food. Scientists in Thailand fed dogs a diet containing silkworm, house crickets or a control diet with poultry meal.

November 15, 2021

Tim Wall

Scientists in Thailand and Taiwan have investigated silkworms as a novel pet food ingredient in dog and cat foods.

Vets may influence sustainable dog, cat food purchases

By reaching out to veterinarians, pet food producers and their suppliers could help inform consumers about how their purchases affect the wider world.

November 5, 2021

Tim Wall

By reaching out to veterinarians, pet food producers and their suppliers could help inform consumers about how their purchases affect the wider world.

Alpha-lipoic acid helps dogs, may harm cats

The researchers presented a collection of studies supporting that alpha-lipoic acid has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory benefits for dogs, while protecting their nervous system, at dosages well below the toxic level.

November 4, 2021

Tim Wall

A review of research on alpha-lipoic acid supplements collected evidence that the chemical can benefit dogs health in various ways.

Research notes: Small pet trends and nutrition

From determining consumer trends to nutrition composition and quality, take a look at the latest in “other” pet research.

October 1, 2021

Lindsay Beaton

Learn about some of the latest research in the small animal pet space, including studies on pet reptiles, rabbits and birds.

Foodomics study not meant to link peas in dog food to DCM

Business-to-consumer news media outlets have covered the research as if it found a causal relationship among certain ingredients, especially peas, and canine dilated cardiomyopathy.

August 23, 2021

Tim Wall

Business-to-consumer news media outlets have covered the research as if it found a causal relationship among certain ingredients, especially peas, and canine dilated cardiomyopathy.

EU program tests dried human food waste in pet food

Pet food and treats can use that otherwise wasted food, or at least some of it. That could reduce the demand from pet food companies for some raw materials or reduce competition between human and pet food streams.

July 26, 2021

Tim Wall

Researchers with Food for Feed established a recommended inclusion level for that dried human food waste, but also identified limits.

Paleo pet food hints from ancient dog feces in permafrost

The dogs had eaten muscle and bone tissues as well as roe and guts from fish.

July 22, 2021

Tim Wall

One group of archeologists looked for clues about dog’s ancestral diets by doing essentially what pet nutrition scientists do with modern dogs. They collected dogs’ feces and analyzed it.

Krill omega-3 fatty acids boosted dogs’ levels over fish

While krill provide health benefits to humans and their pets as food ingredients, humans threaten krill populations and the ecosystems that depend on the tiny animals, despite protections against overharvesting.

July 19, 2021

Tim Wall

Krill, tiny marine crustaceans, provide omega-3 fatty acids for pet foods in a different form than omega-3s in conventional fish sources. Krill are one of the most abundant species on the planet.