Latest Dog and Cat Food Research: PetfoodIndustry

Plant oils in pet food: olive, soy, coconut and sunflower

From a pet food perspective, the palatability of diets containing sunflower oil is well liked by dogs, but not as well received by cats.

January 21, 2022

Tim Wall

Several types of plant oil have been covered in Ingredients Issues and evaluated for their use in dog, cat and other pet food formulations

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.

8 big cats test positive for COVID virus at St. Louis Zoo

Biodiversity loss may have created conditions leading to the COVID-19 pandemic.

November 11, 2021

Tim Wall

Two African lions, two snow leopards, two jaguars, an Amur tiger and a puma tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, at the St. Louis Zoo in Missouri. Zoo veterinarians expect the eight cats to make a full recovery.

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.

How to recruit pet owners for dog, cat food studies

Participants for pet food or supplements studies can be recruited in several ways.

April 22, 2021

Tim Wall

Companion animal researchers have an option that many other scientists do not. Participants for pet food or supplements studies can be recruited in several ways.