Research Notes

Lamb kidney may be palatable sub for liver in cat food

While liver was the most palatable raw ingredient in the test, the scientists pointed out limitations to the ingredients' use.

December 28, 2020

Tim Wall

Researchers at Massey University observed distinct differences among cats’ preference for various raw organ meats and co-products from cows and lambs. Likewise, raw ingredients from lamb and beef had different palatability.

Insects accepted, but best unseen in U.S. pet food

U.S. residents stated they were more willing to try feeding their pets a product made with insect flour than dried whole insects.

November 17, 2020

Tim Wall

Pet owners in the U.S. may be ready to accept those insect-based pet foods and treats. Presentation may be crucial, unsurprisingly.

Key points of FDA meeting on DCM correlation to dog food

The event was a forum where scientists with research into DCM could share information, collaborate, and discuss many different – and even conflicting – theories on the condition.

November 4, 2020

Tim Wall

Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine released several documents and statements about the agency’s investigation into correlations between specific dog foods and cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy.

Premium, dog food related to more greenhouse gas than cat

According to one research team, greenhouse gas emissions associated with kibble production accounted for 1.1 to 2.9% of total agricultural emissions.

October 5, 2020

Tim Wall

A research team in Scotland calculated that dog food may be associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions and land use than cat food.

Testing pet microbiome validates diet marketing claims

However, if those feeding trials aren’t conducted carefully, they can be a waste of time and money.

September 17, 2020

Tim Wall

As consumer interest in pets’ gut microbiomes increases, pet food companies can gain insight into their products by monitoring the microbiome in feeding trial.

Australia feeds more raw pet food; Canada conventional

The cultural differences among pet owners in feeding practices may have changed over time.

September 11, 2020

Tim Wall

Regional differences emerged in pet owners’ feeding of raw, homemade and conventional pet foods.

Purina, Blue Buffalo marketing analyzed via reviews

For both Purina and Blue Buffalo, the majority of ratings on all four e-commerce sites, Amazon, Chewy, Petco.com and Walmart.com, were five stars, meaning positive.

September 9, 2020

Tim Wall

Purina and Blue Buffalo’s marketing strategies seem to have succeeded in communicating brand value to customers, but one scientist found differences in pet owner reviews of the brands.

Pet food energy estimates exclude dog, cat body heat

Pet nutritionists use what's known as the modified Atwater equation to predict the energy density of food, she said, rather than running feeding trials in every situation.

September 1, 2020

Tim Wall

Feeding trials provide the “gold standard” for determining the energy content of pet food, but trials using live animals may be too expensive or otherwise unavailable when pet food formulators test products.

3 aroma compounds ‘vital’ to dog food palatability

They identified 55 individual volatile chemical compounds emanating from the dog foods sprayed with palatability enhancers.

August 24, 2020

Tim Wall

Scientists identified nine chemical compounds found in palatability enhancers that contributed positively to dogs’ partiality for particular food aromas.