Weight management system for animals

Abstract

A pet food product for promoting comprehensive weight management in companion animals. The pet food includes, on a dry matter basis, about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient. In a preferred embodiment a diacylglyceride is the functional ingredient.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A pet food product for promoting comprehensive weight management in companion animals comprising, on a dry matter basis, about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient.  
     
     
         2 . The pet food product of  claim 1 , wherein said companion animal is selected from the group consisting of a dog and a cat.  
     
     
         3 . The pet food product of  claim 1 , wherein said fat comprises essential long-chain fatty acids.  
     
     
         4 . The pet food product of  claim 1 , wherein said functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of L-carnitine, conjugated linoleic acid and a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         5 . The pet food product of  claim 1 , wherein said functional ingredient is a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         6 . The pet food product of  claim 5 , wherein said diacylglyceride is obtained from a vegetable oil.  
     
     
         7 . The pet food product of  claim 6 , wherein said vegetable oil is Econa oil.  
     
     
         8 . The pet food product of  claim 1 , wherein a comprehensive weight management includes a change in physiology of a companion animal selected from a group consisting of an increase in lean body mass, weight loss, an increase in the animal's satiety, and a decrease in the animal's voluntary food intake.  
     
     
         9 . The pet food product of  claim 1 , wherein the pet food product is selected from a group consisting of a wet pet food, a semi-moist pet food, a dry pet food, a pet treat, a pet snack, and a pet drink.  
     
     
         10 . A process for producing a pet food product for companion animals, the process comprising the step of adding about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient, wherein said functional ingredient modulates metabolism and builds lean muscle mass.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of a dog and a cat.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said fat comprises essential long-chain fatty acids.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of L-carnitine, conjugated linoleic acid and a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said functional ingredient is a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein said diacylglyceride is obtained from a vegetable oil.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein said vegetable oil is Econa oil.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the pet food product is selected from a group consisting of a wet pet food, a semi-moist pet food, a dry pet food, a pet treat, a pet snack, and a pet drink.  
     
     
         18 . A process of promoting comprehensive weight management in companion animals comprising the step of feeding to said animal a diet comprising about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of a dog and a cat.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said fat comprises essential long-chain fatty acids.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of L-carnitine, a conjugated linoleic acid and a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said functional ingredient is a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said diacylglyceride is obtained from a vegetable oil.  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein said vegetable oil is Econa oil  
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the pet food product is selected from a group consisting of a wet pet food, a semi-moist pet food, a dry pet food, a pet treat, a pet snack, and a pet drink.  
     
     
         26 . A process for increasing the lean body mass of a companion animal comprising the step of feeding to said animal a diet comprising about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient.  
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 26 , wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of a dog and a cat.  
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 26 , wherein said fat comprises essential long-chain fatty acids.  
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 26 , wherein said functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of L-carnitine, a conjugated linoleic acid and a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 26 , wherein said functional ingredient is a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 30 , wherein said diacylglyceride is obtained from a vegetable oil.  
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 31 , wherein said vegetable oil is Econa oil  
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 26 , wherein the pet food product is selected from a group consisting of a wet pet food, a semi-moist pet food, a dry pet food, a pet treat, a pet snack, and a pet drink.  
     
     
         34 . A process for enhancing the satiety and decreasing the voluntary food intake of a companion animal comprising the step of feeding to said animal a diet comprising about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient.  
     
     
         35 . The process of  claim 34 , wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of a dog and a cat.  
     
     
         36 . The process of  claim 34 , wherein said fat comprises essential long-chain fatty acids.  
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 34 , wherein said functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of L-carnitine, a conjugated linoleic acid and a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         38 . The process of  claim 34 , wherein said functional ingredient is a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         39 . The process of  claim 38 , wherein said diacylglyceride is obtained from a vegetable oil.  
     
     
         40 . The process of  claim 39 , wherein said vegetable oil is Econa oil  
     
     
         41 . The process of  claim 34 , wherein the pet food product is selected from a group consisting of a wet pet food, a semi-moist pet food, a dry pet food. A pet treat, a pet snack, and a pet drink.  
     
     
         42 . A process for decreasing blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels of a companion animal comprising the step of feeding to said animal a diet comprising about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient.  
     
     
         43 . The process of  claim 42 , wherein said animal is a dog.  
     
     
         44 . The process of  claim 42 , wherein said fat comprises essential long-chain fatty acids.  
     
     
         45 . The process of  claim 42 , wherein said functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of L-carnitine, a conjugated linoleic acid and a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         46 . The process of  claim 42 , wherein said functional ingredient is a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         47 . The process of  claim 46 , wherein said diacylglyceride is obtained from a vegetable oil.  
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 47 , wherein said vegetable oil is Econa oil  
     
     
         49 . The process of  claim 42 , wherein the pet food product is selected from a group consisting of a wet pet food, a semi-moist pet food, a dry pet food, a pet treat, a pet snack, and a pet drink.  
     
     
         50 . A process for reducing the risk of ketosis of a companion animal comprising the step of feeding to said animal a diet comprising about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient.  
     
     
         51 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein said animal is a dog.  
     
     
         52 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein said fat comprises essential long-chain fatty acids.  
     
     
         53 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein said functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of L-carnitine, a conjugated linoleic acid and a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         54 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein said functional ingredient is a diacylglyceride.  
     
     
         55 . The process of  claim 54 , wherein said diacylglyceride is obtained from a vegetable oil.  
     
     
         56 . The process of  claim 55 , wherein said vegetable oil is Econa oil  
     
     
         57 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the pet food product is selected from a group consisting of a wet pet food, a semi-moist pet food, a dry pet food, a pet treat, a pet snack, and a pet drink.