Pet food composition and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to dimensionally stable low carbohydrate pet food products and method for producing such products. The resulting pet food products are capable of inducing desired levels of ketosis in pets which in turn can lead to weigh loss or weight control.

1 . A method of producing a dimensionally stable low carbohydrate pet food, the method comprising: 
 providing a pet food composition having a low carbohydrate content based on nitrogen free extract;    of less than about 19 wt % on a dry basis;    feeding the pet food composition through an extruder equipped at an outlet end with a high shear die assembly;    advancing the pet food composition through the die assembly at high shear; and    cutting the extruded pet food composition to the desired size whereby upon drying the composition a low carbohydrate dimensionally stable pet food product is obtained.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said high shear die assembly includes a Venturi plate.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said Venturi plate includes a single through hole.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said through hole has an average diameter of between about 0.5 to 1.25 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said through hole has an average diameter of about 1.0 inch.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said high shear die assembly further comprises a first spacer plate attached on one side to said extruder and on another side to said Venturi plate, a second spacer plate attached to said Venturi plate along a side opposite said first spacer plate, and a die plate including orifices for shaping said pet food.  
     
     
         7 . The composition formed by the method of  claim 1  wherein the dimensionally stable low carbohydrate pet food product retains fat.  
     
     
         8 . The composition formed by the method of  claim 1  wherein the dimensionally stable low carbohydrate pet food is coated with fat.  
     
     
         9 . The composition formed by the method of  claim 1  wherein said low carbohydrate content is less than about 19 wt % on a dry basis.  
     
     
         10 . The composition formed by the method of  claim 1  wherein said dimensionally stable pet food product has 
 a protein content in the range of about 25 to about 70 wt %;    a fat content in the range of about 15 to about 70 wt % on a dry basis; and    a carbohydrate content based on nitrogen free extract of between about 14 wt % to about 19 wt % all on a dry basis.    
     
     
         11 . A dimensionally stable low carbohydrate pet food made according to  claim 1 , wherein said pet food is capable of maintaining ketosis in pets consuming said pet food.  
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing a low carbohydrate pet food in a form of dimensionally stable kibbles, the method comprising: 
 providing a pet food composition having a carbohydrate content based on nitrogen free extract of less than about 19 wt % on a dry basis;    feeding the pet food composition through an extruder having means for inducing high shear at an outlet end thereof;    advancing the pet food composition at high shear through a die assembly at the outlet end to form an extrudate;    cutting the extrudate to a desired size; and    drying the resulting pieces of extrudate to form dimensionally stable kibbles.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said means for inducing high shear includes a Venturi plate for maintaining the pet food composition in the extruder.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said Venturi plate is part of said die assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said Venturi plate includes a single through hole.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the die assembly further comprises a first spacer plate attached on one side to said extruder and on another side to said Venturi plate, a second spacer plate attached to said Venturi plate along a side opposite said first spacer plate, and a die plate including orifices for shaping said pet food.  
     
     
         17 . The composition formed by the method of  claim 1  wherein the dimensionally stable low carbohydrate pet food product retains fat.  
     
     
         18 . The composition formed by the method of  claim 1  wherein the dimensionally stable low carbohydrate pet food is coated with fat.  
     
     
         19 . The composition found by the method of  claim 1  wherein said low carbohydrate content is less than about 19 wt % on a dry basis.  
     
     
         20 . The composition formed by the method of  claim 1  wherein said dimensionally stable pet food product has 
 a protein content in the range of about 25 to about 70 wt %;    a fat content in the range of about 15 to about 70 wt % on a dry basis; and    a carbohydrate content based on nitrogen free extract of between about 14 wt % to about 19 wt % all on a dry basis.    
     
     
         21 . A dimensionally stable low carbohydrate pet food made according to  claim 1 , wherein said pet food is capable of maintaining ketosis in pets consuming said pet food.