Compositions comprising fermentable fiber which are adapted for use by a companion animal and kits and methods of their use

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to compositions, kits, and methods which are adapted for use by companion animals. In one embodiment, compositions are provided which comprise a fermentable fiber, wherein the composition is a liquid and is adapted for use by a companion animal. Kits comprising such compositions along with information that such compositions are adapted for use by a companion animal are also provided. Even further, the disclosure describes methods of enhancing the gastrointestinal health of the companion animal comprising orally administering the composition to the companion animal.

1 . A composition comprising at least about 0.25% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition, wherein the composition is a liquid which is adapted for use by a companion animal.  
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1  comprising at least about 0.5% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2  which is a drinking water.  
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 3  wherein the total fermentable fiber comprises a fiber selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, gum arabic, gum talha, psyllium, rice bran, carob bean gum, citrus pulp, pectin, fructooligosaccharide, mannanoligofructose, soy fiber, arabinogalactan, galactooligosaccharide, arabinoxylan, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4  wherein the total fermentable fiber comprises a fiber selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, fructooligosaccharide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1  which is a gravy.  
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 6  wherein the total fermentable fiber comprises a fiber selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, gum arabic, gum talha, psyllium, rice bran, carob bean gum, citrus pulp, pectin, fructooligosaccharide, mannanoligofructose, soy fiber, arabinogalactan, galactooligosaccharide, arabinoxylan, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7  comprising at least about 0.5% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 8  further comprising one or more nutrients.  
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 9  further comprising meat protein.  
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 10  comprising at least about 0.5% protein and at least about 1% fat, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 11  wherein the total fermentable fiber comprises a fiber selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, fructooligosaccharide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 12  wherein the total fermentable fiber comprises beet pulp and fructooligosaccharide.  
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising a fermentable fiber selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, short chain oligofructose comprising 1-kestose, nystose, and 1F-beta-fructofuranosylnystose, and mixtures thereof, wherein the composition is a liquid which is adapted for use by a companion animal.  
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 14  comprising at least about 0.05% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 15  which is a drinking water.  
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 16  comprising from about 0.1% to about 20% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 15  which is a gravy.  
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 18  comprising from about 0.1% to about 20% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 19  further comprising a further fermentable fiber selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, gum arabic, gum talha, psyllium, rice bran, carob bean gum, citrus pulp, pectin, fructooligosaccharide additional to the short chain oligofructose, mannanoligofructose, soy fiber, arabinogalactan, galactooligosaccharide, arabinoxylan, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The composition according to  claim 19  further comprising one or more nutrients.  
     
     
         22 . The composition according to  claim 21  further comprising meat protein.  
     
     
         23 . The composition according to  claim 22  comprising at least about 0.5% protein and at least about 1% fat, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         24 . A kit comprising: 
 (a) the composition according to  claim 1;  and    (b) information selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) that the composition is adapted for use by a companion animal;  
 (ii) that the composition is useful for enhancing gastrointestinal health;  
 (iii) that the composition is useful for improving the fecal odor of the feces of a companion animal; and  
 (iv) combinations thereof.  
   
     
     
         25 . The kit according to  claim 24  wherein the composition comprises at least about 0.5% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         26 . The kit according to  claim 25  wherein the total fermentable fiber comprises a fiber selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, gum arabic, gum talha, psyllium, rice bran, carob bean gum, citrus pulp, pectin, fructooligosaccharide, mannanoligofructose, soy fiber, arabinogalactan, galactooligosaccharide, arabinoxylan, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The kit according to  claim 26  wherein the composition comprises from about 1% to about 20% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         28 . The kit according to  claim 27  wherein the composition is a drinking water.  
     
     
         29 . The kit according to  claim 27  wherein the composition is a gravy.  
     
     
         30 . The kit according to  claim 29  wherein the composition comprises from about 2% to about 10% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         31 . A kit comprising: 
 (a) the composition according to  claim 14;  and    (b) information selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) that the composition is adapted for use by a companion animal;  
 (ii) that the composition is useful for enhancing gastrointestinal health;  
 (iii) that the composition is useful for improving the fecal odor of the feces of a companion animal; and  
 (iv) combinations thereof.  
   
     
     
         32 . The kit according to  claim 31  wherein the composition comprises at least about 0.05% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         33 . The kit according to  claim 32  wherein the composition further comprises a further fermentable fiber selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, gum arabic, gum talha, psyllium, rice bran, carob bean gum, citrus pulp, pectin, fructooligosaccharide additional to the short chain oligofructose, mannanoligofructose, soy fiber, arabinogalactan, galactooligosaccharide, arabinoxylan, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The kit according to  claim 32  wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 20% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         35 . The kit according to  claim 34  wherein the composition is a drinking water.  
     
     
         36 . The kit according to  claim 34  wherein the composition is a gravy.  
     
     
         37 . A method selected from the group consisting of enhancing gastrointestinal health of a companion animal, improving the fecal odor of the feces of a companion animal, reducing risk of cancer in a companion animal, and combinations thereof, comprising orally administering to the companion animal the composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37  wherein the method comprises at least about 0.5% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38  wherein the total fermentable fiber comprises a fiber selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, gum arabic, gum talha, psyllium, rice bran, carob bean gum, citrus pulp, pectin, fructooligosaccharide, mannanoligofructose, soy fiber, arabinogalactan, galactooligosaccharide, arabinoxylan, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40  wherein the composition is a drinking water.  
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 40  wherein the composition is a gravy.  
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42  wherein the oral administration is at least once daily.  
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 42  wherein the composition is contacted with companion animal food prior to oral administration.  
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 42  wherein the composition is admixed with companion animal food prior to oral administration.  
     
     
         46 . A method selected from the group consisting of enhancing gastrointestinal health of a companion animal, improving the fecal odor of the feces of a companion animal, reducing risk of cancer in a companion animal, and combinations thereof, comprising orally administering to the companion animal the composition according to  claim 14 .  
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 46  wherein the composition comprises at least about 0.05% of total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 47  wherein the composition is a drinking water.  
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 47  wherein the composition is a gravy.  
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 49  wherein the oral administration is at least once daily.  
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 50  wherein the oral administration is concurrent with feeding the companion animal.  
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 49  wherein the composition is contacted with companion animal food prior to oral administration.  
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 49  wherein the composition is admixed with companion animal food prior to oral administration.