Emulsion impregnated rawhide chews

Abstract

A wide range of aqueous based soaking operations can be employed to impregnate substantially throughout various rawhide pet chews; suitable substances for release into the oral cavity of pets during chewing include emulsions, surfactants, conditioners, flavorants and/or active ingredients. Prior to impregnation, the rawhide chews are physically disrupted/penetrated to augment substance impregnation substantially throughout the chews.

1 . Physically disrupted/penetrated rawhide pet chews soaked in a bath comprised of water and an emulsion comprising a coating substance as the discontinuous phase and a surfactant as the continuous phase under a wide range of soaking temperatures and soaking times, wherein said emulsion permeates substantially throughout the rawhide imparting plasticizing and enhanced efficacy with respect to controlling biofilms.  
     
     
         2 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A method for impregnating fresh rawhide pet chews comprising impregnating fresh rawhide pet chews with an emulsion comprising physically penetrating and/or disrupting said rawhide and soaking said rawhide in an aqueous bath containing an emulsion comprised of surfactant as the continuous phase and a coating substance as a discontinuous phase, wherein: (a) said soaking is carried out over a wide range of temperatures and over a wide range of soaking durations, (b) said emulsion impregnates said rawhide at from between about 0.1 and 30% by weight, and (c) said emulsions contain various oral care ingredients.  
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled)