Composition And Packaging Method For Animal Dental Care

Abstract

A comestible, water-based composition containing natural ingredients provides an effective amount of at least one active ingredient selected to reduce the proliferation of bacteria in the mouth of animals to treat and improve the dental health of animals. The composition can be administered to animals in the form of their daily intake of water and may be especially packaged for ready use and consumption by animals in pre-packaged and portable doses. Compositions containing natural ingredients and formulated as toothpastes for animal dental care are also provided.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing a non-toxic dental care agent to an animal, comprising:
 providing a water-based, non-toxic composition formulated for consumption by an animal, said composition containing an effective amount of at least one active ingredient selected to reduce the proliferation of bacteria in the animal's mouth, at least one antioxidant agent, and natural agents for reducing bacterial proliferation and freshening the animal's breath;   administering said composition to an animal in an amount sufficient to meet the animal's daily hydration needs.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said water-based composition is administered in a minimum daily dosage of 200 ml. 
     
     
         18 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said water-based, non-toxic composition is formulated with an effective amount of extract of cinnamon, extract of clove and Yucca extract in combination. 
     
     
         21 . A comestible toothpaste composition formulated from natural ingredients that are non-toxic to non-human animals for providing a dental health care agent to a non-human animal, comprising:
 water in an amount from between about 10% to 20% by weight;   an effective amount of at least one active ingredient selected to reduce the proliferation of bacteria, said active ingredient being derived from a natural source and being non-toxic to non-human animals if swallowed; and   a non-toxic thickening agent derived from a natural source,   wherein said composition comprising water, at least one active ingredient and thickening agent is formulated as a toothpaste for application to the teeth of an animal which is edible by an animal without causing harmful or toxic effects.   
     
     
         22 . The comestible toothpaste composition of  claim 21  further comprising at least one antioxidant agent derived from a natural source, said antioxidant agent being in an amount of between about 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight. 
     
     
         23 . The comestible toothpaste composition of  claim 22  further comprising natural fish flavoring. 
     
     
         24 . A comestible, non-toxic composition formulated from natural ingredients for providing a dental health care agent to a non-human animal in the form of a daily amount of hydration for an animal, comprising:
 water; and   a concentrate comprising:
 water in an amount of from between 70% to 90% by weight; 
 at least one active ingredient selected to reduce the proliferation of bacteria in an animal's mouth, said at least one active ingredient being non-toxic to non-human animals and being derived from a natural source, and being in an amount of between about 5% to about 10% by weight; and 
 about 5% to about 10% by weight of at least one adhering agent suitable for causing fluid to adhere to the mouth of an animal for a time sufficient to effect reduction of bacteria in the animal's mouth, 
   wherein said concentrate is in admixture with said water in a ratio of about 1:200 by volume to provide a dental care composition in the form of an animal's daily hydration needs.   
     
     
         25 . The comestible, non-toxic composition according to  claim 24 , wherein said composition is provided to an animal in a daily hydration dose of between 200 ml and 2000 ml. 
     
     
         26 . The comestible, non-toxic composition according to  claim 24 , wherein said at least one active ingredient is selected from the group of enzymes including bromelain, papain and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The comestible, non-toxic composition according to  claim 24  wherein said at least one active ingredient is zinc gluconate.