Compact Nutrient Dense Freeze-Dried Pet Food Product

Abstract

A freeze-dried pet food meal bar that is 100% nutritionally complete consisting of more than 30% crude protein, 35% crude fat, less than 20% carbohydrate and less than 10% moisture. The product will consist primarily of animal protein. Vitamins and mineral will be supplied via fruits and vegetables. Since the product is freeze dried the product will be semi-fractural and can be broken into smaller pieces for feeding. Each bar will be approximately 5 to 6 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, approximately ½ inches thick and weigh 2 to 3 ounces. A single bar will be targeted to feed a 40 pound dog. Dogs below 40 pounds would feed less than one bar (ex. 20 pound dog gets ½ bar). Dogs above 40 pounds would feed more than one bar (ex. 80 pound dog gets 2 bars).

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of providing complete daily nutrition to a dog by providing the dog with a nutritional bar comprising:
 a. greater than 30 wt. % crude protein;   b. approximately 30-40 wt. % crude fat;   c. greater than 0 wt. % carbohydrate, but less than 20 wt. % carbohydrate; and   d. greater than 0 wt. % moisture, but less than 10 wt. % moisture;   wherein the nutritional bar is shelf-stable, freeze-dried, not heat-extruded, has a caloric density of at least 5,000 kcal/kg, contains no artificial ingredients; and   wherein the nutritional dosage of the nutritional bar provided to the dog is titrated based on the weight of the dog, and is 100% nutritionally complete for the dog.   
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the dog weighs 40 pounds and receives 1 nutritional bar. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the dog weighs under 40 pounds and receives less than 1 nutritional bar. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the dog weighs 20 pounds and receives ½ of the nutritional bar. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the dog weighs over 40 pounds and receives more than 1 nutritional bar. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the dog weighs 80 pounds and receives 2 nutritional bars. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the nutritional bar has a caloric density of at least 6,000-6,300 kcal/kg. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the nutritional bar contains no processing aids, no heat-stable sources of vitamins, and supplies vitamins or minerals via fruits and vegetables. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the nutritional bar is semi-fractural. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the nutritional bar weighs less than 3 ounces, is approximately 5 to 6 inches long, approximately ½ inch thick, and approximately 2 to 3 inches wide. 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following ingredients: Beef; Beef Liver; Sweet Potato; Chickpeas; Flaxseed; Coconut Oil; Sea Salt; Natural Vitamin/Mineral Mix derived from fruits and vegetables; and Tocopherols. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following ingredients: Beef; Chicken; Beef Liver; Chicken Liver; Chickpeas; Sweet Potato; Flaxseed; Coconut Oil; Salt; Natural Vitamin/Mineral Mix derived from fruits and vegetables; and Tocopherols. 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following ingredients: Turkey, Duck; Turkey Liver; Chickpeas; Sweet Potato; Flaxseed; Coconut Oil; Salt; Natural Vitamin/Mineral Mix derived from fruits and vegetables; and Tocopherols. 
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following: Beef; Chicken; Beef Liver; Chicken Liver; Pumpkin; Sweet Potato; Chicory Root; Flaxseed; Coconut Oil; Salt; Natural Vitamin/Mineral Mix derived from fruits and vegetables; Probiotics; and Tocopherols. 
     
     
         33 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following ingredients on a percentage basis by weight: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Ingredients 
                   Inclusion, wt. % 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Beef 
                   47.08 
                 
                     
                   Beef Liver 
                   34.72 
                 
                     
                   Sweet Potato 
                   5.00 
                 
                     
                   Chickpeas 
                   5.00 
                 
                     
                   Flaxseed 
                   3.00 
                 
                     
                   Coconut Oil 
                   2.50 
                 
                     
                   Bone Meal 
                   2.00 
                 
                     
                   Sea Salt 
                   0.40 
                 
                     
                   Vit/Min Mix 
                   0.20 
                 
                     
                   Tocopherols 
                   0.10