MXPA06005802A - Method to reduce odor of excreta from companion animals - Google Patents

Abstract

A method is provided for reducing odor of excreta of a companion animal. The method comprises causing the animal to ingest a composition comprising an excreta odor reducing effective amount of a zingiberaceous spice such as ginger or an extract thereof, or an excreta odor reducing effective amount of fiber together with another odor reducing agent.

Description

METHOD TO REDUCE THE SMELL OF COMPANY EXCREMENTS This application claims priority of the United States provisional patent application of 7? Serial number 60 / 525,306, filed on November 26, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for reducing odor from the excrement of a companion animal.

Background of the Invention The smell of excrement in pets is an unpleasant reality of living with pets. For the owners of animals that live inside the house, especially cats and dogs that use boxes for waste or are confined in kennels or other small spaces, this problem is particularly unpleasant. The sand for cats containing deodorants has been developed, however this is a solution to the problem. The odor of animal droppings is partially a result of indigestion and microbial fermentation caused by inappropriate bacterial activity, inflammation and poor digestion and mobility.

Ginger and its constituents have been credited with numerous properties that include antiemetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. DerMarderosian (2001) The Product Review Natural St. Louis Missouri: Facts and Comparisons.

Japanese Patent No. 4,359,113 describes the use of ginger to prevent the development of fish odor related to shellfish.

The effects of the species, which includes ginger, in reducing the in vitro formation of intestinal gas are described in Savitri et al. (1986) Food Microbiology 3 (2), 195-199.

Platel et al. (2001) Nutrition Research 21 (9), 1309-1314, describes the influence of several species, including ginger, on reducing intestinal transit time.

U.S. Patent No. 5,567,424 describes a healthy food containing soy lecithin, ginger, bran, apple fiber and many other materials. This patent is directed to a composition which is said to be nutritious and healthy, to promote regular bowel movement and not to produce the painful large fecal matter produced by volume agents such as psyllium. A composition as described there contains more than ten ingredients, which includes candied ginger.

U.S. Patent No. 5,951,946 describes a composition for reducing odors by applying a plant extract of the order of zingiberáceas, more particularly a banana extract, an odorous substrate. Examples of such mentioned odorous substrates include manure, urine, sewage, mud, hay, straw, grass, soil, compost, carpet, animal feed, diapers, garbage, food waste, ponds, fountains, and septic tanks.

Synthesis of the Invention This invention is directed to methods for reducing the odor of excrement discharged by animals. It is contemplated that such methods may be suitable for use in humans and non-human animals, more particularly pet animals such as cats and dogs.

The invention is directed, in part, to a method for reducing the odor of excreta from a companion animal, the method comprising causing the animal to ingest, e.g. by feeding the animal, a composition comprising an odor of excrement that reduces the effective amount of a zingiberácea species or an extract of the same. The composition can be, for example, a food, a supplement, a treat, a snack or a toy. Through this application where ginger or an extract thereof is indicated, it may be clear to one with skill in the art that any other zingiber species or an extract thereof may be substituted.

Optionally the composition further comprises one or more scent reducing agents other than ginger or an extract thereof, for example those described here below. The combination of ginger an extract thereof and one or more additional odor reducing agents in a food composition for a companion animal may, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, have a superior effect in reducing the odor of excreta.

The advantages and benefits of the present invention may be apparent to one skilled in the art in reading this application.

Detailed description The term "excrement" is generally used here to refer to all forms of biological waste generated by an animal, which include urine, feces (for example, fecal matter), intestinal gas (flatulence). According to an embodiment, the method of the invention is used to reduce odor of fecal matter. According to another embodiment, the method is used to reduce the smell of gas passed by the animal.

The term "zingiberácea species" here refers to parts of plants or an extract thereof of a plant of the zingiberácea botanical family, which include but are not limited to galanga, cardamom, turmeric, mioga and ginger.

For the purposes of this application, "ginger" includes parts of plants, particularly rhizomes (sometimes referred to as "roots"), Zingiber officinale and other Zingiber species. This includes ginger in any form such as powder, dehydrated, fresh, cooked or raw. An "extract" of ginger here is any preparation that contains substances extracted from ginger, which include fluid extracts, tinctures, essence oils, distillates and oleoresins.

It has been found in accordance with this invention that ginger and extracts thereof can be surprisingly effective in reducing the odor of animal droppings when included in the animal's diet. Without being particularly attached to a particular theory, it is believed that the beneficial effects of the present invention result at least in part from the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and gastric simulation properties of ginger. Specifically, it is believed that ginger reduces the odor-producing compounds of include heterocycles, phenols, thiols, sulfides and indoles present in the droppings, and in this way reduces the odor of excrements that include fecal odor, of urine and flatulence.

Additionally, it has been discovered in accordance with the present invention that the agent (s) that reduce the additional odor, when used in combination with ginger or an extract thereof, may be useful in reducing odor. excreta in companion animals such as cats and dogs. In various embodiments, such agent (s) that reduce the additional odor are selected from the group consisting of fibers, minerals, zinc salts, for example zinc acetate, herbs and spices, extracts of herbs and spices, probiotics, enzymes and proteins.

Illustratively, among the herbs and spices that can be used together with ginger or an extract thereof are rosemary, garlic, caraway, pigeon wheat, almonds, banana, marjoram, chamomile, walnut butternut, allspice, cumin, tarragon, thyme, licorice, basil, celery seed, lemon balm, lavender, fennel, hemp from India, anise, nettle, echinacea and cassava, for example the yucca of Mohave (Yucca schidigera). The extracts of herbs and spices that may be used together with the ginger or an extract thereof illustratively include essence oils, for example selected from the group consisting of lemon, peppermint, thyme, vanilla, citrus oils , of cinnamon, of eucalyptus, of lavender, of clove and of oregano. Additional plant extracts that can be used according to the invention are listed in U.S. Patent No. 5,401,502, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Without being attached to a particular theory, it is believed that compounds that bind odor, compounds that cover odors, compounds that reduce odor through microbial modulation, anti-inflammatory or enzymatic modulation, and compounds that reduce the odor through the modification of the nitrogen metabolism or the union of the ammonia, when they are used in combination with the ginger or with the extracts of the same, can in some cases have a synergistic effect in reducing the odor of excrements.

It is contemplated that the methods of this invention may be useful for a variety of animals, including humans and non-human animals such as non-human primates (eg, monkeys, chimpanzees, etc.), companion animals (for example, dogs, cats, horses, etc.), farm animals (for example, goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, etc.), laboratory animals (for example, mice, rats, etc.), birds (for example, domestic birds such as canaries, parrots, etc. and commercial vessels such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc.), rodents ( for example, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, hedgehogs, ferrets, chinchillas, etc.) and wild, exotic and zoo animals (for example, wolves, bears, deer , etc.).

In some embodiments of this invention, the animal is a cat.

In other embodiments of this invention, the animal is a dog.

The invention contemplates a variety of compositions containing ginger or an extract thereof, alone or in combination with other agents that reduce odor including those listed above. Contemplated compositions include, for example, foods, supplements, sweets, snacks, toys (typically chewable and consumable toys), beverages and high moisture gels. Alternatively, a composition comprising ginger or an extract thereof can be administered in the form of oral unit doses such as a pill, a tablet, a gel or a capsule.

In general, the invention may be found useful for food compositions comprising, on a dry matter basis, 0 to about 50% by weight of carbohydrates; about 5% up to about 70% by weight of protein; about 2% to about 50% by weight of fat; and 0 to about 15% by weight of nutritional balance agents.

The ginger should be present in the composition in an effective amount to reduce the odor of excreta when the composition is used in accordance with the present method. For example, the amount of ginger in a composition of this invention can be at least about 0.01%, illustratively about 0.05% up to about 12%, or about 0.1% up to about 5%, of the total weight of the composition.

When a ginger extract is used, the amount used should be equivalent to ginger, for example ginger powder, in an amount of at least about 0.01%, illustratively about 0.05% up to about 12%, or about 0.1% up to about 5%, of the total weight of the composition. The precise amount of an extract to be used depends, among other factors, on the degree to which the concentrated acid extract during the preparation, but is typically around 5 ppm up to about 2000 ppm by weight of the composition. One skilled in the art will be able, by means of and a routine test based on the description here, to easily establish a quantity of a particular extract of ginger equivalent in effectiveness to the amounts of ginger, for example ginger powder, previously given.

An "equivalent amount of ginger" here means a quantity of ginger an extract thereof which is equivalent in its effect to reduce the odor to a mentioned amount of ginger, for example ginger powder.

In one embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises ginger or an extract thereof in combination with fiber. Fibers are important food constituents that help to modulate intestinal mobility through various mechanisms such as the ability to retain water, physical volume, fuel for intestinal bacteria, change in viscosity, etc. Examples of fibers include , but are not limited to, cellulose, hemicellulose, citrus pulp, barley, bran, bananas, oat fiber, mana oligosaccharide, pectin, xylooligosaccharide, burdock, beetroot pulp , inulin, arabinogalactan, gum oligosaccharides, galactose, other zilanes, fructans, dextrans, resistant starches, etc. According to the present embodiment, the fiber should be present at levels of around 0.1 % up to about 20%, for example about 1% up to about 11%, of the total weight of the composition.

In a related embodiment, a method for reducing the odor of excreta from a pet animal is provided, the method comprising causing the animal to ingest a composition comprising an effective amount of excrement that reduces the odor of a composition comprising fiber, by example in an amount as previously mentioned, together with another agent that reduces odor. According to this embodiment, the odor reducing agent can be selected from the group consisting of minerals, zinc salts, for example zinc acetate, herbs and spices, herbal and spice extracts, probiotics, enzymes and proteins In several embodiments, the composition of the fiber can be 100% fiber that is not fermented, 100% fiber that is moderately fermented or 100% fiber that is highly fermented.

In other embodiments, the composition of the fiber may include at least about 0.1% by weight, for example at least about 10%, at least about 20%, or at least about 60%, of the Total fiber composition in the form of a fiber that is not fermented. In certain embodiments, the fiber comprises about 10% up to about 80%, for example about 40% up to about 60%, by weight of the total fiber composition in the form of fiber that is fermented, with the balance being fiber that is not fermented.

In certain embodiments, the composition of the fiber includes about 5% to about 50%, for example about 10% to about 15%, by weight of the total fiber fiber composition that is moderately fermented.

In certain embodiments, the composition of the fiber includes 0% to about 20%, for example about 10% to about 15%, by weight of the total fiber composition than in the highly fermented fiber form.

Fibers that do not ferment include but are not limited to cellulose, oat fiber, hemicellulose, and peanut sheath.

Fibers moderately fermented include but are not limited to beet pulp, citrus pulp, resistant starches, some gums, galactooligosaccharides, mana oligosaccharides, burdock, rice bran, soy fiber, oat glucans, etc.

Fibers that are highly fermented include but are not limited to gums, pectins and certain oligosaccharides such as xylooligosaccharides. The gums may include gums produced by microorganisms that include but are not limited to gelane and xanthan gums, and plant gums such as acacia (gum arabic).

The fiber composition should have a disappearance of organic matter or fermentability of about 0% to about 80%, although the individual fiber or fiber components used individually may have fermentability in the range from 0% to 100%. The "disappearance of organic matter" is the percentage of organic matter that is loss by fermentation when a fiber composition is incubated in vitro with fecal matter from an animal or a human for 12 to 24 hours at or near the temperature in physiological body, and is calculated as:. { l- [(organic matter residue-organic matter space) / initial organic matter]} xlOO.

Typically, ginger or the extract thereof and other optional odor reducing agents of the composition ingested by the animal are present in concentrations that do not impart an aroma or flavor that causes the animal to perceive the composition to be unacceptable to the animal. consumption, or otherwise refuse, refuse or inhibit intake of the composition. However, even where such concentrations are exceeded, a desirable flavor and aroma can often be achieved by using aroma or flavor enhancers, for example a wing covering the aroma or flavor of the ginger.

The ginger or the extract thereof and others, agents that reduce the odor, optional of the composition should be present in concentrations that are not harmful to the health of the animal. Therefore, for example, ginger should be present in a concentration that does not cause undesirable digestion effects, particularly long-term effects that last several days or more. Undesirable effects on digestion may include, for example, constipation or diarrhea.

In one embodiment, the composition is a nutritional or nutritional supplement comprising ginger an extract thereof, alone or in combination with one or more additional odor reducing agents. The supplements include, for example, a food or a pet food used with another food or pet food to improve the nutritional balance or the yield of the total. The supplements contemplated include compositions that are fed undiluted as a supplement to other foods or pet foods, free choice is offered with other parts of a proportion of an animal that are separately available, or diluted and mixed or with a regular feed for an animal or a pet food to produce a complete pet food or feed. The AAFCO, for example, provides a description that relates to supplements in the American Feed Control Office, Inc. Official Publication (2003, on page 220. Supplements can be in various forms including, for example, powders, liquids, syrups, pills, encapsulated compositions, etc.

In another embodiment, the composition is a candy comprising ginger or an extract thereof, alone or in combination with one or more other agents that reduce odors. Sweets include, for example, compositions that are given to an animal to incite the animal to eat during a non-feeding time. The treats contemplated for dogs include, for example, dog buns in the form of dog bones. The treats may be nutritional, wherein the composition comprises one or more nutrients, and may, for example, have a composition as previously described for the food. Non-nutritional treats encompass any other treats that are non-toxic. Ginger or extract can be included in the composition coated in the candy, or it can be incorporated in the candy, or both.

In another embodiment, the composition is a toy comprising ginger or an extract thereof, alone or in combination with one or more additional odor reducing agents. Toys include, for example, chew toys. The toys contemplated for dogs include, for example, artificial bones. Ginger, for example, may be present in a coating on the surface of the toy or on the surface of a component of the toy, or may be incorporated partially or completely through the toy, or both. In a contemplated embodiment, ginger is orally accessible by the animal when it plays with or chews the toy.

Illustrative toys suitable for modification in accordance with the invention are described in the patents individually cited below and incorporated herein by reference.

In the patent of the United States of America No. 5,339,771 and the references described therein.

In the patent of the United States of America No. 5,419,283 and the references described there.

It should be recognized that this invention contemplates both partially consumable toys (for example, toys comprising plastic components) and fully consumable toys (for example, carnations and various artificial bones). It should also be further recognized that this contemplates toys for both human and non-human use, particularly for animal, pet, farm and zoo use, and particularly for the use of a dog or a cat.

The terms "candy" and "toy" may be considered interchangeable for the purposes of this application. However, in general a candy is completely chewable and a toy according to the invention has a chewable coating.

In another embodiment, the composition is an aqueous pet drink comprising an extract or zingiberácea spice thereof. The beverage comprises mainly water and optionally further comprises a flavor enhancing agent such as a liver digestive.

In another embodiment, the composition is a higher moisture gel or a "solid water" composition, for example substantially as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,528,084 but with addition of an extract or a zingiber species. Of the same. Such a composition may have a consistency similar to gelatin similar to that of the Jell-O® dessert.

In the preparation of a composition of the present invention, the components of the composition are adjusted so that the ginger or the extract thereof, alone or in combination with one or more additional odor reducing agents, is present in the composition in a desired concentration, and typically a concentration equivalent to ginger, for example ginger powder, in an amount of at least about 0.01%, illustratively about 0.05% up to about 12%, or about 0.1% up to about 5%, of the total weight of the composition. When an oil or active constituent extracted from ginger is used, it should normally be present in the composition at about 1 ppm to about 2000 ppm. The ginger or an extract thereof may, for example, be incorporated into the composition during the formulation process, such as during and / or after the mixing of other components of the composition. The distribution of these components in the composition can be achieved by any conventional method including the standard mixing processes. Any other extract or zingiberácea species of the same one can be used in a similar way.

The compositions of the present invention (particularly food) can be prepared in wet or can form using conventional pet food processes. The typical requirements for a nutritionally adequate food composition are: carbohydrates, 0 to about 90%, illustratively about 5% to about 45%, by weight; protein, about 5% up to about 70%, illustratively about 10% up to about 60%, by weight; fat, about 2% to about 50%, illustratively about 5% to about 40%, by weight; total dietary fiber, about 0.1% to about 20%, illustratively about 1% to about 11%, by weight; Y nutritional balance agents such as vitamins and minerals, 0 to about 15%, illustratively about 2% to about 8%, by weight.

To these ingredients are added one or more agents that reduce the odor of excreta such as ginger or an extract thereof, according to the invention.

Vitamins and minerals should be included in amounts required to avoid deficiency and maintain health. The National Research Council, for example, gives recommendations for farm animals in Nutrients Requirements for Pigs, 10th Revised Edition (1998); Poultry Nutrient Requirements, 9th Revised Edition (1994); Nutrient requirements of Horses, 5th Revised Edition (1998), et. as published by the National Academy Press, Washington, DC. The AAFCO provides recommendations for dogs and cats in the American Feed Control Officials, Inc. Official Publication (2003), on pages 126-240.

In a contemplated embodiment, the proteinaceous tissues of ground animals (e.g., mammals, poultry, and / or fish) are mixed with other ingredients, which include for example animal fats and vegetable oils, cereal grains, other nutritional balanced ingredients, special purpose additives (for example, mixtures of vitamins and minerals, inorganic salts, cellulose and beet pulp, bulking agents, and the like); and enough water to process are also added. These ingredients are typically mixed in an appropriate container to be heated while mixing the components. The heating of the mixture can be effected in any suitable manner, such as, for example, by direct steam injection or by using a container fitted with a heat exchanger. Following the addition of the last ingredient, the mixture is heated to a temperature of about 10 ° C to about 100 ° C. Temperatures outside this range are acceptable, but can be impractical without the use of other processing aids. When heated to an appropriate temperature, the material is typically in the form of a thick liquid. The thick liquid is filled into appropriate containers such as cans, jars, bags or the like. A lid is applied, and the container is hermetically sealed. The sealed containers are then placed in conventional equipment designed to sterilize the contents. This is usually achieved by heating to a temperature of at least about 110 ° C for an appropriate time, which is dependent on, for example, the temperature used and the composition. The products can also be prepared by a septic process in which the contents are heated to commercial sterility before being packaged in containers and sterilized.

The compositions of the present invention (particularly foods) can be prepared in a dry form using conventional processes. In a contemplated embodiment, the dry ingredients, include, for example, animal protein supplies, plant protein supplies, grains, etc., are ground and mixed together. Liquid or ed ingredients, which include fats, oils, animal protein supplies, water, etc., are then added to and mixed with the dry mix. The mixture is then processed into crumbled cookies or similar dry pieces. The shredded cookie is often formed using an extrusion process in which the mixture of dry and moist ingredients are subjected to mechanical work at a higher pressure and temperature, and forced through small openings and cut into biscuits shredded by a blade that tour. The wet shredded cookie which is then each and optionally coated with one or more coatings which may include, for example, flavors, fats, oils, powders, and the like.

The crumbled biscuit can also be made from dough using a baking process, instead of extrusion, where the dough is placed in a mold before the dry processing with heat. The crumbled can also be made from a mixture of food that goes through the process of making it pellet. It is important to note that ginger or the extract thereof, alone or in combination with additional odor reducing agents, can be incorporated into the food opposition by ginger activity, for example, in the blends described above before extrusion, or by coating the extruded shredded cookie or the pellets with, for example, ginger as an ingredient of a topical coating.

The treats of the present invention can be prepared by, for example, an extrusion or baking process similar to those described above for dry food. Other processes may also be used to either apply a coating comprising ginger or an extract thereof, alone or in combination with one or more additional odor reducing agents, on the outside of forms of goodies there are, or indicate the ginger a extract of it in a kind of candy that exists.

The animal toys of the present invention are typically prepared by coating any existing toy with a composition comprising ginger or an extract thereof, alone or in combination with one or more additional odor reducing agents.

The compositions of the present invention may contain additives typically known in the art, for example as stabilizers and processing aids, in amounts which do not impede the purpose and effect provided by the invention. The stabilizers can be added to improve the shelf life of the composition by supplementing or reinforcing the effect of the physical methods used to improve shelf life. Examples of stabilizers are preservatives, antioxidants, synergists and sequestrants, packaging gases, emulsifiers, thickeners, gelling agents and humectants. Examples of emulsifiers and thickening agents are gelatin, cellulose ethers, starch, starch esters, starch ethers and modified starches.

Other additives known in the art are used for nutritional purposes and of pleasant taste. The appropriate amounts are easily determined by a person having ordinary skill in the art, however an illustrative amount of up to about 5% by weight of such additives is usually used. Examples include iron oxide, sodium chloride, potassium citrate, potassium chloride and other edible salts, flavors, vitamins, minerals and dye.

EXAMPLES The following examples are merely illustrative, and do not limit the description in any way.

Example 1 An experiment was conducted to characterize the effects of ginger on odor compounds of fecal matter and on the color of gas and the frequency of flatulent episodes in dogs. The experiment was conducted using a feed for an adult can with or without the addition of 0.5% by weight of ginger root powder. Six dogs were fed the control food for another 2 weeks. Fecal matter odor compounds were measured and gas measurements were taken in those dogs at the end of each feeding period of 2 weeks. The faecal odor compounds were extracted by placing a standard amount of fecal matter in a container and glass and incubating a solid phase microextraction fiber in the space of the lid to the contents of the bottle. The volatiles bound to the fiber were squeezed and injected into a gas chromatography unit for separation at the various peaks. The peaks were then analyzed by mass spectrometry.

Table 1 presents the results obtained from these three dogs. The data show that ginger reduced three classes of faecal odor compounds: phenols, heterocycles and indoles. The numbers indicate relative differences as measured by the area under the peak in a chromatogram.

Table 1: Effect of ginger on faecal odor compounds Table 2 presents flatulence data obtained from five dogs. The flatulence data were obtained using a gas monitoring system consisting of a gas measuring unit and a jacket for sprandex and nylon material, with two bags for transporting the unit in a bag and a weight of balance in the other. The gas measurement unit has an internal pump. The tubing is connected to the pump in a circular loop that goes down from the animal to be each of the rectum. While the air is pumped through the gas unit, an internal sensor in the pump measures the hydrogen sulfide that is emitted by the animal. Measurements of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) indicate that ginger reduced this gas odor compound and the frequency of flatulent episodes. Ginger also reduced the number of flatulent events.

Table 2: Effect of ginger on flatulence measurements Example 2 In another experiment, fecal matter from dogs in a long-term feeding study was analyzed to measure odor compounds from fecal matter. The diet of the dogs was formulated with 2.4% prebiotic fibers consisting of beet pulp, oligosaccharides and rice bran. The fecal and gas samples were collected as described in Example 1. The results are presented in Table 3. When Table 3 is compared to Table 1, it is evident that the fiber caused a change of the most offensive ones. from carboxylic acid compounds to the least offensive ketone compounds. In the corresponding study of ginger (see Table 1), ginger alone reduced esters and ketones, but did not cause a shift away from the production of carboxylic acids. These results indicate that ginger in combination with fiber can have a complementary or synergistic effect, additional in reducing the odor of the expressions.

Table 3: Effect of fiber on faecal odor compounds Example 3 One experiment was conducted with twenty dog food diets that include ginger, fiber or both. The dogs were fed one of four different foods for two weeks: control, control plus 0.5% ginger root powder, more control or a mixture of fiber and control plus 0.5% powder of ginger root and powder of fiber mixture. 2.4% of the fiber mixture was citrus pulp, barley, arabinogalactan and banana flakes. At the end of each two-week period in each diet, the fecal matter was collected and analyzed to measure the faecal odor compounds. The faecal odor compounds were extracted by placing a standard amount in a glass container and incubating a solid phase icroextraction fiber in the space of the lid to the contents of the bottle. The volatiles bound to the fiber were squeezed and injected into a gas chromatography unit for separation at the various peaks. The peaks were then analyzed by mass spectrometry.

The results are shown in Table 4 below. The addition of ginger to the meal resulted in decreased fecal levels of carboxylic acids and heterocycles (including indole) while the addition of fiber caused a decrease in carboxylic acids. The addition of both ginger and fiber resulted in a larger reduction of carboxylic acids and phenols. The numbers indicate relative differences as measured by the area under the peak in a chromatogram.

Table 4: Effect of ginger and fiber on faecal odor compounds Example 4 One experiment was conducted with twenty dog food diets that included ginger or fiber or both. The purpose of this study was to follow the experiment of Example 2 to additionally characterize the interaction of ginger and fiber.

The dogs were fed 4 foods in a Latin square design 4 x. The dogs were divided into four groups of five dogs each; Each group was fed one of four different foods for two weeks. At the end of each two-week period, each group of dogs was rotated to a different food. The fecal and gas samples were collected as described in Example 1, and the collections were made at the end of each period of dietary intervention. The dogs were fed one of the following four foods for two weeks: control, control plus 0.75% ginger, control plus 1% added fiber, and control plus 0.75% ginger and 1% added fiber. The fiber combination was 0.4% arabinogalactan, 0.4% banana flakes and 0.2% oligosaccharides.

The results are shown in Tables 5 and 6 below. The numbers in Table 5 represent relative differences as measured by the area under a peak in a chromatogram. Table 5 shows that (i) ginger reduced the indoles, fatty acids and ketones; (ii) the fiber reduced the indoles, the heterocycles, the fatty acids and the ketones; and (iii) ginger and fiber in combination reduced thiols and sulphurs. This study confirmed a hypothesis derived from Examples 1 and 2 that a combination of ginger and fiber may increase the ratio of ketone to carboxylic acid. Table 6 shows the effect of ginger and / or fiber on flatulence. Ginger and fiber alone showed effectiveness in reducing the number of flatulent episodes, the sum of hydrogen sulfide, and the highest level of hydrogen sulfide. Ginger and the fiber in combination decreased the highest detected level of hydrogen sulfide.

An analysis of the feed composition for Example 4 showed that most of the main components of the feed were similar except for the fiber content (Table 7).

Table 5: Effect of fiber ginger on faecal odor compounds Short and branched chain Table 6: Effect of fiber ginger on flatulence in dogs Table 7: Percentage of the food composition in Example 4 Example 5 One experiment was conducted with twenty diets of cat food that included ginger. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ginger consumption on faecal odor compounds in fecal matter in cats. The data were fed a control diet for two weeks, and then the next two weeks the dishes were fed the control diet with 0.5% ginger. The fecal matter was collected at the end of each period of dietary intervention and analyzed as described in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 8 below. The numbers show representative relative differences as measured by the area under a single in a chromatograph. The addition of ginger to the food reduced the levels in indoles and heterocycles by 48% and 53% respectively.

Table 8: Effect of ginger on faecal odor compounds Example 6 One experiment was conducted with twenty healthy, normal cats fed diets that included ginger. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ginger consumption on the odor of cat fecal matter as perceived by human panelists. The cats were fed either a control diet or a control diet plus 0.5% ginger for two weeks. The stool samples were collected at the end of each dietary intervention study.

Nine human panelists were used to detect differences in odor intensity from fecal matter by smelling the odor through a port with a constant airflow and comparing it to a standard curve using n-butanol. The panelists were blinded to the sample and compared the odor intensity of stool samples to that of n-butanol, a standard compound used to calibrate odor intensity. Although the differences in the odor components of fecal matter were not detected by the mass spectroscope in this study, the panelists were able to detect a difference in odor intensity from the faecal sample. The panelists found that the fecal samples from the time period the cats were with the food with added ginger was less intense than in the stool samples from the period when the cats were in the control food without ginger (average intensity 1022 versus 1123). ppm of n-butanol, respectively).

All patents and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in this application in their entirety.

The words "understand", "comprise", and "comprising" should be interpreted inclusively rather than exclusively.

Claims (30)

1. A method for reducing odor from the excreta of a companion animal, the method comprises causing the animal to ingest a composition comprising an effective amount reducing odor of excrement from a Zingiberian spice an extract thereof.

2. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the zingiberácea spice or extract thereof is selected from the group consisting of galanga, cardamom, tuméricos, mioga and ginger.

3. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the zingiberácea spice or extract thereof is ginger or an extract thereof.

4. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the animal is a cat.

5. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the animal is a dog.

6. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the composition is in the form of a meal.

7. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the composition is in the form of a candy.

8. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the composition is in the form of a supplement.

9. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the composition is in the form of a toy coating.

10. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the composition is in the form of a beverage.

11. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the composition is in the form of a high-moisture gel.

12. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the composition is in the form of a pill, a tablet, a gel or a capsule.

13. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the composition further comprises at least one odor reducing agent other than ginger or an extract thereof.

14. The method as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the at least one scent reducing agent different from ginger or an extract thereof is selected from the group consisting of fibers, minerals, zinc salts, herbs and spices, extracts of herbs and species, probiotics, enzymes and proteins.

15. The method as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the at least one scent reducing agent different from ginger or an extract thereof is an herb or spice selected from the group consisting of rosemary, garlic, caraway, wheat pigeon, loin, banana, marjoram, chamomile, nutmeg, allspice, cumin, tarragon, thyme, licorice, basil, celery seed, lemon balm, lavender, fennel, anise, nettle, echinacea and cassava.

16. The method as claimed in clause 18, characterized in that the at least one scent reducing agent different from ginger or an extract thereof is an essential oil selected from the group consisting of lemon, peppermint, thyme, vanilla oils , citrus, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, clove and oregano.

17. The method as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the at least one scent reducing agent other than ginger or an extract thereof is at least one fiber.

18. The method as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that the at least one fiber is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, hemicellulose, citrus pulp, barley, bran, banana, oat fiber, oat glucan, oligosaccharide -mannan, pectin, xylooligosaccharide, burdock, beet pulp, inulin, arabinogalactan and oligosaccharide.

19. The method as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that the at least one fiber is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight.

20. The method as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that the at least one fiber is present in the composition in an amount of from about 1% to about 11% by weight.

21. The method as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that of the total fiber present in the composition, at least about 20% by weight is non-fermentable.

22. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the ginger or extract thereof is present in the composition in an equivalent amount of ginger of at least about 0.01% by weight and not sufficient to cause an adverse effect on the ginger. the digestion of the animal.

23. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the ginger or extract thereof is present in the composition in an equivalent amount of ginger of about 0.05% to about 12% by weight.

24. The method as claimed in clause -1, characterized in that the ginger or extract thereof is present in the composition in an equivalent amount of ginger of about 0.1% to about 5% by weight.

25. The method as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the composition comprises about 5 ppm to about 2000 ppm by weight of an oil or active constituent of ginger.

26. A method of reducing odor from the excreta of a companion animal, the method comprises causing the animal to ingest a composition comprising an effective amount of odor reducer of fiber feces together with a second odor reducing agent.

27. The method as claimed in clause 26, characterized in that the odor reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of minerals, zinc salts, herbs and spices, herbal and spice extracts, probiotics, enzymes and proteins.

28. The method as claimed in clause 26, characterized in that the fiber is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight.

29. The method as claimed in clause 26, characterized in that the fiber is present in the composition in an amount of from about 1% to about 11% by weight.

30. The method as claimed in clause 26, characterized in that of the total fiber present in the composition, at least about 20% by weight is non-fermentable. SUMMARY A method is provided to reduce odor from the excrement of a companion animal. The method comprises causing the animal to ingest a composition comprising an effective amount of odor reducer from excreta of a zingiberácea species such as ginger or an extract thereof, or an effective amount of odor reducer from fiber excrement along with another odor reducing agent.