RU2444907C2 - Fodder composition, kit and method for animal bowels action quality modification (versions) - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: food industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to domestic animal fodders production. The fodder composition contains metabolised cations and metabolised anions and has dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB) equal to approximately 50 - 300 mEq. The method for improvement of whelp bowels action quality and/or bowels movement periodicity involving administration of the said composition to the whelp. The kit containing the said composition, guidelines and an agent for improvement of the digestive tract condition.

EFFECT: invention allows to produce a nutritive composition and improve animal bowels action quality.

22 cl, 2 tbl, 2 ex

Description

The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for improving stool quality and / or stool frequency in an animal by balancing metabolizable cations with respect to metabolizable anions consumed by animals.

State of the art

Stool quality and stool frequency are typically determined by five factors: the digestibility of the feed ingredients, fiber levels, health status, activity level and water intake. When these factors are balanced, the stool usually has a certain shape, is hard, dark and exhibits a relatively slight smell. A chair exhibiting these properties is considered to be a good quality chair. If these factors are not balanced, the stool is usually soft, thin, watery, has a light color and has a relatively strong smell. A stool exhibiting these properties, especially a liquid, watery stool, is considered to be a stool of poor quality.

Poor stool quality and irregular stool frequency can be caused by various factors, such as abnormal intestinal mobility, increased intestinal permeability, and the presence of non-absorbable osmotically active substances or agents in the intestines that cause diarrhea. Similarly, certain animal feeds, especially those known in the art as being coarse and cooked from meat with gravy of animal feed, can cause poor stool quality. Often, an animal that consumes such food has fecal discharges that are irregular and undesirable. Such discharge is usually characterized by frequent, loose, watery stools. In some cases, discharge may be classified as diarrhea.

Accordingly, new methods and compositions are required that can affect stool quality in an animal. United States Patent Application Serial No. 11/566512 ('512 Application), filed December 4, 2006 (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference), describes the balance of metabolizable cations to metabolizable anions consumed by animals to affect stool quality . In general, it was found that an increase in the balance of metabolizable cations relative to metabolizable anions will lead to a more solid stool quality and a decrease in stool yield. Conversely, a decrease in the balance of metabolizable cations relative to metabolizable anions will lead to the release of more liquid stools and to an increase in stool output.

Although the '512 application describes methods for changing stool quality and / or frequency of release for adult dogs, the dietary requirements for adult dogs and puppies are completely different. For example, puppies tend to experience rapid growth and development; thus, they typically require significantly more nutrition than adult dogs and a different nutritional composition. For example, puppies require higher levels of calcium, due to the rapid growth of their bones. Similarly, the stool of adult dogs and puppies tends to be of varying quality, and it is known that a dog produces substantially harder stools than puppies, in particular as a reaction to their various diets and nutritional requirements. Thus, the balance of cations and anions described in the literature, although suitable for adult dogs, may not be suitable for improving stool quality in puppies. The inventors have found that puppy stool quality can be improved by modifying the balance of cations and anions in the diet of the feed composition consumed by the animal, so that the dietary balance of cations and anions is from about 50 to about 300 meq.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide compositions for improving stool quality in an animal; especially in a growing dog. In one embodiment, the present invention is a feed composition comprising metabolizable cations and metabolizable anions, said composition having a dietary balance of cations and anions (DCAB) of from about 50 to about 300 meq. The composition is ideally nutritionally complete for puppies.

In further embodiments, the composition may have DCAB from about 75 to about 250 meq, from about 100 to about 150 meq, or have DCAB from about 125 meq.

In some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention may contain cations selected from calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and mixtures thereof, and may further comprise anions selected from phosphorus, sulfur chloride, and mixtures thereof.

In further embodiments, the composition of the present invention may comprise potassium citrate in an amount of about 0.5% to about 1.0%, for example, about 0.76%; and may further comprise sodium bicarbonate in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 0.5%, for example, about 0.2%.

The compositions of the present invention may contain soluble fibers in an amount of from about 1% to about 4%, for example, about 3%. Soluble fibers can be selected from beet pulp, guar gum, chicory root, plantain, pectin, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, apples, oats, beans, citrus fruits, barley, peas, or mixtures thereof.

In further embodiments, the compositions of the present invention may further comprise omega-3 fatty acid in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10%, for example, about 0.18%. Omega-3 fatty acid may be selected from DHA, EPA, ALA, octadecatetraenoic acid, and mixtures thereof.

The compositions described herein may further comprise an agent for improving the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, an agent for diarrhea, an agent for constipation, or mixtures thereof.

In further embodiments, the compositions of the present invention may be in the form of a dry, wet, or semi-moist food or treat, snack, supplement, or partially, or completely edible toy.

Additional aspects of the present invention relate to methods for improving stool quality and / or the frequency of stool excretion in a puppy. Thus, the present invention relates to a method for improving stool quality in a puppy, comprising administering to the puppy a composition having a balance of metabolizable cations with respect to metabolizable anions of from about 50 to about 300 meq.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for improving stool quality in a puppy, comprising: increasing the dietary balance of metabolizable cations relative to metabolizable anions in a puppy. In specific embodiments, the balance of metabolizable cations with respect to metabolizable anions can be increased by increasing the consumption of metabolizable cations in the puppy’s diet, by decreasing the consumption of metabolizable cations in the puppy’s diet, or by increasing the consumption of metabolizable cations in the puppy’s diet, and by reducing the consumption of metabolizable anions puppy's diet.

The present invention also relates to a method of treating a puppy prone to or suffering from constipation, comprising adjusting the balance of metabolizable cations to metabolizable anions consumed by the puppy by an amount sufficient to improve stool quality by reducing the balance of metabolizable cations to metabolizable anions consumed by the puppy for a more fluid stool. In specific embodiments, the balance of metabolizable cations with respect to metabolizable anions can be reduced by decreasing the amount of metabolizable cations consumed by the puppy, by increasing the amount of metabolizable anions consumed by the puppy, or by both decreasing the amount of metabolizable cations and increasing the amount of metabolizable anions consumed by the puppy .

In addition, the present invention relates to a method for treating a puppy prone to or suffering from diarrhea and / or loose stool, comprising adjusting the balance of metabolizable cations to the metabolizable anions consumed by the puppy by an amount sufficient to improve stool quality by increasing the balance of metabolizable cations in relation to the metabolizable anions consumed by the puppy to obtain harder stools. In specific embodiments, the balance of metabolizable cations with respect to metabolizable anions can be increased by increasing the amount of metabolizable cations consumed by the puppy, by decreasing the amount of metabolizable anions consumed by the puppy, or by both increasing the amount of metabolizable cations and decreasing the amount of metabolizable anions consumed by the puppy .

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for improving stool quality in a puppy in need thereof, comprising:

a) adding a sufficient amount of metabolizable cations with respect to metabolizable anions to the feed composition to increase or decrease DCAB in the feed composition, as required;

b) administering the feed composition from step (a) to the puppy;

c) evaluating the quality of the stool secreted by the puppy; and

d) repeating steps (a) to (c) until the puppy allocates a chair of the desired quality.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for treating a puppy prone to or suffering from constipation by modifying the quality of the puppy's stool, comprising:

a) adding a sufficient amount of metabolizable anions to the feed composition to reduce the DCAB of the feed composition;

b) administering the feed composition from step (a) to the puppy;

c) evaluating the quality of the stool secreted by the puppy; and

d) repeating steps (a) to (c) until the puppy allocates a chair of the desired quality.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for treating a puppy prone to or suffering from diarrhea and / or having loose stools by modifying the quality of the stool of a puppy, comprising:

a) adding a sufficient amount of metabolizable cations to the feed composition to increase the DCAB feed composition;

b) administering the feed composition from step (a) to the puppy;

c) evaluating the quality of the stool secreted by the puppy; and

d) repeating steps (a) to (c) until the puppy allocates a chair of the desired quality.

With respect to any of the methods of the present invention, it is contemplated herein that these methods may include administering any of the compositions of the present invention and may optionally further include administering to the puppy at least one compound selected from one or more agents to improve the condition of the gastrointestinal tract. the intestinal tract and / or one or more anti-diarrhea agents and / or one or more anti-constipation agents. In addition, metabolizable cations may include cations selected from calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and mixtures thereof, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Metabolizable anions may include anions selected from phosphorus, chloride, sulfur, and mixtures thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to kits for changing stool quality in puppies containing any one or more of the following components:

nutritionally complete puppy food composition;

metabolizable cations;

metabolizable anions;

an agent for improving the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, an agent for diarrhea and / or an agent for constipation; and

instructions for changing stool quality in a puppy by increasing or decreasing the DCAB feed composition using metabolizable anions and / or metabolizable cations to modify stool quality, depending on the condition of the stool in the puppy being treated, optionally with additional use of an agent to improve gastrointestinal intestinal tract, anti-diarrhea agent and / or anti-constipation agent, or without them.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to the use of metabolizable anions and metabolizable cations in the preparation of a feed composition for changing stool quality in a puppy in need thereof, and wherein said feed composition has a DCAB of from about 50 to about 300 meq.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is specifically directed to improving stool quality in puppies. It is here contemplated, however, that the compositions and methods described herein can be used for any animal, in particular a growing animal, in particular a growing domestic animal. The term "pet" refers to any animal that lives in close proximity to humans and includes, but is not limited to, the canine and feline families of any breeds. For example, it is intended here that this term may also encompass any animal whose feed can be controlled by humans and that can benefit from the methods and feeding of the compositions described herein. These animals may include, for example, domesticated farm animals (e.g., cattle, horses, pigs, and the like), as well as domesticated animals held in captivity, for example, in zoos, and the like.

An animal is "prone to" a disease or condition if the animal exhibits symptoms that indicate that the animal is prone to develop a condition or disease. An animal is “suffering from” a disease or condition if the animal exhibits symptoms that indicate that the animal has a developed condition or disease.

As used here, the term "puppy" refers to an under-matched member of the canine family, typically from the age of the newborn to 12 months.

As used herein, “changes in stool quality”, “modification in stool quality” or “improvement in stool quality” refers to the modification of an animal’s stool to obtain the desired stool hardness and / or the desired frequency of stool discharge. Generally, stools that are fluid and watery are not desirable, as well as stools that are so hard that constipation occurs. Thus, stool quality improves in an animal experiencing diarrhea (for example, loose, watery stools too often), making the stool harder and causing the animal to excrete stool less often; on the contrary, an animal experiencing constipation will benefit by changing the quality of the stool, such that the stool becomes less hard. As described here, such changes can be achieved by changing the dietary cationic anionic balance in the animal (DCAB). Increased DCAB may make stool harder; a decrease in DCAB may make the stool less hard.

The quality of the stool can be evaluated in accordance with methods well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the quality of feces is universally evaluated by specialists in this field using a visual scoring, for example, evaluating a chair visually on a scale as a variety 1-5, as follows:

Variety 1: More than two-thirds of the excrement during bowel movements is liquid. Excrement has no shape; it looks like a dough or a puddle.

Variety 2: Soft-liquid excrement is a cross between soft and liquid excrement. Approximately equal amounts of excrement during bowel movements are soft and liquid.

Variety 3: More than two-thirds of the excrement during bowel movements is mild. Excrement retains its sufficient shape to form a pile, but loses its solid cylindrical appearance.

Variety 4: Hard-soft excrement is a cross between hard and soft varieties. Approximately equal amounts of excrement during bowel movements are hard and soft.

Variety 5: More than two-thirds of the excrement during bowel movements is hard. They have a cylindrical shape with a slight flattening.

See also, Sunvold et al., J Anim Sci 1995 73: 1099-1109; U.S. Patent 6,280,779; US patent 5616569. The quality of the stool can also be quantified using methods for determining the amount of moisture in excrement in g / kg (see, for example, Yamka et al., 2006, Am J Vet Res, 67 (1): 88-94).

The balance of metabolizable cations with respect to the metabolizable anions of the present invention can be determined by any means known to those skilled in the art. For example, one way to measure the balance of metabolizable cations relative to metabolizable anions is to calculate the cation-anion balance in an animal’s diet (DCAB), which is determined by calculating the total number of cations regularly consumed by the animal and subtracting the total number of anions consumed by the animal. Cations may include, for example, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium cations, or any other ion having a positive charge, including amino acids. Anions may include, for example, anions of chlorine, sulfur, and phosphorus, or any other ion having a negative charge, including amino acids. For example, DCAB is determined by calculating the cumulative amounts of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium cations regularly consumed by the animal and subtracting the cumulative amount of chlorine, sulfur, and phosphorus anions regularly consumed by the animal. Thus, in one embodiment, DCAB is determined in accordance with the following equation:

DCAB (meq) = (Na + K + Ca + Mg) - (Cl + S + P)

For the purposes of calculating DCAB, sodium, potassium and chlorine ions have a valency of 1, sulfur, calcium and magnesium ions have a valency of 2, and phosphorus ions have a valency of 1.8.

The inventors have found that stool quality in an animal, in particular a growing dog, such as a puppy, can be improved by feeding the animal a composition having a DCAB of about 50 to about 300 meq.

As is known in the art, puppy stool quality (i.e., increased stool hardness) can typically be improved by increasing the amount of soluble fiber in the diet. Similarly, the quality of puppy stools is generally reduced by reducing the amount of soluble fiber in the diet. Soluble fibers are fibers that are resistant to digestion and absorption in the small intestine and are fully or partially fermented in the large intestine, for example, beet pulp, guar gum, chicory root, plantain, pectin, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, apples, oats , legumes, citrus fruits, barley or peas. It is important that the inventors of the present invention found that the soluble fiber content of the feed composition can be reduced while still maintaining the puppy's stool quality by increasing the DCAB of the feed composition.

In some embodiments, the balance of metabolizable cations relative to metabolizable anions consumed by the animal can be established in combination with the administration of one or more anti-diarrhea agents (to treat or prevent diarrhea or secretion of excessively loose stools) or anti-constipation agents (to treat or prevent constipation or excessively hard stools). The term “anti-diarrhea agent” means any compound, composition or drug suitable for the prevention or treatment of diarrhea that is known to those skilled in the art. Examples of these agents include, but are not limited to, compounds such as atropine, diphenoxylate, loperamide, octreotide, and opium tinctures. The term “anti-constipation agent” means any compound, composition, or drug suitable for the prevention or treatment of constipation that is known to those skilled in the art. Such compounds include laxatives, for example, plantain, methyl cellulose, docusate, mineral oil, a suspension of magnesia, and Epsom salts. Suitable anti-diarrhea and anti-constipation agents and their amounts for use in domestic animals are known to those skilled in the art.

As contemplated herein, the compositions of the present invention are intended to encompass nutritionally complete and balanced pet food compositions (also referred to herein simply as “nutritionally complete pet food compositions”). Nutritionally complete pet food compositions, including nutritionally complete puppy feeds, are known to those skilled in the art. For example, nutrients and ingredients, such as those described herein, as well as other suitable animal feed compositions and their recommended amounts, can be found, for example, in the Official Publication of Associate of American Feed Control Officials ("AAFCO"), Inc. Nutrient Recuirements of Dogs and Cats, 2006. For example, nutritionally complete feeds may contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and other ingredients in amounts known to those skilled in the art.

The protein may be supplied by any of various sources known to those skilled in the art, including plant sources, animal sources, or both. Animal sources include, for example, meat, meat offal, seafood, dairy products, eggs, and the like. Meat includes, for example, pulp of game, fish, and mammals (e.g., cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and the like). Meat by-products include, for example, the lungs, kidneys, brain, liver, and stomachs and intestines (freed from all or essentially all contents). The protein may be intact, almost completely hydrolyzed, or partially hydrolyzed.

Fat can be supplied by any of various sources known to those skilled in the art, including meat, meat offal, fish oil, and plants. Plant sources of fat include wheat, flaxseed, rye, barley, rice, sorghum, corn, oats, millet, germinated wheat seeds, germinated corn seeds, soybeans, peanuts and cottonseed, as well as oils derived from these and other plant sources fat.

Carbohydrate may be supplied by any of a variety of sources known to those skilled in the art, including oat fiber, cellulose, peanut husks, beet pulp, steamed rice, corn starch, corn gluten flour, and any combination of these sources. Cereals supplying carbohydrates include, but are not limited to, wheat, corn, barley, and rice. The carbohydrate content of the feed can be determined using any number of methods known to those skilled in the art. Typically, the percentage of carbohydrates can be calculated as a nitrogen-free extract ("NFE"), which can be calculated as follows: NFE = 100% -% moisture -% protein -% fat -% ash -% raw fiber.

Fatty acids for inclusion in the compositions of the present invention include omega-3 fatty acids such as docosahexanenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), octadecatetraenoic acid (stearidonic acid), or mixtures thereof.

Dietary fiber refers to plant components that are resistant to digestion by digesting animal enzymes. Dietary fiber includes soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fibers are resistant to digestion and absorption in the small intestine and undergo complete or partial fermentation in the large intestine, for example, beet pulp, guar gum, chicory root, plantain, pectin, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, apples, oats, legumes, citrus , barley or peas. Insoluble fiber can be supplied from any of a variety of sources, including cellulose, whole wheat products, oatmeal, corn bran, flaxseed, grapes, celery, green beans, cauliflower, potato peel, fruit peel, vegetable peel, peanut husk and soy fiber. Crude fibers contain indigestible components contained in the cell walls and the contents of plant cells, such as crops, for example, husk from grains such as rice, corn and beans.

Amino acids, including essential amino acids, can be added to the compositions of the present invention as free amino acids or supplied by a number of sources, for example, crude protein, in the compositions of the present invention. Essential amino acids are amino acids that cannot be synthesized de novo or in sufficient quantities by the body and thus must be supplied in food. Essential amino acids can vary from one species to another, depending on the metabolism of the body. For example, it is generally understood that essential amino acids for dogs and cats (and humans) are phenylalanine, leucine, methionine, lysine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, histidine, and arginine. In addition to this, taurine, although not technically an amino acid but a derivative of cysteine, is an essential nutrient for cats.

The compositions of the present invention may also contain one or more minerals and / or microscopic elements, for example, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, choline or iron salts, in quantities necessary to eliminate the deficiency and maintain health . These amounts are known to those skilled in the art, for example as described in Official Publication of Associate of American Feed Control Officials, Inc. ("AAFCO"), Nutrient Recuirements of Dogs and Cats, 2006.

The compositions of the present invention may also include vitamins in amounts necessary to correct the deficiency and maintain health. Their quantities and methods of measurement are known to those skilled in the art. For example, Official Publication of Associate of American Feed Control Officials, Inc. ("AAFCO"), Nutrient Recuirements of Dogs and Cats, 2006, provides recommended amounts of such ingredients for dogs and cats. As contemplated herein, usable vitamins may include, but are not limited to, vitamin A, vitamin B ₁ , vitamin B ₂ , vitamin B ₆ , vitamin B ₁₂ , vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin H (biotin), Vitamin K, folic acid, inositol, niacin and pantothenic acid.

The compositions of the present invention may additionally contain additives, stabilizers, fillers, thickening agents, perfumes, flavor enhancers and colorants in amounts and combinations known to those skilled in the art.

In one embodiment, the compositions of the present invention are provided as a feed, for example a nutritionally complete pet food composition. In another embodiment, the compositions of the present invention may be in the form of a treat, snack, supplement, or partially or fully edible toy. Such pet food items are known to those skilled in the art and may include, for example, compositions that are given to the animal for food while there is no feeding, such as dog cakes, edible chewing toys, and the like.

Feeds of any consistency or moisture content are contemplated, for example, the compositions of the present invention may be a dry, wet or semi-moist animal feed composition. “Semi-moist” refers to a feed composition containing from about 25 to about 35% moisture. “Wet” food refers to a food composition that has a moisture content of about 60 to 90% or more. A “dry” feed refers to a feed composition with a moisture content of about 3 to about 11% and is often made in the form of small pieces or granules. Also contemplated herein are compositions that may contain components of different consistencies, as well as components that may have several consistencies, for example, soft, chewy particles similar to meat, as well as granules having an external grain component and an internal creamy component, as described, for example, US Pat. No. 6,517,877. The granules may then be dried and optionally coated with one or more external coatings known to those skilled in the art, for example, flavors, fats, oils, powders, and the like.

In addition to the optional use of anti-diarrhea and anti-constipation agents in the methods of the present invention, in some embodiments, the balance of metabolizable cations relative to metabolizable anions consumed by animals may be established in connection with the administration of one or more compositions containing an agent to improve the condition gastrointestinal tract. "Agents for improving the condition of the gastrointestinal tract" are, as a rule, probiotics and prebiotics.

Probiotics are living microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on the prevention and treatment of specific medical conditions when they are absorbed. Probiotics are thought to exert biological effects through a phenomenon known as colonization resistance. Probiotics facilitate the process in which local anaerobic flora limits the concentration of potentially harmful (mainly aerobic) bacteria in the digestive tract. Other modes of exposure, such as delivery of enzymes or effects on the activity of enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract, may also be taken into account regarding some of the other functions that are attributed to probiotics. Probiotics can enhance the systemic cellular immune responses of animals and may be useful as a dietary supplement to enhance natural immunity in healthy animals. Probiotics include many types of bacteria, which are usually selected from four types of bacteria: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacteria, Lactococcus and Pediococcus .

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially influence the health of the host by selectively stimulating the growth and / or activity of bacteria in the colon and are known to those skilled in the art. For example, fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is found naturally in many foods, such as wheat, onions, bananas, honey, garlic, and leeks. FOS can also be secreted from chicory root or synthesized enzymatically from sucrose. Fermenting FOS in the colon leads to a large number of physiological effects, including an increase in the amount of bifidobacteria in the colon, an increase in calcium uptake, an increase in fecal mass, a decrease in the passage of the gastrointestinal tract, and possibly a decrease in blood lipid levels. An increase in the number of bifidobacteria is believed to contribute to better health by producing compounds that inhibit potential pathogens, by decreasing ammonia levels in the blood, and by producing vitamins and digestive enzymes. Probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacilli or Bifidobacteria are thought to positively influence the immune response by improving the microbial balance in the digestive tract, which leads to an increase in antibody production and leukocyte phagocytic activity.

The number of probiotics and prebiotics to be administered to an animal is determined by a person skilled in the art based on the type and nature of the probiotic and prebiotic and the type and nature of the animal, for example age, weight, general health, gender, degree of microbial depletion, presence of harmful bacteria and animal diet . Typically, probiotics are administered to an animal in amounts of from about one to about twenty billion colony forming units (CFUs) per day to maintain healthy microflora in the gastrointestinal tract, preferably from about 5 billion to about 10 billion live bacteria per day. As a rule, prebiotics are administered in amounts sufficient to positively stimulate healthy microflora in the intestine and to cause these “good” bacteria to multiply. Typical amounts are from about one to about 10 grams per dose, or from about 5 percent to about 40 percent of the recommended daily dietary fiber for the animal.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides kits suitable for improving stool quality and / or stool frequency for an animal. These kits may contain combinations of cations, anions, feeds, other compounds, agents or medications and instructions for using the kit components to improve stool quality and / or stool frequency for an animal in need. For example, it is contemplated that kits of the present invention may contain metabolizable cations selected from calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and mixtures thereof; metabolizable anions can be selected from phosphorus, chloride, sulfur, and mixtures thereof. Any forms of these metabolizable cations and anions, and all of them, are intended, including forms of pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The components of the kits may further comprise an agent for improving the gastrointestinal tract, an agent for diarrhea and / or an agent for constipation and instructions for their use.

For example, a kit may contain nutritionally complete food, for example, puppy food, in addition to a metabolizable cation and / or metabolizable anion, with instructions on how to increase the DCAB feed composition with metabolizable cations, and / or instructions on how to reduce DCAB feed compositions using metabolizable anions to achieve the desired improvement in stool quality in animals in need. In some embodiments, the kit may further comprise one or more anti-diarrhea agents, anti-constipation agents and / or agents for improving the gastrointestinal tract and instructions for use with the food and metabolizable cations and anions. It is understood that the addition of cations will increase stool hardness; adding anions will decrease stool hardness. Based on the concept of the present invention, one of skill in the art will understand how to modify DCAB in an animal depending on the condition of the stool of the animal to be treated and the desired change in stool hardness.

Kit components can be presented in one package or in separate packages, as is best for a kit component. The term "one package", as a rule, means that the components of the kit are physically combined in one or more containers or with their help and are considered as an industrial product, for distribution, trade or use. Containers include, but are not limited to, bags, boxes, bottles, shrink wraps, clips, or other components, or combinations thereof. One package can be, for example, containers or individual feed compositions that are physically related so that they can be considered industrial products for distribution, trade or use.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to the use of metabolizable anions and metabolizable cations in the preparation of a feed composition for changing stool quality in an animal in need thereof, and wherein said feed composition has a DCAB of from about 50 to about 300 meq.

EXAMPLES

The present invention can be further illustrated by the following examples, although it is understood that the examples are included solely for purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Example 1

Ten weaned beagle puppies are used to examine stool to determine 1) whether DHA supplementation affects stool quality in puppies, 2) stool quality can be improved by manipulating the cationic anion balance (DCAB) in puppies' diets, and 3) what impact does a decrease in beet pulp levels in combination with DCAB manipulations on puppy stool quality have? The nutritional compositions for each feed treatment are presented in Table 1. Each feed is granulated and prepared in accordance with AAFCO standards known to those skilled in the art (for example, as can be found in the AAFCO Guidelines for Dog and Cat Nutrition) and balanced to suit requirements for growing puppies. Each feed is administered over a period of one week and stool scores are recorded daily. Each stool sample is rated on a scale of varieties 1 to 5 in accordance with conventional methods as described above, where Variety 1 reflects stool, where more than two-thirds of the excrement is liquid, and Variety 5 reflects stool, where more than two-thirds of excrement is solid.

Table 1
Analyzed nutritional composition of feed administered to dogs ^a Ingredient Feed a Feed B Feed C Feed D Crude protein,% 29.30 31.75 31.85 31.81 Crude fats,% 19.62 19.95 20.01 19.96 Calcium% 1.49 1.48 1.47 1.49 Phosphorus,% 1.23 1.20 1.21 1.20 Sodium,% 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.45 Magnesium% 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 Chloride% 1.09 1.09 1.09 0.55 Sulfur,% 0.37 0.40 0.39 0.40 Potassium,% 0.77 0.80 0.80 0.72 Essential Fatty Acids,% 4.24 4.78 4.82 4.78 DHA% 0.02 0.18 0.18 0.18 Beet pulp 5.50 5.50 3.00 5.50 DCAB ^b 8.5 16.5 3,7 126.2 The average age of the dogs (years) 0.256 0.276 0.292 0.312 Chair rating ^c 4.07 4.03 3.78 4.24 Number of stool secretions 58 35 46 71 ^a in relation to dry matter
^b DCAB (meq) = (sodium + potassium + calcium + magnesium) - (chlorine + sulfur + phosphorus)
^c chair scores range from 1 to 5 in accordance with conventional methods as described in the text
^d number of discharges estimated over a seven-day period Table 1
Analyzed nutritional composition of feed administered to dogs (continued) Ingredient Feed E Feed f Feed G Crude protein,% 31.85 31.89 30.19 Crude fat,% 20.01 20.02 20.41 Calcium% 1.47 1.46 1.41 Phosphorus,% 1.21 1.22 1.22 Sodium,% 0.45 0.50 0.50 Magnesium% 0.12 0.12 0.13 Chloride% 0.55 0.56 0.72 Sulfur,% 0.39 0.39 0.37 Potassium,% 0.72 0.72 0.73 Independent fatty acids,% 4.82 4.80 4.67 DHA% 0.18 0.18 0.18 Beet pulp 3.00 - 5.50 DCAB ^b 113 102.3 87.3 The average age of the dogs (years) 0.332 0.352 0.386 Chair rating ^c 4,56 4.19 4.30 Number of stool secretions 82 89 67 ^a in relation to dry matter
^b DCAB (meq) = (sodium + potassium + calcium + magnesium) - (chlorine + sulfur + phosphorus)
^c chair scores range from 1 to 5 in accordance with conventional methods as described in the text
^d number of discharges estimated over a seven-day period

The results described in Table 1 show that an increase in DCAB feed compositions can cause better stool (harder) stools to be released, even if the amount of soluble fiber is reduced. Specifically, the best stool quality in puppies is achieved when the amount of beet pulp decreases to 3.0% (from 5.5%), and DCAB increases. The results also show that potassium chloride can be replaced by potassium citrate, and sodium chloride can be replaced by sodium bicarbonate in feed compositions (data not shown).

Example 2

Additional studies with the same 10 beagle puppies at an older age are repeated with feeds A, B and E. The data for these studies (including the average age and weight of dogs in the studies described in example 1) are shown in table 2. Data in the study with using older dogs confirm the results of example 1.

table 2
Evaluation of stool, number of stool secretions and average age and weight for puppies Feed a Feed B Feed C Feed D Example 1 Average age, years 0.256 0.276 0.292 0.312 The average body weight, kg 5,125 5,181 5,136 5,502 Chair Rating 4.07 4.03 3.78 4.24 Number of stool secretions 58 35 46 71 Example 2 Average age, years 0.406 0.426 - - The average body weight, kg 6,791 6,977 - - Chair Rating 4.30 4,50 - - Number of stool secretions 73 82 - - table 2
Evaluation of stool, number of stool secretions and average age and weight for puppies (continued) Feed E Feed f Feed G Example 1 Average age, years 0.332 0.352 0.386 The average body weight, kg 6,151 * 5,773 6,655 Chair Rating 4,56 4.19 4.30 Number of stool secretions 82 89 67 Example 2 Average age, years 0.446 The average body weight, kg 7,063 Chair Rating 4.72 Number of stool secretions 61 * One animal is not included in the calculation of average body weight, due to lack of data

Typical embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, and although specific terms are used, they are used only in a general and descriptive sense, and not for purposes of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above concept. For this reason, it is necessary to understand that the present invention may not be implemented as specifically described.

As used here and in the appended claims, the singular forms include the plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “contain,” “contains,” and “comprising” should be interpreted inclusively rather than exclusively.

Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms and any acronyms used here have the same meanings as is commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention. All patents, patent applications, publications, and other references cited or referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Claims (22)

1. A feed composition comprising metabolizable cations and metabolizable anions, said composition having a dietary cationic anion balance (DCAB) of from about 50 to about 300 meq, preferably from about 75 to about 250 meq, more preferably from about 100 to about 150 meq and most preferably from about 125 meq. 2. The food composition according to claim 1, which is a nutritionally complete food composition. 3. The feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said metabolizable cations are selected from calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and mixtures thereof, and / or where said metabolizable anions are selected from phosphorus, chloride, sulfur, and mixtures thereof. 4. The feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, having potassium citrate in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 1.0%, preferably in an amount of about 0.76% and / or having sodium bicarbonate in an amount of from about 0.1 % to about 0.5%, and preferably in an amount of about 0.2%. 5. The feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, containing soluble fiber in an amount of from about 1% to about 4% and preferably in an amount of about 3%. 6. The feed composition according to claim 5, wherein said soluble fiber is selected from beet pulp, guar gum, chicory root, plantain, pectin, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, apples, oats, legumes, citrus fruits, barley, peas, or mixtures thereof. 7. The feed composition according to claim 6, containing beet pulp in an amount of about 3%. 8. The feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, containing omega-3 fatty acid in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 10% and preferably in an amount of about 1.8%. 9. The feed composition of claim 8, wherein said omega-3 fatty acid is selected from DHA, EPA, ALA, octadecatetraenoic acid, and mixtures thereof. 10. The feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, containing an agent for improving the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, and / or an agent for diarrhea, and / or an agent for constipation, or a mixture thereof. 11. The feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, where the feed composition is a dry feed. 12. The feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, where the feed composition is a wet food. 13. The feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, where the feed composition is a semi-moist food. 14. The feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the feed composition is in the form of a treat, snack, supplement, or partially or fully edible toy. 15. A method of improving the quality of the stool and / or the frequency of allocation of stool in a puppy, comprising administering to the puppy a composition according to claim 1. 16. The method according to clause 15, where the metabolizable anions are selected from phosphorus, chloride, sulfur and mixtures thereof. 17. The method according to clause 15, where the metabolizable cations are selected from calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and mixtures thereof. 18. The method of claim 15, comprising administering to the puppy at least one compound selected from one or more agents to improve the condition of the gastrointestinal tract and / or one or more anti-diarrhea agents. 19. A method of improving the quality of a chair in a puppy in need thereof, including:
but. adding the amount of metabolizable cations relative to metabolizable anions to the feed composition sufficient to increase or decrease the DCAB feed composition, as required, where the DCAB feed composition is from about 50 to about 300 mEq;
b. administering the feed composition from step (a) to the puppy;
from. assessment of the quality of the stool secreted by the puppy; and
d. repeating steps (a) to (c) until the puppy highlights the stool having the desired quality. 20. A kit for changing the quality of a stool in a puppy, comprising one or more of:
feed composition according to claim 1;
an agent for improving the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, an agent against diarrhea and an agent against constipation; and
instructions for changing stool quality in a puppy by increasing or decreasing the DCAB feed composition using metabolizable anions and / or metabolizable cations to modify stool quality depending on the stool condition of the puppy being treated. 21. The kit of claim 20, wherein said metabolizable cations are selected from calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and mixtures thereof in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. 22. The kit of claim 20, wherein said metabolizable anions are selected from phosphorus, chloride, sulfur, and mixtures thereof in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.