petMD: Nutritional value is pet owners' top petfood concern

petMD conducted a survey to determine what factors people consider most when choosing a petfood, and the survey revealed that a majority of pet owners are highly concerned about the nutritional value of their pet's food. When asked what factor is the most important in selecting a petfood, only 4% of respondents said price. And while 10% said their primary consideration is palatability, nearly 80% said they choose their pet's food based on how nutritious or healthy they believe it will be for their pet.

Sixty percent of pet food buyers claim to read ingredient labels, but most are unfamiliar with the official terms used in ingredient lists, according to the study. Experts recommend that consumers look to the following sources to gather information about the best food for their pets:

• veterinary recommendations
• brand reputations
• regulatory statements
• foods manufactured "by" a brand, rather than "for" a brand
• toll-free consumer lines

Pet owners confused on pet nutrition, pet food labeling, petMD finds

A recent petMD survey about pet nutrition found that pet owners are confused about the nutritional needs of their dogs and cats. Although 57 percent of pet owners surveyed said they look at petfood labels for information about the petfood's ingredients, the survey found pet owners often misinterpret the information on the labels.
"Understanding how to feed our pets properly is critical to their well-being," said petMD spokewoman, Dr. Jennifer Coates. "This knowledge gap is worrisome but also represents an opportunity for improving the health and longevity of our beloved companion animals."
The survey's findings include:

• Misunderstood terms: The majority of respondents said they thought animal hair, teeth and hooves are included in meat byproducts; however, the Association of American Feed Control Officials prohibits these parts from being included in a byproduct used in pet food.
• Feeding trial importance: A majority of respondents said they look at the pet food label to learn about ingredients, yet only 22 percent of pet owners check the label to see if a feeding trial has been conducted with the food. Pet foods approved by AAFCO must have a statement indicating how the pet food manufacturer determined the diet would meet pets' nutritional needs, which can be done either by a computer program or test feeding the food to pets.
• Misidentifying potential allergies: More than 40 percent of respondents cited grain ingredients as the most common allergens in pet food. Although more than 30 percent noted corn as the most common allergen, some studies have shown that protein or meat source may have a greater effect.
• Unaware of balanced nutrition: Protein was cited by 69 percent of respondents as a key nutrient for pets, but just 2 percent were aware of the need for fats, 3 percent of carbohydrates, and fewer than 25 percent were aware of the need for vitamins and minerals.
• Skepticism of label accuracy: AAFCO regulations mandate that every ingredient in a pet food must be listed in the ingredients list from the largest to smallest amount by weight, though still more than 70 percent of respondents said they believe pet food labels do not list all of the ingredients.
"Misconceptions surrounding pet food and canine and feline nutrition can lead owners to make ill-informed choices about what to feed their companions," Coates said. "Veterinarians are the best source of information about what to feed pets. They can take into consideration a pet's unique combination of life stage, lifestyle and health to make individualized diet recommendations."

Second online pet nutrition course receives RACE approval

A second WATT eLearning online pet nutrition course, "Feeding Management during Growth in Dogs and Cats," was recently approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards’ Registry of Approved Continuing Education program. Veterinary professionals may enroll in the pet food course to earn four continuing education credits.
"Feeding Management during Growth in Dogs and Cats," developed by Linda P. Case, M.S., provides information about a growing pet’s nutrient and energy needs, selection of a proper diet, and feeding management guidelines that promote good feeding behaviors and support a healthy rate of development. The online course is ideal for pet and veterinary professionals who seek or are professionally required to have a scientific understanding of the unique needs of puppies and kittens between the age of weaning and adulthood. Enrollment includes 60 days of online access and certificate of completion for participants.
“We are pleased to continue to provide professional development opportunities to the veterinary community,” says Greg Watt, president and CEO. “Continuing education is essential for veterinary professionals and WATT eLearning offers a convenient online platform to help meet that need.”

New feeding trial created for JustFoodForDogs

Cal Poly Pomona has created a new feeding trial for JustFoodForDogs, which the pet food company says prioritizes the quality of life of the dogs involved in the feeding trail as well as still provides real-world data from the volunteer pets and pet owners.
Cal Poly Pomona's Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department helped design the method to satisfy Association of American Feed Control Officials' requirements. The study utilized volunteer dogs living normal canine lives in their own homes throughout the testing. Participants included 2 dogs of various sizes and breeds between 1 and 5 years old, who were studied throughout the 182-day feeding trial and tested three of the company's pet food recipes. AAFCO requires testing of four blood parameters, but this trial tested a complete blood cell count and chemistry panel looking at more than 25 blood parameters.
"The field method we developed takes significantly more effort than the standard industry approach, but to JustFoodForDogs it was absolutely worth it. The dogs are happy and the data is scientifically valid," said Dr. Broc Sandelin, chair of the Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department.

European Pet Food Industry Federation updates Nutritional Guidelines

The European Pet Food Industry Federation published its annually updated Nutritional Guidelines for Cats and Dogs for 2012.
Based on new scientific literature and discussions with the federation's Scientific Advisory Board, adaptations were made to nutrients such as vitamins, iodine, calcium and sodium. The federation's new nutrition guidelines have newly defined ratios because “calcium and phosphorus are essential minerals for healthy skeleton development and maintenance,” the federation said. 

Petfood maker Purina releases new application for veterinarians

Petfood maker Purina released a new Purina Guide for Veterinarians application for iPhone and iPad. 
The application provides technical information on both well-pet and therapeutic Purina products that allows veterinarians to determine the right nutritional pet food formulas for their patients. With this free application, veterinarians can browse canine and feline diet options by indication or formula, search by keyword, review analytical charts, access a clinical glossary of ingredients and more. 
The Purina Guide for Veterinarians application can be found in the medical category of the iPhone and iPad App Store, by entering code 0411 when prompted.

'Petfood Industry' launches Kindle Fire app

A new app for the Kindle Fire provides mobile access to Petfood Industry issues, articles, news and products.

A new app provides mobile access to Petfood Industry issues, articles, news and products for users of the Kindle Fire, joining apps for iPhones, iPads and Android smartphones.
Like the existing apps, the new Kindle Fire app allows users to explore Petfood Industry content via a library of monthly issues, and within each issue, in a navigator mode to peruse individual articles. The app also includes feeds for the latest news and products from www.petfoodindustry.com and allows users to save and share articles.
The Kindle Fire app is available in the Amazon Appstore. Users of Apple devices can find the Petfood Industry app in iTunes, while Android smartphone owners can find it in Google Play. To access the magazine on another mobile device, bookmark www.petfoodindustry-digital.com on your mobile web browser.

Alltech plans 28th symposium on companion animal nutrition

Alltech will host its 28th Annual International Symposium, May 20 – 23, in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, featuring a range of sessions on well-being and nutrition for companion animals and how to capitalize on the growing pet market. 
“People love their pets and are willing to spend money to ensure they have high quality food that is safe and promotes good health,” said Dr. Juan Gomez, chairman for the companion animal sessions for the Alltech International Symposium. “These pet-focused sessions at Symposium will explore ways to improve pet health and wellbeing and capitalize on the tremendous opportunities that are being created by this growing market.”
Companion animal-focused session topics will include: 
• Be the First to Market: Smart molecular tools to develop new products faster
• Eskimos, Polar Bears & Petfood: Lessons for developing new nutritional applications
• Conducting the Antioxidant Orchestra: Why we need smart nutrients for disease prevention, longevity and cognitive protection
• 7 Steps to Solving Salmonella: Challenges you may not have thought about
• The Triple Challenge: Sustainable ingredients, smarter pet food brands and sales success
• The Real Green Revolution: How algae will revolutionize the way we formulate for companion animals

Featured presenters for the companion animal sessions include Nancy Cook, Pet Food Institute; Laura Johnson, PetSmart SSG; Elizabeth Colleran, Chico Hospital for Cats; Aulus Carciofi, Universidade Estadual Paulista; David Southey, Southey Consultants Ltd.; and Ronald Rompala, Cool Springs International LLC. Breakout sessions will include legal, marketing, information technology and designer food, as well as aquaculture, beef, dairy, equine, poultry, pig, pet and regulatory-focused offerings.
Those interested in attending may register or receive more information for the 2012 Alltech Symposium online or by contacting symposium@alltech.com. Those who register prior to April 14 will receive a 20 percent discount on registration.

Steven Spitz to present pet food purchasing seminar at Pet Advisory Conference

Steven Spitz, CEO of Big Apple Pet Supply, will present a pet food purchasing seminar and conduct a 90-minute workshop at The Pet Advisory’s 1st Annual Pet Food and Supplements Conference, October 24-25, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, aimed at pet retailers.

The seminar, “Who Influences What Pet Food is Purchased and How Do You Reach Them?” will be co-presented by Susan Blake Davis, certified clinical nutritionist and host of "Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist." Topics include the five most powerful criteria that customers use to make a petfood purchase; how critical terms such as "healthy" and "natural" are defined by consumers; which ingredients determine whether a petfood is ranked among the best or worst; trends in pet food diets and supplements; and the "new consumer." Spitz and Blake Davis will also host a question and answer session called “Ask the Retailers & VetExperts: What do Consumers Really Want?”

Canadian ingredient company uses egg 'waste' in pet food

A US$405,000 grant through Ontario, Canada's Rural Economic Development program will allow a petfood ingredient supplier to turn egg "waste" into high-protein pet food products, The Beacon Herald reported. 

Perth County Ingredients, a subsidiary of Vanderpol's Eggs, began producing pet food ingredients at the plant, previously used for egg processing, in May 2011. The plant currently employs nine people and the company uses only about half of the factory space, so it has plenty of room for expansion, according to plant manager, Murray Walz.
Walz explained that the company processes whole-egg waste from egg-grading plants and turns it into a powdered pet food ingredient, which contains up to 50% protein. He said the plant also extracts egg whites from discarded shells, which the company uses to produce a liquid egg white that acts as a binding agent in pet food.

WATT eLearning offers educational courses, webinars for pet food professionals

WATT eLearning, an online education portal, has a number of courses available on–demand for pet food industry professionals to access 24 hours a day.
WATT eLearning’s “Building Blocks of Companion Animal Nutrition” course is the latest in interactive educational offerings for petfood industry professionals. The course, developed by Linda Case, owner of AutumnGold Consulting, includes six modules with an accompanying textbook and certificate of completion. Course content is designed for those seeking a scientific understanding of basic pet food nutrients and their functions, companion animal nutrient needs and feeding behaviors.
Watt’s eLearning platform also offers 17 pet food conferences and workshops, available for users to access on a computer or smart phone. The conferences and workshops cover a range of topics in petfood and pet nutrition, such as petfood processing, petfood ingredients, Salmonella control and pet product marketing.
These online sessions are webinars created from expert presentations at WATT’s Pet food Forum and Pet food Workshop events, which may be accessed for a fee at www.wattelearning.com.

Nature’s Variety expands pet food Nutrition Council

Nature’s Variety added two new members to the holistic pet food company's Nutrition Council.
Susan G. Wynn, DVM, of Georgia Veterinary Specialists, and Lea Stogdale, DVM, of Aesops Veterinary Care, will guide new product formulations under the newly formed Nutrition Council.
“We are committed to providing the best possible life for pets through nutrition, which is why the Nature’s Variety Nutrition Council was formed – to ensure all diets and products developed are true to what our company stands for,” said Reed Howlett, Nature’s Variety CEO. “Our newest members will help us fulfill our stated philosophy.”

Petfood Industry launches first interactive pet food nutrition course

Petfood Industry launched its first interactive pet food nutrition course, "Building Blocks of Companion Animal Nutrition."
This six-module online course, developed by Linda P. Case, MS, owner of AutumnGold Consulting, provides a thorough examination of the science of companion animal nutrition and practical feeding management for dogs and cats. Watt (parent company of Petfood Industry and Petfood Forum) has made the "Building Blocks of Companion Animal Nutrition" course available through the online educational portal, Watt eLearning.
The "Building Blocks of Companion Animal Nutrition" course includes six modules, an accompanying textbook and certificate of completion. Course content is designed to meet the needs of pet food professionals, animal scientists, nutritionists, veterinarians, breeders, exhibitors, judges, trainers, hobbyists and others seeking a scientific understanding of basic nutrients and their functions, companion animal nutrient needs and feeding behaviors.
Case is a recognized expert in the fields of canine and feline nutrition, behavior and training and companion animal health care. She operates AutumnGold Dog Training Center and is the author of four books, as well as numerous scientific papers and pet owner educational materials. Case also served as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and lecturer and program coordinator at the University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences.
Log on to www.wattelearning.com to learn more, sign up and gain immediate access to the course. Check back often for new sessions and updated offerings.

Pet insurance blog offers pet food, nutrition tips for consumers

Pet insurance company Petplan's online blog offers consumer guidelines on selecting a pet food, as cases of pet food contamination and recalls have become more frequent.
A report from Packaged Facts predicted the sales of natural and organic pet foods to grow three times faster than regular petfoods through 2015, though the pet insurance company warns consumers that the two terms are not the same. Petplan says that when a pet food is labeled as "organic," it means the food's ingredients are produced in accordance with National Organics Standard Board guidelines, whereas "natural" pet food does not have this regulation.
“I’ve definitely seen an increase in the ‘What should I be feeding my pet?’ questions during regular veterinary appointments,” says Dr. Jules Benson, vice president of veterinary services at Petplan. “With a topic as important as nutrition, it’s great to see pet parents becoming more educated. Recent studies have shown that pets fed a correctly balanced diet enjoyed an average of an additional three healthy years of life. With so many choices of pet food out there, it’s increasingly important to work closely with your veterinarian and their team to establish what (and how much) your pet should be eating to live life to the fullest.”
Petplan also urges consumers to sign up for pet food safety alerts on the US Food and Drug Administration's recall website. The company says that if consumers are preparing a home-cooked or raw diet for their pet, proper food handling guidelines are available from the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service to help avoid foodborne illnesses.

AFIA awards Dr. Fahey for pet food, animal nutrition contributions

The Federation of Animal Science Societies and the American Feed Industry Association recognized George C. Fahey Jr., Ph.D., professor of animal sciences and nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with the FASS-AFIA New Frontiers in Animal Nutrition award.
A committee of FASS members selected Fahey to receive the award, which is given to stimulate and reward innovative research relevant to the nutrition of animals and pet food. The award was presented to Fahey by AFIA's Nutrition Committee chairman, Clay Zimmerman, Ph.D., during a July conference of animal-science societies in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Dr. Fahey has specialized in companion animal nutrition for UIUC since 1976. He has contributed to the areas of carbohydrate nutrition, with a special interest in the areas of dietary fiber, oligosaccharides, resistant starch and comparative nutrition in animal and human diets. Dr. Fahey’s research has helped the pet industry produce optimal animal food and feed.

Animal feed expert contributions wanted for FIAAP Asia 2012

The animal feed industry is invited to submit presentations on advances in animal feed ingredients for the FIAAP Asia Conference 2012, which will take place in February alongside Victam Asia, in Bangkok, Thailand.
The FIAAP Asia Conference, which will be held February 16, 2012, focuses on animal feed ingredients and additives. FIAAP Asia invites expert presentation contributions, by September 1, 2012, in the following areas: feed formulation; nutrient requirements; traditional and novel protein sources; application of ingredients and feed additives for animal health and growth; and manipulation of finished animal product quality, optimizing available raw materials, food chain safety, environmental impact and physical pellet quality.
Along with this event, Petfood Forum Asia 2012 will take place February 16-17, for professionals in the petfood industry. This conference is also accepting expert abstract contributions until September 1, 2011.

What's the best way to educate vets about pet nutrition?

I received an email recently from a veterinarian who commented that when he attended vet school 20 years ago, he took one nutrition course -- that was it. He said he hoped that situation had changed.
I think we all know it has not. Most US veterinarians would admit that their formal education on companion animal nutrition consisted of one basic course that, in some cases, had to be taught by a professor from another program (usually the animal science department or something similar) because no veterinary faculty had the knowledge or expertise to teach it.
 Any information on nutrition received after veterinary school usually comes via a handful of pet food manufacturers that sell through the veterinary channel. And not to disparage them, their products or their information, but let's face it: That information is by its very nature prone to be limited and biased.
Several pet food professionals in Europe have told me the situation is the same in most countries there, at least the ones with well-established pet food markets.
I don't have statistics on this -- except from Italy, where the Associazione Nazionale Medici Veterinari Italiana (national veterinary association) recently did an online survey showing 85% of vets there get requests from clients for advice on petfood -- but we all know the first source many pet owners turn to for information on pet nutrition is their veterinarian.
Considering this, the lack of nutrition knowledge and education among these professionals is one key reason, I believe, that so much misinformation about pet nutrition and petfoods abounds online and among other consumer media. Today's pet owners are highly involved, aware and hungry for knowledge. If they can't get it from their first source (their veterinarian), they'll turn wherever they can, including and especially the Internet.
The veterinarian I heard from issued a challenge: "Surely, there is a way for ... your industry in general to do a better job educating veterinarians, so they can help you educate the public."
Do you agree this is a role for our industry?

Drying pet food at high temperatures may decrease nutrients, researchers find

Researchers at the Animal Nutrition Group of Wageningen University in the Netherlands studied the effects of pet food drying temperature and time on the food's physical and nutritional quality indicators.
The researchers conducted two factorial experiments, using four temperatures and two durations, to test the effects of drying variables on extruded canine diets produced using a 4 mm and 8 mm die.  The diet was extruded using a single screw extruder at 130 C and 300 g moisture/kg. The drying temperatures used were 80, 120, 160 and 200 C, and each diet was dried in draught-forced ovens to 90 or 60 g moisture/kg diet.
Each sample was analyzed for dry matter, nitrogen, amino acids (including reactive lysine) and fatty acid content. Results showed that hardness and specific density of the diets tested were not affected by the drying temperature or time. Canine kibble durability, however, was affected by drying temperature. The highest temperature (200 C) resulted in decreased durability compared to the lowest temperature (80 C). Drying time was found to have no effects on the level of individual or total amino acids, or on the proportion of reactive lysine.
In 4 mm kibbles, drying temperature of 200 C lowered only proline, total lysine and reactive lysine concentrations. Kibble dried at 120 C had a higher ratio of reactive to total lysine than kibble dried at 200 C. Drying temperature of 200 C decreased the concentration of linolenic and linoleic acid, and increased that of oleic acid, which may indicate lipid oxidation of 4 mm kibbles during the drying process, according to the research. In 8 mm kibbles, only reactive lysine concentrations were significantly lower with a naturally associated decrease of the kibble durability.
Researchers said that drying petfoods at high temperatures of 160 C to 180 C can significantly reduce nutrients or nutrient reactivity.

Authors address nutrition needs of small dogs

There are many factors that have to be taken into consideration when determining the proper diet for a small dog, according to Susan Lauten, PhD, of Pet Nutrition Consulting and Liz Palika, author of The Ultimate Pet Food Guide. Here are eight guidelines owners of small dogs should keep in mind when figuring out how much to feed:
1) Use food manufacturer's guidelines as the starting point for determining proper portion size.
2) Adjust food amounts depending on how active your dog is.
3) Give dogs that have been neutered or spayed less food than their intact counterparts.
4) Choose food designed for smaller breeds if your dog is picky.
5) Understand the serious health risks of improper feeding.
6) Offer the right size treats.
7) Be prepared to adjust to changing dietary needs as your dog ages.
8) Regularly monitor changes in your dog's weight.

Pet Store Pro adds nutrition chapter to online training

Pet Store Pro has added a nutrition segment to its free, online training center for US pet industry retailers.
The nutrition module was designed to be brand-neutral. Its purpose is to educate retailers and their employees about the different nutritional aspects addressed by various petfoods.
The nutritional module prepares employees to be able to read and understand petfood labels, including ingredients and major nutrients; answer questions from customers about different types of diets like grain-free, breed-specific or all-natural; and help customers choose the best food for their specific pets, based on factors such as lifestage and size.
Pet Store Pro website's home page was redesigned in conjunction with the nutrition module addition, making it easier to access separate resources for store owners, training managers and employees.