Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Plant material or plant extract of undetermined constitution... – Containing or obtained from a root – bulb – tuber – corm – or...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-08
2002-05-07
Lankford, Jr., Leon B. (Department: 1651)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Plant material or plant extract of undetermined constitution...
Containing or obtained from a root, bulb, tuber, corm, or...
C424S725000, C424S773000, C424S442000, C424S094100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06383529
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process and composition for controlling fecal hair excretion and trichobezoar formation in animals such as cats and rabbits which are prone to hairball formation.
Animals that constantly groom themselves, such as cats and rabbits, regularly ingest large quantities of hair. Normally, the ingested hair passes through the gastrointestinal tract of the animal and is excreted in the feces. However, the ingestion of large quantities of hair may cause the hair to accumulate in the stomach and form a hairball or trichobezoar. A hairball is typically composed of hair, mucous, water, food particles and mineral salts. A hairball can be harmful to the animal if it impedes the normal digestive process by blocking the pylorus and preventing the passage of digesta down the gastrointestinal tract. More frequently, hairballs are nothing more than a nuisance to the animal and its owner. For example, the cat will attempt to eliminate the hairball from the stomach through the vomiting reflex. A hairball may produce constipation and defecation difficulties if it passes from the stomach and becomes lodged in the lower bowel.
Hairballs have been historically treated using petrolatum jelly, mineral oil and other laxatives contained in various forms as dietary treats and(or) supplements. The effectiveness of these laxative type compounds on hairball control has been variable at best. An alternate strategy that has been attempted to control the formation and occurrence of hairballs involves the use of diets or dietary supplements which include high levels of indigestible (insoluble) fiber such as cellulose to increase the passage of hair through the gastrointestinal tract and into the feces without causing blockage or constipation. However, such diets may decrease stool quality, cause diarrhea, and otherwise do not promote gastrointestinal health.
Although fiber is not required in the diet of animals, research has shown that moderate amounts of fermentable fibers in the diet help to maintain gastrointestinal tract health. Depending upon the specific composition and physical properties, dietary fiber generally increases water-holding capacity, controls gastric emptying, increases intestinal transit time, and maintains the structural integrity of the intestinal mucosa. However, large amounts of highly fermentable fiber sources generally decrease dry matter, protein and lipid digestibility, and may produce diarrhea-like feces, especially when fed to cats. See, Sunvold G. D. et al, “Dietary fiber for cats: In vitro fermentation of selected fiber sources by cat fecal inoculum and in vivo utilization of diets containing selected fiber sources and their blends,”
J. Anim. Sci.
(1995)73:2329-2339. Other possible side effects, such as constipation, excessive stool output, decreased nutrient digestibility, and inferior haircoat appearance, have also been observed in cats fed large amounts of insoluble fiber sources.
Studies utilizing moderately fermentable (digestible) fiber sources, such as beet pulp, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), citrus pulp, and gum arabic, have been shown to increase short-chain fatty acid production, colonic cell proliferation, skin and coat quality, and stool consistency. See, Sunvold G. D. et al, supra; Drackley J. K. et al, “Energetic substrates for intestinal cells,” In: Reinhart G. A. and Carey D. P., eds.,
Recent Advances In Canine and Feline Nutrition: Volume
2. 1998
Iams Nutrition Symposium Proceedings,
Wilmington, Ohio: Orange Frazer Press, (1998) 463-472.; and Kelley, R. et al, “Effect of beet pulp on nutrient digestibility in the feline,”
J. Anim. Sci.
(1998) 76 (Suppl 1):174. However, the effects of moderately fermentable fiber sources on hairball formation and fecal hair excretion have not been studied.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a process and composition for controlling fecal hair excretion and trichobezoar formation in animals such as cats and rabbits which is effective and does not have the drawbacks of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets that need by providing a process and composition for controlling fecal hair excretion and trichobezoar formation in animals such as cats and rabbits which is effective, which promotes gastrointestinal health, and which does not cause other gastrointestinal problems in the animal. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a process for controlling fecal hair excretion and trichobezoar formation in an animal is provided and includes feeding the animal a composition comprising from about 10 to about 42 wt % crude protein, from about 4 to about 30 wt % fat, from about 1 to about 25 wt % total dietary fiber, and a supplemental fiber source.
The supplemental fiber source is preferably selected from the group consisting of at least one fermentable fiber; a blend of at least two fermentable fibers; a blend of at least one fermentable fiber and a cellulose ether; a blend of at least one fermentable fiber, a cellulose ether, and mineral oil; and a blend of at least one fermentable fiber and at least one non-fermentable fiber. The supplemental fiber source is preferably present in an amount which provides from about 1 to about 13 weight percent of supplemental total dietary fiber, more preferably, from about 6 to about 12 weight percent, and most preferably, from about 10 to about 12 weight percent.
By “fermentable fiber” we mean fiber sources which have an organic matter disappearance of between about 15 to about 100 percent when fermented by fecal bacteria for a 24 hour period. Preferably, the fermentable fibers used in the composition of the present invention have an organic matter disappearance of at least 20 percent. The fermentable fibers are preferably selected from the group consisting of beet pulp, gum arabic, fructooligosaccharides, and blends thereof.
By “non-fermentable fiber” we mean fiber sources which have an organic matter disappearance of less than about 15 percent when fermented by fecal bacteria for a 24 hour period.
In one embodiment of the invention, the supplemental fiber source comprises a blend of beet pulp and carboxymethylcellulose. In another embodiment, the supplemental fiber source comprises a blend of beet pulp, carboxymethylcellulose, and mineral oil. In yet another embodiment, the supplemental fiber source comprises a blend of beet pulp and cellulose.
In another embodiment of the invention, the supplemental fiber source comprises about 6 wt % beet pulp, about 2.0 wt % gum arabic, and about 1.5 wt % fructo-oligosaccharides. In another embodiment, the supplemental fiber source comprises about 6 wt % beet pulp and about 1.5 wt % carboxymethylcellulose. In another embodiment, the supplemental fiber source comprises about 6 wt % beet pulp, about 1.5 wt % carboxymethylcellulose, and about 2 wt % mineral oil. In another embodiment, the supplemental fiber source comprises about 6 wt % beet pulp, and about 6.5 wt % cellulose. In another embodiment, the supplemental fiber source comprises about 12 wt % beet pulp.
The animal is maintained on the diet for a sufficient period of time to control fecal hair excretion and trichobezoar formation.
Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a process and composition for controlling fecal hair excretion and trichobezoar formation in animals such as cats and rabbits which is effective, which promotes gastrointestinal health, and which does not cause other gastrointestinal problems in the animal. This, and other features and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention provides a composition which, when fed to an animal such as a cat or rabbit which is prone to hairball formation, effectively controls the formation of hairballs and fecal hair excretion, while at the same time promotes gastrointestinal health in the animal. The present invention provides an improvement over prior trea
Davenport Gary Mitchell
Hayek Michael Griffin
Reinhart Gregory A.
Sunvold Gregory D.
Davis Ruth A.
Lankford , Jr. Leon B.
Schwegman Lundberg Woessner & Kluth P.A.
The Iams Company
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