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Simple Summary: The environmental impact of food production, including food for pets such as dogs and cats, is an increasingly important issue. Animal protein production significantly contributes to this impact, highlighting the importance of developing more sustainable alternatives. In this study, the test ingredient, brewed lamb protein (Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing a lamb protein), was used as the principal protein source in dog food. To examine the safety of this test ingredient, 40 dogs were divided into four groups, each fed one of the study foods (containing 0% [control food], 15%, 30%, or 40% of the test ingredient) over 26 weeks. Different measures of health (body weight, body condition score, body composition measures, physical examination parameters, food intake, blood biomarkers, and urinary parameters) indicated that there were few or no differences among groups. Levels of serum chloride, cholesterol, homocysteine, and whole blood taurine were lower in dogs fed the foods with the test ingredient compared to the dogs fed the control food, but all were within reference ranges. Digestibility was similar among all study foods, except that fat digestibility was lower in foods with the test ingredient. Altogether, these results indicate that the test ingredient is safe for use in dog food. Protein production through precision fermentation is an attractive option to reduce animal use in food production. This study focused on the safety and digestibility of food containing a test ingredient, brewed lamb protein (Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing a lamb protein), at inclusion levels of 0% (control), 15%, 30%, or 40% were evaluated over 182 days in 40 dogs. No significant differences in body weight, body condition score, body composition, physical examination, food intake, or urinary parameters were observed among groups. Hematological and serum biochemical parameters were within reference ranges and were largely similar among groups. Levels of chloride, cholesterol, and homocysteine were significantly lower at some time points in dogs fed the test ingredient foods compared with the control food, but all remained within reference ranges. Whole blood taurine levels indicated no deficiency. Alanine aminotransferase levels were above the normal range at Day 177 in dogs in the control and 15% test ingredient groups. Fecal score was slightly decreased in dogs fed the 30% or 40% test ingredient foods, and fecal pH was decreased in dogs fed any of the test ingredient foods. Digestibility of most parameters was similar among foods, but apparent fat digestibility was significantly lower in foods with the test ingredient. Overall, these results indicate that the test ingredient is safe for use in dog food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The valorization of byproducts such as defatted meal (DM) is essential for the implementation of a biorefinery structure and can be achieved through the application of emerging technologies, such as pressurized liquid extraction. This work aimed to apply pressurized liquid extraction to obtain products derived from the DM of crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst) seeds. The experiments investigated the effect of ethanol percentage in the hydroalcoholic solvent (25%, 50% and 75%, v/v) on the mass extract yield (MEY) and on the composition of the products obtained: phytochemical extract (PE) and processed flour (PF). The PE obtained using 25% ethanolic solvent had the highest MEY (23.48 wt%) and phenolic compounds, composed of caffeic, gallic and ferulic acids, which conferred activity against the fungus C. albicans. The solvents tested did not influence the content of soluble proteins. The solvent with 75% ethanol promoted the highest levels of glucosinolates (258.94 μmol/g) and tannins (8.80 mg/g) in the PE, reducing 96% and 98% of these contents in the PF produced. The PF obtained in the extraction with 75% ethanol contained phenolic compounds (~23 mg/100 g), dietary fibers (54.25 g/100 g) and soluble proteins (26.39 wt%), mainly composed of glutelin fraction. The PF also presented adequate functional properties, such as water solubility and absorption, which suggest potential use in pet food formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digestive properties and bioavailability of soy protein isolate and whey protein in canine and feline were evaluated using in vitro simulated digestion and cell absorption experiments. The amino acids and peptides in soybean protein isolate and whey protein after digestion were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid mass spectrometry. Gastrointestinal digestion rates of soy protein isolate and whey protein were analyzed by fitting digestive kinetics curves. The degree of absorption and utilization of amino acids and peptides from the digestive products was evaluated by establishing a Caco-2 cell model. The results demonstrated that soy protein isolate, like whey protein, could produce large amounts of free amino acids and peptides distributed 100–1500 Da. The gastrointestinal digestion speed of soy protein isolate was similar with whey protein. It is worth noting from the intestinal absorption of Caco-2 cell that more than 15 amino acids produced by soy protein isolate and whey protein could be absorbed, and a large number of peptides were also utilized by Caco-2 cell. The bioavailability of soy protein isolates and whey protein for dogs respectively reached 6.30% and 9.00%, and it reached 7.40% and 16.40% in cats, respectively. Soy isolate proteins can be digested and absorbed by pets like whey proteins. These findings may provide significant strategies and support for the application of plant-based proteins in pet foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The market for commercial fresh pet food is growing, and the general practitioner should be prepared to discuss fresh pet food diets and explain how to compare them to traditional dry and canned pet food diets. Underlying client inquiries are not only the concept of pet humanization but also the increasing media attention and publicity about the role of food processing in human health and disease states. Understanding new concepts such as ultraprocessed foods and advanced glycation end-products will help veterinarians when discussing with clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) has been detected in both pet food ingredients and final products, causing acute toxicity and chronic health problems in pets. Therefore, the early detection of mycotoxin contamination in pet food is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of animals. This study aims to develop a rapid and cost-effective method using an electronic nose (E-nose) and machine learning algorithms to predict whether ZEN levels in pet food exceed the regulatory limits (250 µg/kg), as set by Chinese pet food legislation. A total of 142 pet food samples from various brands, collected between 2021 and 2023, were analyzed for ZEN contamination via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Additionally, the "AIR PEN 3" E-nose, equipped with 10 metal oxide sensors, was employed to identify volatile compounds in the pet food samples, categorized into 10 different groups. Machine learning algorithms, including liner regression, k-nearest neighbors, support vector machines, random forests, XGBoost, and multi-layer perceptron (MLP), were used to classify the samples based on their volatile profiles. The MLP algorithm showed the highest discrimination accuracy at 86.6% in differentiating between pet food samples above and below the ZEN threshold. Other algorithms showed moderate accuracy, ranging from 77.1% to 84.8%. The ensemble model, which combined the predictions from all classifiers, further improved the classification performance, achieving the highest accuracy at 90.1%. These results suggest that the combination of E-nose technology and machine learning provides a rapid, cost-effective approach for screening ZEN contamination in pet food at the market entry stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the limited supply of serum albumin (SA) and potential pathogen contamination, focus has been concentrated on the heterologous expression of human serum albumin (HSA), particularly in Pichia pastoris. However, there are rare studies on feline serum albumin (FSA), which requires a large amount in pet foods and clinical treatment. In this work, the codon-optimized recombinant feline serum albumin (rFSA) sequence was designed and transferred into P. pastoris GS115 for recombinant expression. The high-level expression strain was selected by a high concentration of G418, followed by plate and shaker screening. At the 5 L fermenter level, the total protein concentration reached 3.89 mg/mL after 113 h of induction. At lower concentrations (1–4 μM), rFSA exhibited a potent free radical scavenging capacity, reaching 99% and 60% for ABTS+• and •O2−, respectively, which surpassed that of natural plasma-derived FSA. The secondary structure and stability of rFSA were found to be consistent with those of FSA. Additionally, an in vivo safety assay in mice showed no significant difference between the rFSA group and the normal saline group in terms of body weight changes, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, inflammatory factors, and tissue sections. These results above indicate that P. pastoris is the optimal host for the high preparation of rFSA. Furthermore, rFSA has been demonstrated to be relatively safe, which paves the way for subsequent industrialized production and its application in pet foods and veterinary clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pet food industry is a growing business launching a variety of new products in the market. The acceptability or preference of pet food samples has traditionally been measured using either one‐bowl or two‐bowl tests. Academic researchers and professionals in the pet food industry have explored other methods, including the cognitive palatability assessment protocols and the ranking test, to evaluate more than two samples. A variety of approaches and perspectives were also utilized to predict palatability and key sensory attributes of pet foods, including descriptive sensory analysis by human‐trained panelists and pet food caregivers' perceptions of pet food. This review article examined a range of testing methods for evaluating the palatability of pet foods, specifically targeting products for dogs and/or cats. It outlined the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Additionally, the review provided in‐depth insights into the key sensory attributes of pet foods and the methodologies for assessing palatability. It also explored pets' behavioral responses and facial expressions in relation to different pet foods. Furthermore, this review discussed current challenges and future opportunities in pet food development, including the use of instrumental analyses and artificial intelligence–based approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A non-native species, the Oriental Magpie (Pica serica) has established a population in a restricted area of southern Hokkaido, northern Japan, since the 1990s. To clarify the current number and distribution of the population and their major determinants, we conducted intensive field surveys six times during the course of a year from May 2012 in Tomakomai City, the central area of the current distribution. We found 181 to 248 magpies in every survey, and 46 active nests in May. Most of the magpies appeared in residential areas, avoiding commercial and industrial areas. The magpies foraged mainly in short grasslands in public spaces, such as parks, in May and July, and most of the birds preferred house gardens for foraging from November to March. Dogs or cats were often kept outside in the gardens where the magpies foraged, and observations of the magpies stealing pet food were common. It is likely that the magpies rely on anthropogenic food resources such as pet food, especially in winter. This study provides a basis for further monitoring of this non-native magpie species that has invaded urban/suburban habitats in Hokkaido, Japan. As magpies and their nests are easy to find, citizen science could contribute to such monitoring. Non-native species have caused various problems for both animal and human communities globally, but their monitoring during the early stages of establishment is often difficult. A population of the Oriental Magpie (Pica serica) has established on Hokkaido Island, northern Japan, since the 1990s, offering a rare opportunity for field biologists to monitor the entire history of a colonizing avian population. To clarify the current number and distribution of the population and their major determinants, we conducted bimonthly surveys from May 2012 to March 2013, over a total of 417 h, in Tomakomai City, the central area of the current distribution. We found 181 to 248 magpies in every survey, and 46 active nests in May. Most of the magpies appeared in residential areas, avoiding commercial and industrial areas, and did not show seasonal changes in their distribution pattern. The magpies mainly foraged in short grasslands in public spaces, such as parks, in May and July, but most of the birds preferred house gardens for foraging from November to March. Dogs or cats were often kept outside in the gardens where the magpies foraged, and observations of magpies stealing and hoarding pet food were common. It is likely that the magpies rely on anthropogenic food resources such as pet food, especially in winter. Continuous monitoring of this population will enable further knowledge of the factors that limit the number and range of not only non-native species but also avian populations in general to be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This report presents a case of factitial thyrotoxicosis in a dog ensuing from the long‐term administration of a raw meat‐based pet food adulterated with thyroid tissue. A 7‐year‐old, male, neutered bull terrier was brought to the clinic because of polyuria/polydipsia, restlessness and a decrease in bodyweight despite increased appetite. Physical examination revealed hyperthermia, polypnea, tachycardia and a mild underconditioning, whereas routine bloodwork and urinalysis were unremarkable. Exogenous thyrotoxicosis was suspected based on thyroid function test results, together with contrast computed tomography and nuclear scintigraphy of the thyroid gland, showing increased serum T4 concentrations and very low thyroid‐stimulating hormone concentration in the absence of either eutopic or ectopic thyroid tumours. Histological and biomedical analyses of the dog's diet identified it to be the likely source of environmental thyroid hormones. Diagnosis confirmation was achieved by transitioning the dog to a new food, which was accompanied by a speedy and full remission of clinical signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locally produced fish hydrolysate and oil from the agrifood sector comprises a sustainable solution both to the problem of fish waste disposal and to the petfood sector with potential benefits for the animal's health. This study evaluated the effects of the dietary replacement of mainly imported shrimp hydrolysate (5%) and salmon oil (3%; control diet) with locally produced fish hydrolysate (5%) and oil (3.2%) obtained from fish waste (experimental diet) on systemic inflammation markers, adipokines levels, cardiac function and fecal microbiota of adult dogs. Samples and measurements were taken from a feeding trial conducted according to a crossover design with two diets (control and experimental diets), six adult Beagle dogs per diet and two periods of 6 weeks each. The experimental diet, with higher docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids contents, decreased plasmatic triglycerides and the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme, also tending to decrease total cholesterol. No effects of diet were observed on serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, and IL-12/IL-23 p40, and of the serum levels of the anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin. Blood pressure, heart rate and echocardiographic measurements were similar between diets with the only exception of left atrial to aorta diameter ratio that was higher in dogs fed the experimental diet, but without clinical relevance. Diet did not significantly affect fecal immunoglobulin A concentration. Regarding fecal microbiome, Megasphaera was the most abundant genus, followed by Bifidobacterium , Fusobacterium , and Prevotella , being the relative abundances of Fusobacterium and Ileibacterium genera positively affected by the experimental diet. Overall, results from the performed short term trial suggest that shrimp hydrolysate and salmon oil can be replaced by protein hydrolysate and oil from fish by-products without affecting systemic inflammatory markers, cardiac structure and function, but potentially benefiting bacterial genera associated with healthy microbiome. Considering the high DHA and EPA contents and the antioxidant properties of fish oil and hydrolysate, it would be worthwhile in the future to assess their long-term effects on inflammatory markers and their role in spontaneous canine cardiac diseases and to perform metabolomic and metagenomics analysis to elucidate the relevance of microbiota changes in the gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valorisation of poultry co-products can fulfil the protein demand of the pet food sector thereby supporting a circular bioeconomy. In this investigation, keratin was produced through an optimised reduction (0.8 % sodium sulphite, for 90 min) and hydrolysis (using papain for 120 min) with a yield of 56.87 %. FTIR analysis, in vitro digestibility, SEM imaging, and amino acid profiling of the derived keratin were done and it was subsequently used for pet formulations. Results revealed significant alteration in secondary protein structure post-hydrolysis with in vitro digestibility of 90 %. Higher levels (>100 % increase) of histidine, arginine, lysine, and methionine were observed in the hydrolysate compared to conventional feather meal. Pet food was formulated with 20 % protein replacement that showed maximum palatability in single and two-bowl tests for 2–4 year old Labrador dogs. The developed pet food exhibited desirable colour, water activity (0.5), moisture (4.7 %), and relatively lower TBARS value (0.8 mg/kg) than the critical value. [Display omitted] • Digestible keratin derived protein harvested from broiler chicken feathers. • FTIR spectra of CFH shown structural changes in the secondary protein structure. • Histidine, Arginine, Lysine were higher in CFH as compared to feather meal. • Pet food was formulated with 20 % protein replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many people who are homeless own a companion animal (a "pet"). For people who are homeless, pet ownership has a range of benefits. However, it may also limit a person's access to services and interventions, and so complicate or even prolong their homelessness. "Pet-friendly" services/interventions – which preserve the relationship between people who are homeless and their pets, whilst also meeting their unique needs – are important. Currently, however, there is limited knowledge about what services/interventions exist for people who are homeless with pets, the impact of these, and how they can be implemented in practice. This systematic review was undertaken to address these gaps. It was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Eleven academic journal articles were selected for inclusion. The review identified four key services/interventions which may benefit people who are homeless with pets – pet-friendly accommodation, free veterinary care, free pet food, and foster care/ boarding – in addition to a number of "other" related services/interventions. It identified multiple challenges associated with delivering these services/interventions in practice. None of the studies offered rigorous evaluations – and, therefore, evidence – about "what works." Further research is essential to identify the most effective and cost-effective approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pet food is increasingly recognized as a significant vehicle for the transmission of foodborne pathogens to humans. The intimate association between pets and their owners, coupled with the rising trend of feeding pets raw and unprocessed foods, contributes substantially to this issue. Salmonella contamination in pet food can originate from raw materials and feed ingredients, the processing environment, and postprocessing handling and applications. The absence of standardized postprocessing pathogen mitigation steps in the production of dry kibble and treats, along with the lack of validated heat and chemical interventions in raw pet foods, renders pet food susceptible to contamination by pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, etc. Pets can then serve as carriers of Salmonella, facilitating its transmission to pet owners. Since 1999, there have been over 117 recalls of pet foods due to Salmonella contamination in the United States, with 11 of these recalls linked to human outbreaks. Notably, 5 of the 11 human outbreaks involved multidrug‐resistant Salmonella strains. Various antimicrobial interventions, including high‐pressure processing, ozone, irradiation, chemical treatments such as organic acids and acidulants, plant‐derived antimicrobials, and biological interventions such as bacteriophages, have proven effective against Salmonella in pet foods. This review aims to summarize the prevalence of Salmonella in different types of pet foods, identify common sources of contamination, outline reported outbreaks, and discuss control measures and the regulatory framework governing pet food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many of the 150 pet food companies currently producing pet food in Europe have started to focus on the ethical and local sourcing of raw materials, but there is still a lack of optimisation of the production processes and sustainable sourcing of raw materials. The aim of this research is to describe the steps already taken by pet food manufacturers towards sustainability and to analyse future plans and objectives of the industry in relation to food overproduction and unnecessary waste. The Delphi method was used with a team of experts from two major international European pet food companies to gain insights to identify current aspects and also where we can see room for development. The research shows that there is a huge potential in recycled human food waste used as pet food raw material, while there are currently efforts on packaging and more effective energy consumption. Moving to insect-based pet food could be an even better approach to increase the level of sustainability. The pet food market is becoming increasingly important as a result of economic development and modern social standards, and it is particularly important to pay attention to these aspects related to the production of pet food even more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global pet food industry continues to grow being fueled by increased pet ownership, higher disposable income of pet owners, and a growing demand for premium products. While this growth has attracted increased interest of researchers in animal nutrition and product formulation, the overall body of management and economic literature to guide product innovation and marketing strategies in the pet food industry is still limited. This study aims to identify and highlight the most important, relevant, and current research needs for informing product and marketing decisions in pet food. The methods include a quantitative analysis of primary data from a survey of 76 pet food decision makers involved in the procurement of raw material, production, and marketing. The findings suggest the need for extensive research in various areas pertaining to the quality and availability of raw materials, processing methods, and forecasting consumer preferences. The findings also emphasize high value research areas such as identifying alternative protein sources, enhancing nutrient retention during the extrusion process, identifying opportunities for product innovation that align with customer preferences, and accurately predicting consumer demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In A Boy and a Girl with a Cat and an Eel, concerns about class, decorum, and civility intersected with contemporary dialogue about the distinction between humans and animals, specifically, how human children needed to be educated to be distinguished from the wild, uncivilized state of animals and peasants. Both animals held significance surrounding behaviors that separated the moral from the immoral; cats and eels were pets and food, and they were used in baiting pastimes: cat clubbing and eel pulling. Paired with the children, Leyster's choice of animals raised multiple moral questions and allowed for multiple interpretations, making the work widely appealing and setting Leyster apart in a tight market for genre paintings. These layers of possible meanings continue to make the work compelling today and shed light on how visual culture reflected and reinforced human–animal and social class distinctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pet‐food industry growth and demand for specialized product offerings have generated new opportunities for companies to enhance their competitiveness and profitability through effective product differentiation. Recent rise in e‐commerce and technological advancements for capturing and analyzing online customer review data provide new opportunities for large‐scale assessment of customer perceptions of product attributes. This paper presents an integrated qualitative and quantitative approach for utilizing online customer review data to generate insights for informing pet‐food industry product and marketing decisions. The results from the analysis of 5632 online reviews of two pet‐food products highlight (i) product attributes that effectively differentiate (or put on par) two competing pet‐food products, (ii) identify product attributes that are most important for customer postpurchase experience, and (iii) estimate the effect of specific attributes on customers' positive (or negative) postpurchase experience. Specific pet‐food attributes examined include packaging, health/benefit, ingredient, taste, smell, appearance/form, natural/organic, processing, sourcing, small/large breed, price, and service. The advantages of this approach include its ability to leverage large amounts of easily accessible data and its generalizability to the analysis of other consumer goods that have significant online sales and customer review data [EconLit Citations: Q13, M31]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three extruded dog diets were created for a nutritional study with different primary protein sources (BAS: lamb meal (LM) and deboned lamb (DL); CHK: chicken meal, LM, and DL; PEA: dried ground pea, LM, and DL). All diets were processed using the same single‐screw extruder, shipped from the processing facility on the same day, and transported under the same conditions in January 2021. After 8 months of storage in a temperature and humidity‐controlled room in September 2021, only the PEA diet was molded upon inspection. Mold and mycotoxin analysis of all diets was conducted in both September 2021 and at expiry in January 2022, which confirmed mold and mycotoxin contamination to some degree in all diets and most pronounced in the PEA diet across both timepoints. Nutrient analysis of all diets was conducted at production and 2 months post‐expiry in March 2022. As expected, fatty acid and vitamin contents of all diets decreased between sampling timepoints, and amino acid contents generally remained stable. Methionine decreased by 14% in CHK, cystine decreased by 15% and 20% in CHK and PEA, respectively, tyrosine decreased by 30%, 25%, and 27% across BAS, CHK, and PEA, respectively, and taurine decreased by 50%, 42%, and 55% across BAS, CHK, and PEA, respectively. Inaccurate measurement of the PEA diet moisture content post‐production likely led to mold development which may also negatively impact the availability of nutrients and could put dogs at risk for mycotoxicosis and nutrient deficiencies if not closely monitored, but controlled studies are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There is evidence that cat and dog preferences are correlated with human personality traits, but little information exists on how these preferences develop and change over time and if preference impacts pet care, particularly of the "less preferred" species in a multispecies household. By using an internet survey, we found some differences in demographics and exposure to cats or dogs when young and those who prefer cats or dogs as adults. Species preference for dogs remained consistent from youth to adulthood, but for those that changed preference, we found that lack of childhood exposure impacted the formation of a cat-species preference but not of a dog-species preference. We also found that pet owners spent more time with their preferred species, cat people were more likely to feed their cats a prescription diet, and dog people were more likely to feed both their cats and dogs raw diets. Species preferences may result in preferential treatment of the owner's preferred species and identified a potential risk for welfare concerns in multispecies households. More studies are needed to further examine the development and impact of species preferences. Dog and cat preference has been associated with a few factors, like owner personality traits, but data regarding other aspects of preference ontogeny and the impact of preferences on pet wellbeing have yet to be examined. In this exploratory study, several of these characteristics, such as exposure to pets when young and as adults and current pet interactions and diet were analyzed from internet survey data. We found that more people identified as dog people (63.3%) versus cat people (36.7%) and preference for dogs remained consistent from childhood to adulthood compared with cats. In individuals who changed species preference, a lack of childhood exposure to cats (47.2%) was significantly associated with the group that changed preferences from dogs to cats from childhood to adulthood, compared with dog ownership as a child in the group that changed preferences from cats to dogs (24.4%). The number of cats and dogs in the home directly correlated with species preference (p < 0.001). Dwelling location was also significantly associated with species preference, with cat people being more likely to live in an urban area and dog people in a rural area (p = 0.002). More time was spent in both active and passive interactions with pets of the preferred species. Cats owned by cat people were more likely to be fed prescription diets compared with cats owned by dog people (p < 0.001). Interestingly, dog people were more likely to feed both their cats (p = 0.012) and dogs (p < 0.001) a raw diet compared with cat people. Additional research is needed to understand the development and impact of owner species preferences on pets to identify risks of suboptimal wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercially produced and home-made raw meat-based pet diets are becoming increasingly popular and have been recognised as an emerging public health risk by the European Food Safety Authority. The aim of this study was to investigate risk perceptions and self-reported pet food preparation practices in the home setting among pet owners who feed raw meat-based diet to pets. An online questionnaire was distributed to pet owners through social media groups. Ultimately, 750 respondents were included in the detailed analysis, divided into two subgroups, a "raw group" consisted of pet owners who provided raw meat-based diets for pets (n = 382), while the "conventional group" consisted of pet owners who did not (n = 368). There was no significant difference between the two groups in overall risk perception. Only one third of respondents in both groups were aware of the potentially fatal consequences of food poisoning. Self-reported frequency of hand washing, and surface cleaning, were significantly higher (p = 0.000) in the raw group than the conventional group. Food safety malpractices were noted in the raw feeding group, with 47% reporting to rinsing raw peat meat before preparing it, and 42% thawing frozen raw peat meat at room temperature on the kitchen counter. The results provide information on the prevalence of feeding raw meat to pets among Slovenian pet owners and provides the basis for developing tailored food safety education campaigns to improve risk awareness and provide food safety recommendations for pet owners providing raw meat-based diets for pets in Slovenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global pet food market is expanding rapidly, and there is a growing interest in sustainable, high-quality ingredients. Spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP), a protein-rich by-product with immune-boosting properties, is gaining attention as a potential additive. This study aimed to evaluate the palatability of dog products containing SDAP. Three types of canine products (dry food, wet food, and treats) with varying concentrations of SDAP (0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%) were tested. The study used a two-bowl preference method involving 20 dogs of different breeds, ages, and weights. Results indicated that a 2% SDAP concentration significantly increased the palatability of each dog food compared to control diets without SDAP, while higher concentrations (4%) negatively impacted it. For dry food and treats, the inclusion of 1% SDAP showed marginal effects on palatability. Statistical analyses revealed no significant correlation between the dogs' sex or product type and their preference for SDAP-containing products (p > 0.05). This preliminary research supports the inclusion of SDAP in dog foods, particularly at optimal levels (2%), to enhance palatability and meet the nutritional needs of dogs while addressing sustainability in pet food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the manifestations of the socialization of the economy is a change in the behavior of consumers, which leads to shifts in the structure of markets, the nomenclature of goods presented on them, and fluctuations in the ratio between supply and demand. A vivid example of such changes is the market of pet products, where thanks to the phenomenon of humanization of the attitude towards animals, it became possible to observe the growth of the market as a whole, and the appearance of new products and services for four-legged consumers. In this study, the main markets for distribution of pet products are analyzed, in particular, world, European and Ukrainian. General trends and factors influencing them are highlighted. The analysis of this market in Ukraine made it possible to identify common features in the development of the domestic pet industry and in the countries of Europe and the whole world, and to prove that the domestic market of pet products is promising. Sales volumes of Ukrainian pet food market show a stable upward trend. From the variety of formalized methods for forecasting the demand in pet food markets, the authors chose extrapolation methods, namely, methods of trend analysis and adaptive methods of exponential smoothing. Using trend models, as well as adaptive methods, point and interval forecasts of demand indicators on the global and European markets were built. Trend models were built for the total value of the global pet food market and the total demand for these products worldwide. Point and interval forecasts were built on the basis of these models with a sufficient degree of adequacy and accuracy. The trend model of the Tornqvist function was applied to build forecasts on the Ukrainian pet food market. To forecast the annual European sales of animal nutrition, the adaptive method of triple exponential smoothing was applied and point and interval forecasts for the next four periods were obtained. In all cases, the selected predictive models demonstrated satisfactory predictive ability and satisfied the adequacy criteria.