This invention is concerned with packaged food products which contain
specific combinations of functional additives aimed at addressing
specific health indicators, in particular flatulence, gastro-intestinal
health, stress and immune system responsiveness, in pet animals. There is
provided a commercially packaged mammal pet food product that includes a
manufactured, shelf-life stable food substrate and a combination of
functional additives. The functional additives include at least one
non-palatable plant-based remedy and/or dietary fiber source that are
present to strengthen and/or maintain a specified health indicator of a
mammal pet animal. The food product is portioned and packaged with the
functional additives being present in predetermined concentrations and
amounts sufficient to be effective in achieving said indications on
regular feeding of the pet animal with said food product. The food
substrate is present in a proportion sufficient to mask the flavor and/or
odor of the non-palatable additive and is made-up of a unique combination
of materials that are able to be processed at lower temperatures to
preserve the natural botanical functional additive's activity. Functional
additives intended to address dietary flatulence problems include a
combination of Yucca extract, charcoal and salts of zinc, such as zinc
acetate. Functional additives to promote or maintain gastro-intestinal
health include a combination of L-glutamine, D-glucosamine sulphate,
sugar beet pulp, slippery elm. Functional additives to strengthen or
maintain a pet animal's natural body defenses include a combination of
vitamin E, vitamin B complex, primrose oil vitamin C and Marigold meal.
Functional additives to promote or maintain reduction of stress and/or
improved behavior of a pet animal include a combination of Valerian root
extract, Kava root extract, vitamin B complex and magnesium salt.