Technologies utilizing MCT oil for canine health

Companion animals are integral and important members of our families. Purina believes pets and people are better together and are committed to improving the health and quality of life of dogs and cats through nutrition. Purina has completed several studies showing health benefits of feeding MCT oil, sometimes in conjunction with other nutrients, on improving the quality of life of dogs. In one study, senior dogs were randomized into two groups based on initial age, gender and baseline cognitive scores and fed either a control diet or MCT diet. MCT fed dogs performed significantly better (p less than 0.05) than control fed dogs on spatial memory and discrimination tests as well as memory, concept learning and attention tests, had better executive function test scores (p= 0.0007), and performed better as cognitive task difficulty increased when compared to control fed dogs. In another study, dogs diagnosed with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) received a control, medium MCT (+other nutrients), or a high MCT (+other nutrients) diet for 90 days. All categories of the CDS screening were significantly improved (p less than 0.05 , Fisher least significant difference test) in the dogs fed the medium MCT diet (+other nutrients) diet at the end of the study. An additional study monitored length of activity in senior dogs while consuming a control diet and an MCT diet. Both average daily activity and average daytime activity was increased when dogs consumed the MCT diet (p less than 0.0001 and p=0.0005, respectively). The beneficial effects of MCT were also assessed in a clinical trial where client owned dogs diagnosed with intractable idiopathic epilepsy managed with antiepileptic drugs were fed a control diet and a MCT diet in a crossover design. After 3 months consuming the MCT diet, seizure frequency was reduced in comparison with the control diet.