Composition and method

Abstract

A companion pet diet meeting ordinary nutritional requirements of the pet and further comprising a sufficient amount of an antioxidant or mixture thereof to inhibit the onset of deterioration of the mental capacity of said companion pet in its aged years.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A companion pet diet meeting ordinary nutritional requirements for an adult pet and further comprising a sufficient amount of an antioxidant or mixture thereof, to inhibit the onset of deterioration of the mental capacity of said companion pet in aged years.  
     
     
         2 . The diet in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the pet is a canine.  
     
     
         3 . The diet in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the canine is 1 to 6 years.  
     
     
         4 . The diet in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the pet is a feline.  
     
     
         5 . The diet in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the feline is 1 to 6 years.  
     
     
         6 . The diet in accordance with  claim 1  wherein Vitamin E is present in at least about 100 ppm of the diet.  
     
     
         7 . The diet in accordance with  claim 6  wherein an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of Vitamin C, 1-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid or mixture thereof is present in the diet.  
     
     
         8 . The diet of  claim 1  wherein an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of Vitamin C, 1-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid or mixtures thereof is present in the diet.  
     
     
         9 . The diet of  claim 8  wherein at least about 50 ppm of Vitamin C are in the diet.  
     
     
         10 . The diet of  claim 8  wherein at least about 25 ppm of alpha-lipoic acid are in the diet.  
     
     
         11 . The diet of  claim 8  wherein at least about 50 ppm of 1-carnitine are present in the diet.  
     
     
         12 . A method for inhibiting the onset of deterioration of the mental capacity of an aged companion pet which comprises feeding said pet in its adult years a sufficient amount of an antioxidant or mixture thereof, to accomplish this inhibition.  
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the pet is a canine.  
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the canine is 1 to 6 years.  
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the pet is a feline.  
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the feline is at least 1 to 6 years.  
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 12  wherein Vitamin E is fed to the pet in at least about 100 ppm as measured by the diet.  
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of Vitamin C, 1-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid or mixture thereof is fed to the pet.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of Vitamin C, 1-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid or mixtures thereof is fed to the pet.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least about 50 ppm of Vitamin C are in the diet.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least about 25 ppm of alpha-lipoic acid are in the diet.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least about 50 ppm of 1-carnitine are present in the diet.  
     
     
         23 . A companion pet diet meeting ordinary nutritional requirements of an adult pet and further comprising at least about 100 ppm of Vitamin E, at least about 50 ppm of Vitamin C, at least about 25 ppm of alpha-lipoic acid and at least about 50 ppm of 1-carnitine in the diet.  
     
     
         24 . The diet in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the adult pet is a canine of 1 to 6 years.  
     
     
         25 . The diet in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the adult pet is a feline of 1 to 6 years.  
     
     
         26 . A method for increasing the mental capacity of an adult companion pet, which comprises feeding the pet an amount of an antioxidant or mixture thereof sufficient to increase the mental capacity of said pet.  
     
     
         27 . A companion pet diet meeting ordinary nutritional requirements of an adult pet and further comprising an amount of an antioxidant or mixture thereof sufficient to increase the mental capacity of said pet.