Dietary behavior of dogs and cats

All pet food manufacturers claim their diets deliver exceptional palatability, but many companies offer limited support for that claim. Palatability is complex. Expertise, innovation and leadership in pet food palatability require an in-depth understanding of pet physiology and behavior, expertise in diet formulation and manufacturing, as well as the development of innovative tools and research methodologies for measuring diet palatability. For veterinary therapeutic diets, palatability is essential. Pets are expected to eat veterinary diets exclusively and compliance is directly linked to palatability. Illness may reduce a pet’s appetite, while the therapeutic diet’s nutritional profile may make it inherently less palatable. Achieving exceptional palatability in diets which are restricted in protein, fat or sodium, or which contain protein hydrolysates (low molecular weight peptides which typically taste bitter), can be a significant challenge. Royal Canin has always been at the forefront of palatability research. Years of study have led to an advanced understanding of the three essential components of palatability: the pet (species and individual), the environment (owner, home, lifestyle) and the food (smell, shape, texture, taste, nutritional composition).