	US 12,419,330 B2
	Pet food compositions including probiotics and methods of manufacture and use thereof
Pavinee Chinachoti, Songkhla (TH); Kathy Gross, Topeka, KS (US); Christina Khoo, Duxbury, MA (US); and Luis Montelongo, Lawrence, KS (US)
Assigned to Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Overland Park, KS (US)
Filed by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, KS (US)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/993,310.
Application 17/993,310 is a division of application No. 16/949,235, filed on Oct. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,510,424.
Application 16/949,235 is a division of application No. 16/247,629, filed on Jan. 15, 2019, granted, now 10,849,338, issued on Dec. 1, 2020.
Application 16/247,629 is a division of application No. 13/516,302, granted, now 10,212,954, issued on Feb. 26, 2019, previously published as PCT/US2009/068695, filed on Dec. 18, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2023/0087507 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. A23K 50/42 (2016.01); A23K 10/18 (2016.01); A23K 40/20 (2016.01); A23K 40/25 (2016.01)

CPC A23K 50/42 (2016.05) [A23K 10/18 (2016.05); A23K 40/20 (2016.05); A23K 40/25 (2016.05); A23V 2002/00 (2013.01)]

12 Claims

1. A method for maintaining the health of skin and/or the coat of a companion animal comprising administering an effective amount of a pet food composition comprising a starch source, a binding agent, ingredients to meet the nutritional requirements for the companion animal, and a topical coating consisting of a live probiotic microorganism and one or more of soybean oil, fish oil, or combinations thereof,

wherein the starch source has a degree of gelatinization less than about 7.5 Joules/g of starch,

wherein the live probiotic microorganism is of the genus Lactobaccillus

wherein the pet food composition is in the form of semi-moist pellets, and

wherein the pet food composition is cooked without heating to a temperature of 60° C. or greater.