Development and Evaluation of a Dog Biscuit with Carotenoid as an Antioxidant

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a shelf-stable, nutritious, and healthy dog treat that is unique, profitable, provides some benefit to the dog, and is highly marketable. For this study, three different carotenoids were added individually to the same dog treat recipe. The carotenoids used were lycopene, lutein with 5% zeaxanthin, and natural carotene which contains both α-carotene and ?;-carotene. An accelerated 6-week shelf-life study was completed by placing 20 dog treats into a sealed poly bag that was stored at 35C. Proximate analysis was completed to calculate moisture, lipid, protein, and ash content on week 0 only. Color analysis, water activity, and antioxidant concentration were measured on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. An in-home pet preference test was completed by testing the three biscuits that have the added antioxidants against a similar product without carotenoids that was already on the market. The results from water activity show that the biscuits with antioxidants had less variability over time. Color scores varied more for the top of the biscuits than for the bottoms. The preference test showed that no biscuit was preferred more than the other statistically. The carotene and lycopene biscuits had similar levels of antioxidant present and the control and lutein biscuits had similar levels of antioxidant present during the lycopene assay. In conclusion, though the biscuit that was created was well liked by the pets and their owners and the antioxidant did help with water activity, it may not be worth the added costs to include these carotenoids at these levels in a dog biscuit.