Pet food ingredient manufacturer Darling Ingredients is teaming up with bioengineering firm Intrexon to mass produce sustainable nutrients derived from black soldier fly larvae.

The venture, known as EnviroFlight, will involve the construction of a new production facility designed to convert black fly larvae into protein and other nutrients for pet food and other applications. The facility, for which construction began last month, is expected to be operational by early 2018.

The use of insect-derived nutrients as a food ingredient has become a recurring subject for pet food manufacturers seeking to improve sustainability. Advances in research have made less conventional nutrient sources — such as insects and aquatic plants — increasingly viable ways to meet the demands of both animals and humans.

“Leveraging more than eight years of applied research and development, the new facility will employ our industrial BSF platform and opens the door to a sustainable source of high quality nutrients for the aquaculture, livestock and specialty pet feed industries.”

— Glen Courtright, President and Founder, EnviroFlight

Despite advances in the science, many of these alternative nutrient sources still face hurdles before they are ready for market. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a group that helps to inform and shape policy, recently indicated that definitions for insect-based ingredients would need to be established before they should be deemed acceptable. So far, black soldier fly larvae are the only insect to have been defined in this way.

Source: Facility to make insect-based novel pet food ingredient

A new study of mental health professionals may pave the way for clearer guidelines for certifying emotional support animals (ESAs).

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri, explored the ways mental health professionals make determinations about the certification of ESAs. By understanding how and through what processes mental health professionals make their assessments, researchers hope to provide clearer recommendations in the future.

Unlike service animals, a term which has been recognized and defined under federal law, ESAs exist in a fuzzy legal space. Service animals must undergo rigorous training and certification processes to ensure their suitability for the tasks they perform as well as the environments in which they perform them. ESAs, however, require no particular training to obtain the “emotional support animal” title. Many of the protections granted to service animals and those who use them, including the right to enter many establishments, are not extended to ESAs under federal law. State and local laws vary from location to location, resulting in confusion among those with ESAs and those asked to accommodate them.

“ESAs are legally different from service animals, such as guide dogs. An ESA usually provides companionship, relieves loneliness and sometimes helps with anxiety or depression. Although emotional support animals can be pets, they’re not considered pets under the law and sometimes special accommodations must be afforded to individuals who have ESAs. Because of this requirement, owners seek out ways to get their pets certified without thinking about the ramifications of their actions.”

— Cassie Boness, Graduate Student, Clinical Psychology, Missouri University

The confusion among the general public about ESAs and service animals has led to numerous instances where ESAs with inadequate training have been placed in situations inappropriate for them and those around them. By providing greater clarity about ESAs and the guidelines for their use, the authors of the study hope to facilitate the development of better legislation in the future.

Source: Study reveals recommendations for certifying emotional support animals

The FDA has issued an alert for pet owners and veterinarians about the risk of possible accidental overdose of noise aversion drug Sileo.

According to the statement, accidental overdose can occur if the drug, which uses a dial-controlled dosing mechanism, is administered without locking the dosing ring stop.

To date, the FDA has received 28 reports involving Sileo overdoses in dogs due to the ring-stop mechanism not properly locking at the intended dose. In some cases, the entire contents of the dosing syringe were administered to the dog. In 15 out of the 28 reports, dogs experienced clinical signs of overdose, including lethargy, sedation, sleepiness, slow heart rate, loss of consciousness, shallow or slow breathing, trouble breathing, impaired balance or incoordination, low blood pressure, and muscle tremors. No deaths have been reported. At this time, the FDA has not determined if these overdoses were due to improper use of the ring-stop.

— Statement from the Federal Food and Drug Administration

Sileo’s administration package features a dosage control ring stop mechanism. Accidental overdose can occur if the drug is administered while the ring stop is unlocked. (Photo courtesy Zoetis)

Sileo was initially released by Zoetis in 2016 as a treatment for noise aversion in dogs. Noise aversion, or noise phobia, is a form of anxiety that accompanies a fear response to certain sounds. With over one third of dogs reported to be affected, it is a common, widespread problem for both dogs and their owners. Left untreated, noise aversion can result in stress, increased frequency and severity of episodes, and the development of undesirable behaviors, including escape.

Treatment for noise aversion has historically involved forms of behavior modification therapy, including counter-conditioning and desensitization therapy. The development of Sileo by Zoetis represents a major breakthrough in the treatment for noise aversion in dogs. To date, Sileo remains the only drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of canine noise aversion.

Both the FDA and Zoetis encourage pet owners and veterinarians to be aware of the possibility of accidental overdose and to review administration instructions thoroughly before use.

Source: FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about risk of accidental overdosing of dogs with the drug Sileo (dexmedetomidine oromucosal gel)

With the population of both humans and animals continuing to grow, demand for food continues to grow as well. With limited resources needed to produce food, scientists are always searching for new ways to improve efficiency and output. As consumers and pet food manufacturers alike seek out ways to improve sustainability, long known but rarely used plant-based proteins may become a more popular option in the near future.

Speaking at the recent Petfood Forum 2017, Dr. Fred van de Velde, Expertise Group Leader in Protein Functionality for Food Research Firm NIZO, expressed his opinion that plant-based proteins may offer a sustainable solution to the increased demand for protein used in pet foods. While plant-based proteins can be found in many foods humans and animals already eat — such as peas, soybeans, corn, and wheat — van de Velde suggested that these plants may see in increase in popularity in response to the demand for sustainable protein. In addition to existing sources, van de Velde indicated that advancements in crop production and protein extraction approaches may soon allow chickpeas, lentils, fava beans, rapeseed, and other vegetables to be sustainably used as sources of protein.

Further into the future, advances may open up even more exotic sources of protein. Scientists have shown particular interest in harvesting algae, duckweed, and other aquatic plants for their protein. Because these plants grow in water, they wouldn’t compete with land-based crops for space. By taking advantage of what has largely been unused space, scientists hope these plants will allow for much larger quantities of protein to be produced in the future.

Source: Infographic: The future of plant-based pet food proteins