Debora Nelson explains the science behind palatable oral dosage medication in the companion animal marketplace
The ease of administering oral medication to companion animals is a major aspect of owner compliance and has a significant impact on an animal’s health. The willingness of an animal to voluntarily ingest medicine is dependent upon the palatability, texture, size, shape and colour of the product.
In other words, when an owner places the medicine in a feeding bowl or in an outstretched hand, the pet willingly and by free choice accepts and consumes the medication. Palatability is the primary factor and is determined by the smell, taste and feeling of the medicine in the mouth (referred to as “good mouth feel”). Palatability is achieved by adding a palatant or flavouring to a formulation, like a chewable tablet or soft chew during the manufacturing process. Pharmaceutical companies have realised that when medication is ‘palatable’ there is an increase in compliance and an increase in treatment success.
Most oral medications have a bitter taste and/or an offensive aroma to animals, which makes medicating pets difficult.
Animal owners usually administer oral medication via one of three ways: the ‘poke down’ method, injection, or liquid drops added to food or given orally. These methods are highly challenging for owners, especially if medicine is needed to be given on an empty stomach or long-term medication is required.
In the human world, pharmaceutical companies knew that adding certain flavours to medicines could greatly increase a child’s willingness to accept medication. They finally realised that what worked in children could work for pets. A growing trend emerged to develop and manufacture medication that was palatable to animals.
Those medications are most commonly flavoured with natural or artificial meat flavours. For dogs that includes animal proteins such as meat, liver and yeast flavours. Cats like meat, fish, liver, dairy and yeast. The challenge for any formulation is to choose the most appropriate palatant to work together with the active ingredient as well as any excipients.
PF Inc. (Pet Flavors, Inc.) was on the ground floor of this movement. The company noted that acceptance of medication was determined not only by the animals, but also by the pet owners. Using taste-making and odour-masking technology, PF Inc. developed flavour bases that enhance the aroma and appearance of any medication.
Contributing to compliance are factors that impact pets, such as palatability, size, shape and texture (‘good’ mouth feel) plus the mode of administration. In addition, human compliance increases when the medication is easy to administer, has a pleasing colour/smell, and doesn’t have to be given often.
Palatability can be measured by how frequently medicine is voluntarily consumed and the speed at which it is consumed. PF Inc has completed studies with over 300 canine palatable products and over 50 feline palatable products using its flavour bases. Overall product palatability for PF Inc flavour bases ranges from 95.0% to 99.9% free choice acceptance for dogs and 90.0% to 99.9% free choice acceptance for cats.
With increasing rates of pet ownership, longer life expectancy for companion animals and advances in animal health, there is a growing demand for highly palatable oral animal medicine. These oral formulations offer easy and convenient dosing and improve compliance, thereby directly influencing the health and wellbeing of today’s pets.
For more information at www.scientistlive.com/eurolab
Debora Nelson is QA/QC manager at Pet Flavors, Inc.
