Studied Benefits in Pet Food
Studies have evaluated the inclusion of clinoptilolite in dog and cat diets
Odor Control
Lower fecal odor in sensory evaluation, in dogs (Maia et al., 2010) and cats (Roque et al., 2011)
Fecal Firmness and Consistency
Firmer feces in dogs (Maia et al., 2010) and better fecal texture in cats (Roque et al., 2011)
Digestibility
No impairment of digestibility at the doses studied in dogs and cats (Maia et al., 2010; Roque et al., 2011)
Safety
Stable, non-toxic structure according to an in vivo safety review (Kraljević Pavelić et al., 2018)
Acceptance and Minerals
With up to 1% clinoptilolite, feed acceptance did not change in dogs and mineral absorption did not change in cats (Santos et al., 2011; 2013)
Pet Food Applications
Specific solutions for each animal nutrition segment
Premium Dog Food
Inclusion of 0.5–2.5% in super-premium and premium diets for adult, puppy and senior dogs. The high CEC (150–200 meq/100 g) captures ammonium in the digestive tract; in dogs, 0.75–1.0% increased fecal consistency and reduced fecal odor without impairing digestibility (Maia et al., 2010).
Premium Cat Food
Addition of 0.5–2.0% to diets for adult cats and kittens. The microporous structure (4–7 Å) captures ammonium by cation exchange; in cats, 0.5–0.75% improved fecal texture and reduced fecal odor (Roque et al., 2011).
Nutritional Supplements
Use in pet supplements as an adsorbent of ammonia and toxins in the digestive tract. The formulation and dose should be defined by a qualified professional.
* Reference doses. They may be reviewed by qualified professionals, such as veterinarians, agronomists, animal scientists, chemists and food engineers, among others, since professional titles and qualifications vary between countries; local regulatory bodies may also set their own limits.
Technical Specifications for Pet Food
| Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) | 150-200 meq/100g |
| Mechanism of Action | Ammonia adsorption in the digestive tract (fecal odor control) + cation exchange |
| Surface Area | 43-47 m²/g (BET) |
| Pore Size | 4-7 Å (molecular selectivity) |
| Recommended Particle Size | < 200 mesh (75 μm) |
| Dog Dosage | 0.5-2.5% of formulation* |
| Cat Dosage | 0.5-2.0% of formulation* |
| Palatability | Unaffected at the doses studied |
* Reference doses. They may be reviewed by qualified professionals, such as veterinarians, agronomists, animal scientists, chemists and food engineers, among others, since professional titles and qualifications vary between countries; local regulatory bodies may also set their own limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
* Reference doses. They may be reviewed by qualified professionals, such as veterinarians, agronomists, animal scientists, chemists and food engineers, among others, since professional titles and qualifications vary between countries; local regulatory bodies may also set their own limits.