The WALTHAM® Centre is an undisputedly the Worlds leading authority on pet care and nutrition, and for several

decades now it has been conducting advanced and breakthrough scientific research in this field. The results

of  the research  are published in  many prestigious  scientific magazines, and many  are protected  by

international patents. Unique characteristic of the  WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition consists in the

approach  to the animals  they work  with. Strict rules of  non-invasive  research and  consciously

friendly  attitude are a  result of the concern  for  WALTHAM®  pets’ health and the intention  to

improve  their living conditions. The WALTHAM® Centre employs a vast number of specialists,

such  as  veterinarians,  nutritionists,  research  scientists,  biochemists,  physicists,  animal

behaviour  specialists,  IT specialists  and  breeders.  Over  600  specialists  from  around

the  world  cooperate with  WALTHAM®.  Because they  are so proud of  the facility  and

their achievements, as a unique institution in the world, the  WALTHAM®  Centre is also

open to visitors.

Small animal nutrition research

   The knowledge related to pet nutrition is based on the research experience of the past few decades. At the beginning, scientists concentrated mainly on understanding the basic metabolic needs and nutrient requirements to prevent deficiencies or over-nutrition and toxicity. However, since the 1980’s, the research has been focused on the nutritional requirements of animals relating to their lifestage or lifestyle. Now, our goal is to search for ‘functional foods’ that not only contribute to maintaining health, but also can protects against diseases, and may even have impact on prolonging the life expectancy.

WALTHAM® way of pet care

   At the WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition, the research encompasses behaviour and the needs of such animals as dogs, cats, birds, fish and horses. While exploring the nature of animals, the most natural living conditions are created for them. Dogs have their own pens and play areas, birds - open space zones, computer simulated lighting and seasons of the year systems. While the animals carry on natural, carefree lives, their caregivers observe them, collecting valuable scientific data all the time.

Scientists about WALTHAM®

   Many scientists representing well known university centres from around the world have been working with WALTHAM® for years, conducting research in the field of animal nutrition. Their involvement in various projects has resulted in breakthrough discoveries in the field of pet nutrition. Among the greatest scientific achievements of the WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition are:

• the discovery of the role of dietary phosphorus reduction in prolonging life of animals with kidney disease,
• establishing the dietary taurine requirement for cats, as well as protein requirements of mature and senior cats,
• the discovery of the importance of antioxidants in the immune system function and prevention of DNA damage,
• as well as the impact of chewing on the reduction of occurrences of dental plaque and gingivitis.