8A- Solving the Problem

Touched on in my previous post, there are several dog owners, veterinarians, and pet store owners/managers who interact with underweight dogs. Puppies and adult dogs can become underweight due to several factors, for example, insufficient diet, issues with nutrient retention, or they get too distracted to eat the same boring food everyday. Additionally, as dogs age, they begin to loose their sense of taste and appetite, making it difficult to assure older dogs are getting a proper nutrient-dense diet. All dogs, both young and old, with an insufficient weight/diet need an easy way to get the canines excited to eat, proposing an evident opportunity to exploit.

My solution for this problem is to formulate a sauce/condiment for dog food, both wet or dry, that supplies necessary vitamins and minerals for our four legged friends. Instead of acting as a pet food replacement, the product would act as a supplement. Ideally, the formula of the sauce would be made of all organic and naturally found ingredients, so it most likely would have to be refrigerated after opening. Flavors could be sweet, like peanut butter and banana, or savory, like ground beef with parmesan. This product would ideally be available for purchase in pet stores, form the vet, or online in order to make eating more exciting for any dog.

What inspired me for this idea was my own dog, Mable. She is a one year old labradoodle who gets extremely fluffy. Back in November, I took her to get her first shave and when I picked her up she looked so skinny and unhealthy. I realized that the fluff was hiding how skinny she was; you could see every rib in her body. She never has been denied access to food, but always has been a picky eater. Since then, I have tried several ways for her to gain an appetite. I tried mixing her dry food with wet food, adding gravy to her food, and even cooking fresh veggies and protein for her. Since then, we have gotten a handle on her weight and I found she prefers that her food flavors are mixed up from time to time, but I really wish this product was on the market when I needed it.