FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Mars Petcare’s own research institute for pet health, nutrition and wellness has taken on a new name, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, to reflect its growing impact. For example, the institute’s latest solution uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats up to two years faster than previous diagnostic methods.

Founded in 1973 as the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, the institute studies the effects of companion animal microbiomes, potential biomarkers for disease and health, pet food palatability and other areas of pet health and nutrition.

The institute’s access to data from other research centers, pet hospitals and veterinary professionals, diagnostic platforms and nutrition experts helps it develop “more tailored, efficient interventions and understand how a pets’ microbiome impacts their overall health,” the Waltham Petcare Science Institute stated.

Waltham has published more than 900 peer-reviewed journal articles and conducted numerous studies into several pet nutrition and health topics, including amino acid requirements for dog foods, optimal taurine levels for cat foods, and enhancing skin and coat health in dogs by fine-tuning the nutrients in their diets.

The Waltham Petcare Science Institute concluded that, going forward, it will continue to leverage its data and industry connections “to ask — and answer — some of the most challenging questions to support happy healthy pets.”

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