Wellbeing at Waltham®
If you’ve read or learned anything significant regarding pet care in the last 45 years, chances are it came from the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition.
Widely regarded as the world’s pre-eminent authority on pet care, pet science and pet nutrition, Waltham is a state-of the-art research facility nestled deep in the heart of the picturesque English countryside.
At Waltham, a collaborative approach is key. Working closely with the world’s leading science institutes, Waltham’s vast team of scientists, nutritionists, vets, pet carers and researchers works together to advance pet science through the ongoing research and development of all the Mars pet care brands. The OPTIMUM® brand is one of these.
Visit the Waltham website at www.waltham.com
Helping pets live long, happy and healthy lives
The Waltham team takes an innovative approach towards researching domestic animals: hundreds of dogs, cats and birds are happily at home in the spacious pet accommodation centre.
Treated to daily physical and mental stimulation and lots of loving care, the animals at Waltham are relaxed and happy. This lays the foundation for vital research, allowing Waltham scientists to understand pets in a true domestic environment. Through the Mars brands, this research is passed onto pet owners and benefits millions of animals the world over.
Waltham continues its research programmes at the Centre for Pet Nutrition and worldwide through The Waltham Foundation, which awards grants to scientists and vets so they can fund innovative research projects to ultimately benefit companion animals.
Visit Waltham and discover an entirely different approach to pet nutrition.
The Waltham Foundation Proudly partnering the world’s leading researchers
The Waltham Foundation creates partnerships with leading global research institutions to further humane scientific research into the nutrition, health and quality of life for companion animals.
This special programme provides scientists and veterinarians with grants of up to US$15,000 to fund innovative scientific projects that will benefit companion animals world wide.
Formed in 2001, the Waltham Foundation has received more than 500 research proposals, funded research projects in 20 countries and donated more than $500,000 towards research. This has resulted in internationally recognised presentations and peer-reviewed publications, all reflective of the high calibre of research projects Waltham supports.
Most importantly, The Waltham Foundation chooses its research candidates according to a strict code of ethics: research must not inflict suffering or result in the euthanasia of the animals involved and clinical studies must have owner consent. Over the next few years, The Waltham Foundation looks forward to many important breakthroughs in pet nutrition and science.
Waltham® International Nutritional Sciences Symposium
In 2005, Waltham joined forces with the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine at University of California, Davis and Cornell University to host one of the most internationally regarded scientific meetings in the veterinary and nutrition research.
At the Symposium, presentations on the nutritional evolution of cats and dogs, their feeding behaviour and specific nutritional needs (such as a higher protein for cats) were heard. Another major theme was animal obesity and how it mimicked the human trend whilst other research covered a wide range of subjects including dietary ingredients to increase intelligence, decrease arthritic pain, and how extra protein might help curb obesity and extend the lifespan of diabetic cats.
In keeping with the Waltham philosophy on pet care, there were also presentations on Advocacy in Veterinary Medicine, which highlighted how vets can be involved in the legislative process helping to protect pets.
The Waltham International Nutritional Sciences Symposium unifies years of research by the world’s leading pet nutrition bodies.
Groundbreaking research for almost half a century
Over the years, Waltham’s extended team of scientists and researchers, in collaboration with their global partners have pioneered many groundbreaking studies into pet health and nutrition. Every study has adhered to the Waltham principles of ethical research, ensuring pets are cared for first and foremost.
| 1963 |
first scientific paper published by Waltham, on the iodine requirements of budgerigars |
| 1975 |
determined the amino acid requirements of adult dogs
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| 1982 |
defined healthy Taurine levels in cats |
| 1995 |
developed the first diet to help control the formation of bladder stones in cats |
| 1996 |
published about the influence of diet on FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) |
| 1997 |
determined the importance of linoleic acid for cat and dog skin and coat health
determined the impact of inulin and sugar beet pulp on dog health |
| 1998 |
developed the first nutritional supplement to help reduce odour-causing flatulence in dogs and to reduce it |
| 1999 |
developed the only dog food supported by research that uses green lipped mussels to maintain joint health |
| 2000 |
demonstrated the effects of dietary antioxidants on puppy and kitten immune systems |
| 2002 |
the first scientifically proven respiratory support formula for horses was launched |
| 2003 |
determined the ideal macro-nutrient profile (MNP® ) for cats |
| 2005
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developed the world’s first Lactobacillus probiotic scientifically proven to increase good bacteria and decrease harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of cats and dogs. This is especially important for sensitive pets or during a period of stress. |
| 2006 |
determined the ideal macro-nutrient profile (MNP® ) for dogs |
