ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of knowledge on the levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in commercial pet foods and their potential role in health and disease in pet dogs and cats. Commercial pet foods and their ingredients are produced using processing techniques that favor the Maillard reaction and formation of AGEs. The pet food industry is a prime example and offers owners a plethora of nutritious products to support specific pet breeds and sizes, particular life stages, and disease predispositions, in various formats and packaging styles, and at different prices. Quantitative data on AGEs in pet foods are highly limited. Considerable variation is found in AGE contents of dry extruded and wet retorted pet foods. In particular, dry extruded pet foods can contain up to 60% digestible carbohydrates, which provides a glycemic load that can result in increased endogenous glycation of proteins and formation of AGEs.
