Methods for improving an animal's quality of life, for enhancing an animal's quality of life, for treating an animal suffering from a disorder or disease, for measuring the increase in an animal's quality of life, and for identifying an animal that may benefit from feeding with a feed composition, and, kit.
Methods for enhancing the quality of life of a senior or super senior animal by feeding the animal a composition comprising at least one omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and various combinations of amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants in amounts effective to enhance alertness, improve vitality, protect cartilage, maintain muscle mass, enhance digestibility, and improve skin and pelage quality. Changes in expression of genes associated with several biological pathways induced in an animal by feeding it said composition are consistent with an enhanced quality of life.