Disclosed herein are pet food compositions for treating or preventing inflammation or an inflammatory disorder in an animal comprising an effective amount of at least one medium chain triglyceride and an effective amount of at least one omega-3 fatty acid, wherein the at least one medium chain triglyceride and the at least one omega-3 fatty acid are present in an amount effect to a provide a synergistic decrease in the amount of circulating cytokines in the companion animal. Also disclosed herein are methods for treating or preventing inflammation or an inflammatory disorder in a companion animal, comprising administering the pet food compositions disclosed herein to the companion animal in need thereof.