Patent ID: 8114454

Claim:
A method of producing a dimensionally stable low carbohydrate pet food, the method comprising: providing a pet food composition having a low carbohydrate content based on nitrogen free extract of less than about 19 wt % on a dry basis; feeding the pet food composition through an extruder equipped at an outlet end with an increased shear die assembly, wherein said increased shear die assembly includes a first spacer plate attached on one side to said extruder and on another side to a Venturi plate, a second spacer plate attached to said Venturi plate along a side opposite said first spacer plate, and a die plate including orifices for shaping said pet food, wherein said Venturi plate includes a single through hole; advancing the pet food composition through the die assembly at increased shear, wherein the pet food composition is advanced through the die assembly at a rate of about 12 to about 20 inches/second at a temperature of about 240 to about 320 degrees Fahrenheit; and cutting the extruded pet food composition to the desired size whereby upon drying the composition a low carbohydrate dimensionally stable pet food product is obtained.