METHODS OF ENHANCING IMMUNITY IN A COMPANION ANIMAL
Disclosed herein are methods for enhancing the immune response of a companion animal, comprising administering to a companion animal a composition comprising an effective amount of astaxanthin.
1 . A method of enhancing the immune response of a companion animal comprising administering to the companion animal a composition comprising an effective amount of astaxanthin.
2 . The method of 1 comprising administering to the companion animal from about 0.001 mg to about 40 mg, daily, of astaxanthin to the companion animal.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the immune response is a cell-mediated immune response.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the immune response is a humoral immune response.
5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the companion animal is a domestic dog.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein from about 1 mg to about 40 mg, daily, of astaxanthin is administered to the domestic dog.
7 . The method of claim 2 wherein the companion animal is a domestic cat.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein from about 0.001 mg to about 10 mg, daily, of astaxanthin is administered to the domestic cat.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the astaxanthin is associated with high density lipoprotein.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of astaxanthin administered is sufficient to result in astaxanthin being absorbed by the leukocytes of the animal.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of astaxanthin administered is sufficient to result in an increase in in vivo production of IgG and IgM.