Mars Petcare Launches Digital "Pet Health Pal" To Support Pet Health And Wellness

New Online Platform Helps Pet Owners Navigate the Stressful Pandemic Environment

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May 21, 2020, 11:34 ET

FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars Petcare and the Waltham Petcare Science Institute have partnered to bring pet owners the "Pet Health Pal," a new, free digital education tool powered by the Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp chat bot functionality. Pet Health Pal, which launches in the U.S. and U.K. today with the PEDIGREE®, IAMS™ and WHISKAS® brands, will provide useful information related to pet health and ownership, backed by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. The new platform is the latest way Mars Petcare is furthering its purpose of A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS™, by building a resource to support responsible pet ownership during this time.

"Pet owners are especially concerned about keeping their pets happy and healthy right now, but it is difficult to keep up with the rapidly changing landscape," said Dr. Rena Crumplen, Global Vice President of Research and Development at Mars Petcare. "The Pet Health Pal is our way of helping to ease pet owners' minds with simple, credible information, so they can give their pets the best care possible."

Pet Health Pal is the first resource of its kind and is designed to help dog and cat owners navigate their concerns about their pet's health and well-being, specifically in today's COVID-19 environment. Specific topics featured in Pet Health Pal include COVID-19 and pets, nutrition, health, exercise and pet happiness.

Mars Petcare collaborated closely with the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, the research and development center, to ensure Pet Health Pal is equipped with the latest information, in accordance with government-issued guidelines and credible pet wellness experts. The Waltham Petcare Science Institute has been advancing research in nutrition and pet wellness for more than 50 years and supports research in partnership with organizations around the world to understand how the human relationship with pets can help both pets and owners live healthy, happy lives together.

To access Pet Health Pal, please visit https://www.messenger.com/t/walthamscience.

About Mars Petcare
Part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, the 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries in Mars Petcare are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets – including brands PEDIGREE^®, WHISKAS^®, ROYAL CANIN^®, NUTRO™, GREENIES™, SHEBA^®, CESAR^®, IAMS™ and EUKANUBA™ as well as the Waltham Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of over 2,000 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™, Linnaeus, AniCura and Antech. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL™ genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE™ GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in – and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

About Waltham Petcare Science Institute
The Waltham Petcare Science Institute is a leading scientific authority in pet nutrition and wellbeing and has been advancing the frontiers of scientific research into the nutrition and health of companion animals for nearly 50 years. Located in Leicestershire, England, the renowned state-of-the-art science institute focuses on the nutritional and behavioural needs of pets and their benefits to humans, enabling the development of innovative products which meet these needs in a practical way. Waltham has pioneered many important breakthroughs in pet nutrition, and in collaboration with the world's foremost scientific institutes, supports leading Mars brands such as WHISKAS®, PEDIGREE®, CESAR®, SHEBA®, AQUARIAN and the ROYAL CANIN® brand.

Contacts:
Shay Begani
Mars Petcare
615-268-4378
[email protected]

Samantha Barron
Weber Shandwick
(312) 988-2477
[email protected]

SOURCE Mars Petcare