Until fairly recently, companion bird owners were offered a very limited choice in the food they fed their pets.  The only formulas available were seed mixes and birds were generally fed that.

Mark L. Morris DVM was the founder of Raritan Animal Hospital, which was only the second small animal hospital throughout the whole United States.  He discovered in 1928, that cats and dogs that were sick could benefit from a change in their diet.  What these changes were would depend upon what type of sickness the animal had.

It was here that Dr. Morris began the development of the “Prescription Diet.”  There were specific formulas for certain conditions and diseases to be fed to cats and dogs.  This tradition of animal nutrition continued with his son Mark Morris, Jr.  It was when he received a call from a director of a local zoo that he began the research that led to a line of food that could be fed to exotic animals and birds.  The tradition of quality and research goes on today with the third generation led by David Morris whose father is Mark Morris, Jr.

Dr. Mark L. Morris, Jr. was born on February 3rd 1934 and died on January 14th 2007 at his home in Topeka, Kansas at the age of 73. He was educated at Cornell University, and at the University of Wisconsin where he studied veterinary pathology and biochemistry.  He was co-author of the renowned book “Small Animal Clinical Nutrition.”  He followed in his father’s footsteps to develop nutritional needs not only for cats and dogs, but for captive exotic animals in zoos and captive exotics in the pet trade as well.  It is because of them that our pets are able to live longer and healthier lives.

Dr Mark Morris’ son David is now president of Premium Nutritional Products Inc which owns the ZuPreem line of diets for both exotic pets and zoo animals.

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