Large breed dogs are known to have poorer fecal quality and higher fecal moisture than small breed dogs when given the same diet. Previous work in our laboratory indicated that this difference would be due, at least in part, to a higher fermentative activity in the hindgut. High protein diets increase delivery of protein to the colon and might have deleterious effects through generation of bioactive or toxic products. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the effect of protein level as well as protein source on fecal quality and key fermentation products in dogs differing in body size. 24 female dogs of 5 breeds (miniature poodle, Jack Russel, standard schnauzer, giant schnauzer and German shepherd) were included in the study. Two diets were tested in a cross-over design. The main protein source of diet A was poultry and poultry by-products (ME=3750 kcal/kg, CP=35.2%, fat=16.0%, TDF=7.7%) and the one of diet B was wheat gluten (ME=3870 kcal/kg, CP=19.9%, fat=18.0%, TDF=9.0%). Fecal scores and fecal dry matter (DM) were measured for each diet. Fresh stools were collected and analyzed for short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), lactate, ammonia, phenols and indoles. Urine was collected and analyzed for indoles and phenols. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA followed by Fisher’s PLSD post hoc test. Fecal score and moisture were higher in dogs fed on diet A and larger dogs had softer stools than smaller ones. Fecal SCFA concentration tended to be higher for diet A with no difference found related to size. Diet A induced significantly higher BCFA fecal concentration (p<0.0001). Fecal lactate concentration was higher for diet A (p<0.0001). Unlike diet B, diet A elicited a different effect in large and small dogs (p<0.05) regarding fecal lactate which concentration was higher in larger dogs’ stools. Ammonia concentration in the stools was higher for large dogs (p<0.01) and for diet A (p<0.0001). Fecal indoles concentration was significantly lower (p<0.0001) for diet B while phenols tended to be higher for the same diet. Urinary phenol excretion differed with dogs body size (p<0.0001) and according with diet (p,0.0001) while urinary indole excretion was only affected by diet (p<0.0001). Urinary excretion of phenols (mmol/kg BW^0.75) was lower in giant schnauzers than in small breeds. Both urinary indoles and phenols were higher when dogs were fed on diet A. This study showed that a lower protein content in the diet ameliorates fecal quality. Large and small dogs although react in a different manner to this variation. Diets with higher protein concentration could be responsible for a higher quantity of undigested protein reaching the colon where protein fermentation could become significant enough to impact stool quality. A considerably higher concentration of protein fermentation products in the faeces would increase the quantity of water that would not be reabsorbed from the intestinal lumen. Dietary protein content and quality might thus be responsible for large dogs’ predisposition to produce faeces of poorer quality.

Influence of dietary protein content and source on colonic fermentation activity in dogs differing in body size

VENDA DA GRACA NERY, JOANA MARIA;
2007-01-01

Abstract

Large breed dogs are known to have poorer fecal quality and higher fecal moisture than small breed dogs when given the same diet. Previous work in our laboratory indicated that this difference would be due, at least in part, to a higher fermentative activity in the hindgut. High protein diets increase delivery of protein to the colon and might have deleterious effects through generation of bioactive or toxic products. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the effect of protein level as well as protein source on fecal quality and key fermentation products in dogs differing in body size. 24 female dogs of 5 breeds (miniature poodle, Jack Russel, standard schnauzer, giant schnauzer and German shepherd) were included in the study. Two diets were tested in a cross-over design. The main protein source of diet A was poultry and poultry by-products (ME=3750 kcal/kg, CP=35.2%, fat=16.0%, TDF=7.7%) and the one of diet B was wheat gluten (ME=3870 kcal/kg, CP=19.9%, fat=18.0%, TDF=9.0%). Fecal scores and fecal dry matter (DM) were measured for each diet. Fresh stools were collected and analyzed for short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), lactate, ammonia, phenols and indoles. Urine was collected and analyzed for indoles and phenols. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA followed by Fisher’s PLSD post hoc test. Fecal score and moisture were higher in dogs fed on diet A and larger dogs had softer stools than smaller ones. Fecal SCFA concentration tended to be higher for diet A with no difference found related to size. Diet A induced significantly higher BCFA fecal concentration (p<0.0001). Fecal lactate concentration was higher for diet A (p<0.0001). Unlike diet B, diet A elicited a different effect in large and small dogs (p<0.05) regarding fecal lactate which concentration was higher in larger dogs’ stools. Ammonia concentration in the stools was higher for large dogs (p<0.01) and for diet A (p<0.0001). Fecal indoles concentration was significantly lower (p<0.0001) for diet B while phenols tended to be higher for the same diet. Urinary phenol excretion differed with dogs body size (p<0.0001) and according with diet (p,0.0001) while urinary indole excretion was only affected by diet (p<0.0001). Urinary excretion of phenols (mmol/kg BW^0.75) was lower in giant schnauzers than in small breeds. Both urinary indoles and phenols were higher when dogs were fed on diet A. This study showed that a lower protein content in the diet ameliorates fecal quality. Large and small dogs although react in a different manner to this variation. Diets with higher protein concentration could be responsible for a higher quantity of undigested protein reaching the colon where protein fermentation could become significant enough to impact stool quality. A considerably higher concentration of protein fermentation products in the faeces would increase the quantity of water that would not be reabsorbed from the intestinal lumen. Dietary protein content and quality might thus be responsible for large dogs’ predisposition to produce faeces of poorer quality.
2007
25th Annual ACVIM Forum
Seattle (WA, USA)
6-9 giugno 2007
21 (3)
657
657
Protein; dog; fermentation; fecal quality
Nery J; Tournier C; Biourge V; Dumon H; Nguyen P
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/56724
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