Large breed dogs have frequently poorer fecal quality than smaller ones when given the same diet. Previous work indicated that this difference would be due, at least in part, to differences in fermentation and a higher osmolality in the hindgut chyme of large dogs. As we hypothesized that diet formulation could alter these differences, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of protein source and level on digestibility, fecal quality and osmolality in dogs differing in body size. 24 female dogs (2.75 to 32.10 kg BW) were used. Two diets were tested in a cross-over design. The main protein source of diet A was poultry and poultry by-products (ME=15.7 MJ/kg, CP=35.2%, fat=16.0%, TDF=7.7%, Na=3.45 and K=5.17mg/g DM) and the one of diet B was wheat gluten (ME=16.2 MJ/kg, CP=19.9%, fat=18.0%, TDF=9.0%, Ca=3.85 and K=8.67mg/g DM). Fecal scores and DM, energy, fat, CP, ash, Na and K apparent digestibility coefcient (ADC) were determined. Fresh stools were analyzed for fecal osmolality. Data was statistically analyzed using ANOVA. Fecal score and moisture were higher in dogs fed on diet A and larger dogs had softer stools than smaller ones. ADC of DM, energy, fat, CP and ash was consistently higher for diet B. Differences among dogs’ size were found to be higher for DM (p≤0.0001), energy (p≤0.001), CP (p≤0.001) and ash (p≤0.05) considering diet B. ADC of Na did not vary with dogs’ size nor with diet while ADC of K varied both with dogs’ size (p≤0.05) and diet (p≤0.0001), being higher for diet B. Osmolality was consistently higher for diet A (p≤0.0001) with differences also found between dogs’ size (p≤0.05). This study showed that lower ADC of K and higher fecal osmolality would stimulate a lower water absorption in the hindgut promoting softer stools. A lower content and higher ADC of protein in the diet ameliorated fecal quality. Decreasing protein content in the diet and increasing its ADC would thus improve large dogs’ feces quality.
Influence of dietary protein content and source on digestibility patterns and fecal osmolality in dogs differing in body size
VENDA DA GRACA NERY, JOANA MARIA;
2007-01-01
Abstract
Large breed dogs have frequently poorer fecal quality than smaller ones when given the same diet. Previous work indicated that this difference would be due, at least in part, to differences in fermentation and a higher osmolality in the hindgut chyme of large dogs. As we hypothesized that diet formulation could alter these differences, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of protein source and level on digestibility, fecal quality and osmolality in dogs differing in body size. 24 female dogs (2.75 to 32.10 kg BW) were used. Two diets were tested in a cross-over design. The main protein source of diet A was poultry and poultry by-products (ME=15.7 MJ/kg, CP=35.2%, fat=16.0%, TDF=7.7%, Na=3.45 and K=5.17mg/g DM) and the one of diet B was wheat gluten (ME=16.2 MJ/kg, CP=19.9%, fat=18.0%, TDF=9.0%, Ca=3.85 and K=8.67mg/g DM). Fecal scores and DM, energy, fat, CP, ash, Na and K apparent digestibility coefcient (ADC) were determined. Fresh stools were analyzed for fecal osmolality. Data was statistically analyzed using ANOVA. Fecal score and moisture were higher in dogs fed on diet A and larger dogs had softer stools than smaller ones. ADC of DM, energy, fat, CP and ash was consistently higher for diet B. Differences among dogs’ size were found to be higher for DM (p≤0.0001), energy (p≤0.001), CP (p≤0.001) and ash (p≤0.05) considering diet B. ADC of Na did not vary with dogs’ size nor with diet while ADC of K varied both with dogs’ size (p≤0.05) and diet (p≤0.0001), being higher for diet B. Osmolality was consistently higher for diet A (p≤0.0001) with differences also found between dogs’ size (p≤0.05). This study showed that lower ADC of K and higher fecal osmolality would stimulate a lower water absorption in the hindgut promoting softer stools. A lower content and higher ADC of protein in the diet ameliorated fecal quality. Decreasing protein content in the diet and increasing its ADC would thus improve large dogs’ feces quality.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
