Large breed dogs are known to be more sensitive to diet than smaller ones and consequently to produce feces of poorer quality. A higher overall total apparent digestibility was previously associated to higher fermentation rates and higher luminal osmolality, in the colon of large breed dogs. The use of highly digestible protein and a reduction of crude protein (CP) level could constitute a solution to decrease colonic osmolality and improve large dog’s fecal quality. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of protein source and level on total digestibility, osmolality and fecal quality in dogs differing in body size. 27 healthy female dogs were divided in 4 groups according to body weight and propensity to produce soft feces. Five diets varying in protein source (wheat gluten and/or poultry meal) and level (20%, 28% and 36% CP as fed) were tested. Feces were collected and scored on a daily basis during a 7–day test period preceded by a 7–day adaptation period. Moisture, and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of DM, energy, fat, CP and ash, were determined from the feces collection pool. Osmolality was analysed from freshly voided feces. Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test and Bonferroni/Dunn post–hoc test. Fecal quality decreased with dog size (p<0.0001) and was lower for poultry meal diets (p<0.0001). ADC increased with dog size, was lower when poultry meal was the major protein source and varied inversely to dietary protein level. Fecal osmolality varied with source (p<0.001) but not with CP content of diet, being higher for poultry diets. No effect of dog size was found for this parameter. Conclusions: Protein source has proven to be a good mean to modulate fecal quality in sensitive dogs due to its effect on digestibility and fecal osmolality. Conversely differences of fecal quality between different dog’s size and levels of CP fed do not seem to be related with fecal osmolality.

Influence of dietary protein content and source on digestibilitypatterns, osmolality and fecal quality in dogs differing in body size

VENDA DA GRACA NERY, JOANA MARIA;
2008-01-01

Abstract

Large breed dogs are known to be more sensitive to diet than smaller ones and consequently to produce feces of poorer quality. A higher overall total apparent digestibility was previously associated to higher fermentation rates and higher luminal osmolality, in the colon of large breed dogs. The use of highly digestible protein and a reduction of crude protein (CP) level could constitute a solution to decrease colonic osmolality and improve large dog’s fecal quality. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of protein source and level on total digestibility, osmolality and fecal quality in dogs differing in body size. 27 healthy female dogs were divided in 4 groups according to body weight and propensity to produce soft feces. Five diets varying in protein source (wheat gluten and/or poultry meal) and level (20%, 28% and 36% CP as fed) were tested. Feces were collected and scored on a daily basis during a 7–day test period preceded by a 7–day adaptation period. Moisture, and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of DM, energy, fat, CP and ash, were determined from the feces collection pool. Osmolality was analysed from freshly voided feces. Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test and Bonferroni/Dunn post–hoc test. Fecal quality decreased with dog size (p<0.0001) and was lower for poultry meal diets (p<0.0001). ADC increased with dog size, was lower when poultry meal was the major protein source and varied inversely to dietary protein level. Fecal osmolality varied with source (p<0.001) but not with CP content of diet, being higher for poultry diets. No effect of dog size was found for this parameter. Conclusions: Protein source has proven to be a good mean to modulate fecal quality in sensitive dogs due to its effect on digestibility and fecal osmolality. Conversely differences of fecal quality between different dog’s size and levels of CP fed do not seem to be related with fecal osmolality.
2008
2008 Joint Meeting of ADSA-ASAS
Indianapolis (IN, USA)
7-11 luglio 2008
86 (E-Suppl. 2/J)
167
167
http://www.jtmtg.org/2008/abstracts/0167.PDF
Fecal Quality; Dog; Osmolality
Nery J; Tournier C; Biourge V; Martin L; Dumon H; Nguyen P
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/59419
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