Faecal IgA concentration is influenced by age in dogs

Data comparing age-related alterations in faecal IgA concentrations of dogs are not available in the literature. The present study aimed to compare the faecal concentrations of IgA in puppies, mature and senior dogs. A total of twenty-four beagle dogs were used, including eight puppies (5 months old, four females and four males), eight mature (4.6 years old, eight males) and eight senior dogs (10.6 years old, three males and five females). Fresh faecal samples were collected from each dog for three consecutive days and pooled by animal. After saline extraction, IgA content was measured by ELISA. Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA, and means were compared with Tukey's test (P<0.05). Results showed that puppies have lower faecal IgA concentrations than mature dogs (P<0.05); senior animals presented intermediary results. The reduced faecal IgA concentration in puppies is consistent with the reduced serum and salivary IgA concentrations reported previously, suggesting a reduced mucosal immunity in this age group. Although some studies have found an increased serum IgA concentration in older dogs, this may differ from the intestinal secretion of IgA, which appears to be lower in some senior animals (four of the eight dogs studied).

Old beagle dogs have lower faecal concentrations of some fermentation products and lower peripheral lymphocyte counts than young adult beagles

The effects of age on microbiota composition, gut fermentation end-product formation and peripheral lymphocyte numbers were compared between old and young adult Beagle dogs fed four kibble diets differing in yeast cell wall contents. The experiment had a double 4 x 4 Latin square design, one with four mature dogs (4 years old) and the other with four old dogs (10 years old), with four replicates (diets) per dog. In each period a 15d adaptation period preceded a 5d total collection of faeces for the digestibility trial. on day 21, fresh faecal samples were collected for the determination of bacterial enumeration, pH, biogenic amine and short-chain fatty acid. Flow cytometry was used for immunophenotypic evaluation. Dogs were fed four kibble diets with similar composition with 0, 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45% of yeast cell wall (as-fed), respectively. Data were evaluated using general linear models of Statistical Analysis Systems statistical software (P<0.05). No evidence of a difference in faecal bacteria counts between ages was found (total aerobes, total anaerobes, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Clostridium and Escherichia coli: P. 0.15). Faecal concentrations of butyrate, histamine, agmatine and spermine were lower (P <= 0.05) and faecal pH was higher (P=0.03) in older dogs than in mature adult dogs, suggesting an alteration in bacterial metabolic activity, or in the rate of intestinal absorption of these compounds. Concentrations of T-lymphocytes, T-cytotoxic lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes were also lower (P <= 0.01) in older dogs than in mature adult dogs. The study confirmed alterations in peripheral lymphocytes and revealed a reduced concentration of some fermentation end products in the colon of old dogs.

The intravenous glucose tolerance and postprandial glucose tests may present different responses in the evaluation of obese dogs

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Uso de psyllium para controle de constipação em cães

psyllium (Plantago psyllium) é um vegetal comumente utilizado como adjuvante no tratamento de afecções que resultam em constipação. Com o objetivo de melhor compreender os efeitos dessa fibra em cães, foram realizados dois experimentos. O primeiro avaliou, em cães sadios, inclusões de 0%, 2% e 4% de semente integral moída de psyllium à dieta (com base na matéria natural). Para tanto, foram empregados oito cães da raça Beagles adultos, os quais receberam as dietas experimentais por oito dias. Verificou-se aumento linear da umidade das fezes com a adição de teores crescentes de psyllium (R²=0,54 e P=0,0012), sem alteração do escore fecal e número de defecações por dia. O segundo experimento incluiu avaliação da opinião de 24 proprietários cujos cães receberam suplementação de 2% de psyllium como parte do tratamento de afecções que causaram constipação. Dos proprietários incluídos, 19 (79,2%) relataram melhora da defecação de seus cães durante a administração da fibra. Quinze (62,5%) observaram que as fezes dos animais, antes ressecadas ou endurecidas, tornaram-se normais ou pastosas. Os resultados comprovaram para cães os efeitos laxativos do psyllium já descritos na medicina humana, indicando seu uso no tratamento de suporte de enfermidades que levam à constipação.

Avaliação de dietas com diferentes fontes protéicas para cães adultos

Foram comparados os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) de quatro alimentos secos extrusados para cães, cada um formulado com um dos ingredientes protéicos em estudo: farelo de soja (FS); farelo de glúten de milho (GM); farinha de carne e ossos (FCO); e farinha de vísceras de frango (FV). O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos (ingredientes protéicos) e seis repetições, totalizando 24 animais. As médias dos tratamentos foram comparadas pelo teste Tukey. O CDA da PB (média ± erro-padrão da média) foi maior na ração à base de GM (88,13±0,40%), seguida pelas dietas com FS (86,31±0,34%), FCO (85,88±0,16%) e FV (84,84±0,15%). O CDA da MS foi maior para a ração com FV (83,69±0,09%), intermediário para GM (82,41±0,23%) e FCO (82,76±0,11%) e menor para FS (81,10±0,16%). As rações à base de proteína animal apresentaram os maiores CDA dos extrativos não-nitrogenados. O teor de MS das fezes dos cães foi elevado na ração com FCO, intermediário naquela com FV e GM e baixo naquela à base de FS. As quatro fontes protéicas estudadas apresentaram bons CDA e, portanto, podem ser utilizadas em rações para cães adultos.

Determinação do valor nutritivo de alimentos energéticos e protéicos utilizados em rações para cães adultos

Dois experimentos foram realizados para avaliar a digestibilidade aparente da EB, MS e PB em alimentos energéticos e protéicos utilizados para cães adultos. Foram utilizados quatro cães adultos (13,1 ± 2,0 kg), dois machos e duas fêmeas, sem raça definida, na avaliação de cada alimento. Os animais receberam a mesma quantidade de ração por unidade de peso metabólico. No experimento 1, foi determinado o valor nutritivo dos alimentos energéticos e, no experimento 2, os coeficientes de digestibilidade dos alimentos protéicos. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da EB do milho extrusado (ME), do milho gelatinizado (MG), da gordura de coco e do óleo de soja, em dois níveis de inclusão (OS1 e OS2), e da gordura suína foram, respectivamente, 85,1; 84,4; 92,5; 92,1; 96,2 e 98,6%. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da MS e PB do ME e MG foram, respectivamente, 84,2 e 65,3 e 84,5 e 65,0%. Na soja integral extrusada e nas farinhas de carne, de carne extrusada, de vísceras, de vísceras extrusada, de peixe extrusada e de pena extrusada, foram obtidos, respectivamente, os seguintes coeficientes de digestibilidade: 80,0; 73,3; 80,7; 87,6; 91,2; 91,1 e 79,8% da EB; 80,0; 68,4; 87,8; 86,7; 88,1; 85,2 e 76,0% da MS; e 83,7; 74,7; 82,3; 88,0; 88,9; 91,9 e 82,3% da PB.

Inter-relação entre o balanço cátion-aniônico do alimento e o ph urinário de gatos

Studies for the food development of formulations for pets, look for key components to maintaining healthy way of life and safety of products, including these, elements capable of preventing the risk of certain metabolic disorders associated with diet. Feline urinarytract disorders, highlights the urolithiasis, have high incidence in clinical series. Studies linking dietary factors such as ingredients, digestibility and chemical composition, changing the volume, density and pH of urine and consequent induction training for urolithiasis. A highly significant correlation between the mineral composition of the diet and urine pH of cats began to be studied, using the association between the cation-anion balance of the diet (DCAB) and regulation of acid-base balance of the body. The DCAB can be defined as the difference between the total fixed anions and cations present in the diet, important tool for estimating the urinary pH and to determine the range of pH that favors the food used, thereby linking the trigger and the prevention of struvite and calcium oxalate urolithiasis in the urinary tract of cats. Thus, this review aims to clarify the effects of the nutritional composition of diet on urine pH in cats.

Fermentation characteristics of several carbohydrate sources for dog diets using the in vitro gas production technique

Fermentable carbohydrates are an important part of the canine diet. They can improve gastrointestinal health by modifying gut microbial population and metabolic activity. The present study compared the fermentation characteristics and kinetic patterns of 10 carbohydrate sources using the in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT) with dog faecal inoculum. The substrates tested were: pure cellulose (PC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), sugar-cane fibre (SCF), beet pulp (BP), wheat bran (WB), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, yeast cell wall (YCW), ground psyllium seed (PS), pea hulls (PH). All substrates were incubated at 39°C under anaerobic conditions with faeces collected from dogs as microbial inoculum. Gas production of fermenting cultures was recorded and after 48 h, pH, shortchain fatty acids (SCFA) and organic matter disappearance (OMD) were determined. The results confirm high fermentation by dog faecal bacteria of FOS and inulin that produced high amounts of propionate and that underwent very rapid fermentation. Three substrates (SCF, CMC and PC) were not able to support bacterial growth, with low gas and SCFA production, and high BCFA formation. The PH and BP showed moderate OMD and SCFA production. Wheat bran B underwent rapid fermentation and generated a high proportion of butyrate. Psyllium seeds underwent slow fermentation with delayed gas production, supporting a high formation of SCFA, with an adequate amount of butyrate for bacterial growth while YCW, which showed a delayed fermentation, gave moderate SCFA production. The fermentation characteristics of PS and YCW suggest their potential use in promoting a more distal fermentation on intestinal tract. © Copyright S. Calabrò et al., 2013 Licensee PAGEPress, Italy.

Aspectos nutricionais e ambientais da obesidade canina

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação da pressão arterial sistêmica em cães obesos: comparação entre os métodos oscilométrico e doppler ultrassônico

Obesity is the most common nutritional problem in dogs and it can cause various harmful effects on animal health. However, the effect of this condition on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in obese dogs is controversial. The indirect method of measuring PAS is the most commonly used in veterinary medicine for the diagnosis of systemic hypertension, because it is more practical and easy to access. There is little scientific information about the comparison of the two non- invasive methods of measurement of blood pressure in obese dogs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the SBP in obese dogs by comparing both indirect methods of measuring blood pressure, with oscillometric and doppler vascular in order to verify the differences in blood pressure values, but also the best method to assess the SBP dogs in this body score condition. The study complain blood pressure measurement of 50 dogs, with were divided in obese dogs with mean body condition score (BCS) of 8.42 +/- 0.50 (n = 25) and dogs with ideal BCS of 4.56 +/- 0.51 (n = 25). At comparison of blood pressure values, SBP values obtained by doppler method (152 +/- 16mmHg) were higher than the oscillometric (136 +/- 11mmHg). Correspondence analysis determined by multivariate statistical analysis showed correlation between body condition and the procedure of the SBP. These findings suggest that the indirect method doppler can better reflect the SBP in obese dogs.

Evaluation of the owner's perception in the use of homemade diets for the nutritional management of dogs

Many dog owners see homemade diets as a way of increasing the bond with their pets, even though they may not have the convenience of commercial diets. Modifications of ingredients, quality and proportion might change the nutritional composition of the diet, generating nutritional imbalances. The present study evaluated how dog owners use and adhere to homemade diets prescribed by veterinary nutritionists over an extended period of time. Forty-six owners of dogs fed a homemade diet for at least 6 months were selected for the present study. Owners were invited to answer questions by first reading all possible answers and then selecting the one that best indicated their opinion. The results were evaluated through descriptive statistics. Thirty-five owners (76·1 %) found that the diets are easy to prepare. Fourteen owners (30·4 %) admitted to modifying the diets, 40 % did not adequately control the amount of provided ingredients, 73·9 % did not use the recommended amounts of soyabean oil and salt, and 34·8 % did not correctly use the vitamin, mineral or amino acid supplements. Twenty-six owners (56·5 %) reported that their dogs refused to eat at least one food item. All of these alterations make the nutritional composition of the diets unpredictable and likely nutritionally imbalanced. Although homemade diets could be a useful tool for the nutritional management of dogs with certain diseases, not all owners are able to appropriately use this type of diet and adhere to it for an extended period of time and this limitation needs to be considered when recommending the use of homemade diets.

Comparison of the digestive efficiency of extruded diets fed to ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis catus)

The digestive tract of ferrets is anatomically simple, with no caecum, ileocolic valve or external differentiation between the transition of ileum and colon. The species has a short large intestine that provides minor contributions to the digestive process. Aiming to better understand the digestibility efficiency of ferrets, the present study compared the digestibility of extruded diets with different amounts of macronutrients fed to dogs, cats and ferrets. Three formulations for cat maintenance were used (values in % of DM basis): high carbohydrate (HC; nitrogen-free extract (NFE) = 54 %, protein = 31 % and fat = 8 %); moderate carbohydrate (MC; NFE = 37 %, protein = 41 % and fat = 10 %); and low carbohydrate (LC; NFE = 19 %, protein = 46 % and fat = 23 %). Apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility was determined by the method of total collection of faeces. Results were compared by ANOVA, considering the diet and species effects and their interactions. Means were compared by the Tukey's test (P < 0·05). Dogs and cats presented similar food intakes, but ferrets consumed almost two times more food (g/kg body weight). Species × diet interactions were verified for apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD; P < 0·05). Ferrets presented lower DM digestibility than dogs and cats for all three diets (P < 0·05), lower NFE digestibility than dogs for the three diets and lower NFE digestibility than cats for the HC and LC diets (P < 0·05). For crude protein (CP), ferrets presented lower ATTD than dogs and cats (P < 0·05), whereas for fat, dogs and ferrets presented similar ATTD, and higher values than those presented by cats (P < 0·05). Kibble diets had a lower DM, CP and NFE digestibility when fed to ferrets compared with dogs and cats. Fat digestibility was similar between dogs and ferrets and higher than that for cats.

Alterations to oxidative stress markers in dogs after a short-term stress during transport

While methods to evaluate antioxidant capacity in animals exist, one problem with the models is induction of oxidative stress. It is necessary to promote a great enough challenge to induce measurable alterations to oxidative parameters while ensuring the protocol is compatible with animal welfare. The aim of the present study was to evaluate caged transport as a viable short-term stress that would significantly affect oxidative parameters. Twenty adult Beagle dogs, maintained on the same diet for 60 d prior to the transport, were included in the study. To simulate the stress, the dogs were housed in pairs in transport cages (1·0 m × 1·0 m × 1·5 m), placed on a truck coupled to a trailer and transported for a period of 15 min. Blood collection was performed immediately before and again 3 h after the transportation to evaluate oxidative parameters in blood serum, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), sequestration activity of the radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•), protein carbonylation (PC), total sulfhydryl groups (SH), alpha-tocopherol (αToc) and retinol (Ret). PC, SH and αToc were not significantly changed in the study; however, TBARS, TAC and DPPH increased, whereas Ret decreased after the transport. Although the lack of a control group of dogs not submitted to transport is a limitation to be considered, we conclude that the transport model is effective in inducing an antioxidant response in dogs and relevant blood parameters show sensitivity to this proposed model.

Prediction of crude protein digestibility of animal by-product meals for dogs by the protein solubility in pepsin method

Animal by-product meals have large variability in crude protein (CP) content and digestibility. In vivo digestibility procedures are precise but laborious, and in vitro methods could be an alternative to evaluate and classify these ingredients. The present study reports prediction equations to estimate the CP digestibility of meat and bone meal (MBM) and poultry by-product meal (PM) using the protein solubility in pepsin method (PSP). Total tract CP digestibility of eight MBM and eight PM samples was determined in dogs by the substitution method. A basal diet was formulated for dog maintenance, and sixteen diets were produced by mixing 70 % of the basal diet and 30 % of each tested meal. Six dogs per diet were used to determine ingredient digestibility. In addition, PSP of the MBM and PM samples was determined using three pepsin concentrations: 0·02, 0·002 and 0·0002 %. The CP content of MBM and PM ranged from 39 to 46 % and 57 to 69 %, respectively, and their mean CP digestibility by dogs was 76 (2·4) and 85 (2·6) %, respectively. The pepsin concentration with higher Pearson correlation coefficients with the in vivo results were 0·0002 % for MBM (r 0·380; P = 0·008) and 0·02 % for PM (r 0·482; P = 0·005). The relationship between the in vivo and in vitro results was better explained by the following equations: CP digestibility of MBM = 61·7 + 0·2644 × PSP at 0·0002 % (P = 0·008; R (2) 0·126); and CP digestibility of PM = 54·1 + 0·3833 × PSP at 0·02 % (P = 0·005; R (2) 0·216). Although significant, the coefficients of determination were low, indicating that the models were weak and need to be used with caution.