Considering the benefice demonstrated by the modulating action of probiotics on the host intestinal microbiota, this study aimed to evaluate diet digestibility and fecal characteristics of dogs fed with diets supplemented with Bacillus subtilis (C-3102). Twelve young Beagle dogs were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design consisting of two treatments: diet with no addition or with the addition of 0.01% Bacillus subtilis (C-3102). Dogs passed through 25 days of adaptation to the diets, and five days of total feces collection. The following fecal characteristics were evaluated: pH, fecal score (1 - watery feces; 5: dry and hard feces), and ammonia content. Diet mean digestibility was compared by the Tukey test, and fecal characteristics by the Tukey-Kramer test. Diet digestibility was not different between treatments, but dogs supplemented with the tested probiotic presented dryer feces (39.1% vs. 36.5% dry matter), higher fecal score (3.4 vs. 3.0) and lower fecal ammonia content (0.45% vs. 0.56%), than dogs fed with the control diet. The dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis (C-3102) improves fecal texture and odor in dogs.
The objective was to evaluate kibble characteristics, coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients, metabolisable energy (ME), palatability, and faecal characteristics of diets containing potato starch (PS) fed to adult dogs and puppies. Four diets containing 0, 100, 200, or 300 g/kg PS, at the expense of corn, were evaluated in three experiments. Experiment 1 evaluated the physical characteristics of the diets. Experiment 2 evaluated diet digestibility and faecal characteristics in eight adult dogs (7 years old) and eight puppies (6 months old) according to a double 4 Â 4 Latin square design. Experiment 3 evaluated palatability (0 vs. 100 g/kg of PS and 0 vs. 300 g/kg of PS diets) using 16 puppies. Diets with the highest PS level presented the largest kibbles expansion ratio, greater hardness and number of pores while the density was decreased (p < .001). The inclusion of PS increased (p < .05) CTTAD of dry matter (DM) and gross energy, and ME of diets and faecal DM, for adult dogs and puppies, and CTTAD of crude protein and total starch in puppies (p < .05). Potato starch reduced ammonia levels in the faeces of puppies (p < .001). Faecal pH and score were not influenced by dietary PS inclusion either in adult dogs or puppies (p > .05). Puppies preferred diets (p < .05) containing higher PS levels. The addition of PS in the diets produces kibbles with a high expansion index and low density. Potato starch is a good starch source for adult dogs, and particularly for puppies, as it improves the digestibility of dietary nutrients and increases faecal DM, in addition of being more palatable than corn. HIGHLIGHTSPotato starch increases expansion and reduces density of kibbles. Potato starch presents higher digestibility and metabolizable energy than corn. Potato starch improves diet palatability.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of including 200 g kg −1 dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) to xylanase-and protease-supplemented diets for dogs on kibble properties, digestibility, fecal characteristics, and palatability. Experimental diets consisted of: 0 g kg −1 DDGS without enzymes (0WE), 0 g kg −1 DDGS with xylanase and protease (0XP), 200 g kg −1 DDGS without enzymes (200WE), 200 g kg −1 DDGS with xylanase (200X), 200 g kg −1 DDGS with protease (200P), and 200 g kg −1 DDGS with xylanase and protease (200XP). Kibbles were evaluated for density, extruded size, expansion index, hardness, and uniformity. Six beagle dogs were distributed in a 6×6 Latin square design for analysis of digestibility and fecal characteristics. A palatability assay was also conducted in 16 beagle dogs, comparing the following treatment groups: 0WE vs. 200WE and 0XP vs. 200XP. The results showed that DDGS inclusion had no influence on kibble physical properties and reduced digestibility of dry matter (DM), ether extract after acid hydrolysis, gross energy, and organic matter, regardless of enzyme addition. Moreover, dietary addition of DDGS reduced fecal pH and increased total short-chain fatty acid, acetate, and propionate productions. Fecal odor was increased in dogs fed diets containing DDGS. Regarding palatability, animals preferred diets supplemented with enzymes and without DDGS, and no difference was observed when comparing 0WE and 200WE diets. No changes in the physical properties of kibbles were caused by DDGS inclusion; therefore, it can be used in diet formulation without interfering with the industrial process. Increased production of SCFA and a possible modulation of digestive tract microbiota promoted by DDGS addition may benefit animals. However, at the tested levels, enzymes had no positive effects on diet digestibility. Despite reducing digestibility, DDGS can still be included without enzyme supplementation in low-cost diets for dogs, as nutrient digestibility of the diet remains within acceptable limits for some pet food categories.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the digestibility and palatability of an isolated porcine protein (IPP) for adult dogs. In the digestibility assay, eight adult Beagle dogs were distributed in a double Latin square (4 Â 4) experimental design. Diets containing 0, 100, 200, or 300 g IPP/kg were offered. Diets (0-300 g IPP/kg) presented 229.6-265.3 g/kg crude protein (CP) and 17.59-18.73 MJ/kg metabolisable energy (ME). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of diets and of the IPP were evaluated by analysis of regression. For the palatability test, diets containing 0 and 300 g IPP/kg were compared using 16 adult dogs. Dry matter (DM) and CP ATTD and the ME content of the IPP were determined as 99.2%, 86.4% and 22.48 MJ/kg, respectively. Faecal DM (424-342 g/kg) and pH (6.86-5.98) were linearly reduced (p < .01) as dietary IPP increased. The other evaluated faecal characteristics were not influenced by the treatments (p > .05). Lower intake ratio was obtained with the diet with 300 g IPP/kg, compared with the diet with 0 g IPP/kg (p < .01). The inclusion of IPP in the diet increases the digestibility of dietary nutrients and ME content; however, it reduces food palatability and faecal DM. Isolated porcine protein presents high nutrient digestibility and ME content for dogs. ARTICLE HISTORY
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