Effects of Softening Dry Food with Water on Stress Response, Intestinal Microbiome, and Metabolic Profile in Beagle Dogs

Abstract

Softening dry food with water is believed to be more beneficial to the intestinal health and nutrients absorption of dogs by some owners, but there appears to be little scientific basis for this belief. Thus, this study aimed to compare feeding dry food (DF) and water-softened dry food (SDF) on stress response, intestinal microbiome, and metabolic profile in dogs. Twenty healthy 5-month-old beagle dogs were selected and divided into two groups according to their gender and body weight using a completely randomized block design. Both groups were fed the same basal diet, with one group fed DF and the other fed SDF. The trial lasted for 21 days. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, inflammatory cytokines, stress hormones, heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70), fecal microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), branch-chain fatty acids (BCFAs), and metabolomics were measured. Results showed that there was no significant difference in body weight, ATTD, and SCFAs between the DF and SDF groups (p > 0.05), whereas feeding with SDF caused a significant increase in serum cortisol level (p < 0.05) and tended to have higher interleukin-2 (p = 0.062) and HSP-70 (p = 0.097) levels. Fecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing found that the SDF group had higher alpha diversity indices (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the SDF group had higher levels of Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Escherichia_Shigella, and lower levels of Faecalibacterium (p < 0.05). Serum and fecal metabolomics further showed that feeding with SDF significantly influenced the purine metabolism, riboflavin metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism (p < 0.05). Overall, feeding with SDF caused higher cortisol level and generated effects of higher intestinal microbial diversity in dogs, but it caused an increase in some pathogenic bacteria, which may result in intestinal microbiome disturbance and metabolic disorder in dogs. In conclusion, feeding with SDF did not provide digestive benefits but caused some stress and posed a potential threat to the intestinal health of dogs. Thus, SDF is not recommended in the feeding of dogs.

Different Diet Energy Levels Alter Body Condition, Glucolipid Metabolism, Fecal Microbiota and Metabolites in Adult Beagle Dogs

“…In terms of flora composition, both temporal and energy level factors influenced the profiles of the genus and phylum levels and the number of ASVs. Similar findings have been obtained in canine studies on the relationship between food and the gut microbiota [93][94][95] and related studies have also demonstrated that Fusobacterium and Clostridium appear to be very strongly associated with the administration of raw-meat-based diets to cats and dogs [96].…”

Dietary Strategies for Relieving Stress in Pet Dogs and Cats

“…Abrupt environmental accidents such as sudden noise [ 14 ] and falling objects [ 15 ] usually result in panic and fear in pets. Even some common feeding practices, such as water-softened dry food can present stress in pets [ 16 ]. Psychological stress can occur when space allowance for activity and behavioral needs are not met [ 17 , 18 ].…”

The Canine Gut Health: Impact of a New Feed Supplement on Microbiota Composition

“…Associations between cortisol and gut microbial abundance in dogs have been already explored [2,38]. Briefly, in a randomized study of 20 5-monthold beagles examining the safeness of softening dog food with water, dogs that consumed softened dog food had higher levels of cortisol and higher levels of pathogenic bacteria including Enterococcus [38]. In our prior study, we found that cortisol decreased in the dogs 28 days after supplementation administration [14].…”

“…Additionally, the ASVs belonging to Dorea longicatena may have a role in levels of cortisol, the hormone that responds to stress, in the dogs. Associations between cortisol and gut microbial abundance in dogs have been already explored [2,38]. Briefly, in a randomized study of 20 5-monthold beagles examining the safeness of softening dog food with water, dogs that consumed softened dog food had higher levels of cortisol and higher levels of pathogenic bacteria including Enterococcus [38].…”