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This research aimed to evaluate the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, metabolisable energy (ME) and palatability of the diet, as well as products of intestinal fermentation and faecal microbiota of dogs fed with dried apple. For this purpose, three experiments were performed. In Experiment I, digestibility and ME of four diets containing 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% dried apple were evaluated, in addition to the faecal characteristics of the dogs. The diets were offered to eight adult dogs, distributed in double Latin square (4 × 4), totalling eight repetitions per treatment. In Experiment II, products of intestinal fermentation and faecal microbiota from 16 adult dogs fed diets containing 0% and 9% dried apple for 30 d (

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects the inclusion of corn oil on the coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of dietary nutrients and palatability of dog foods, and on the faecal characteristics of dogs. Three experiments were carried out. In Experiment 1, the effects of diets with increasing CO concentrations (40, 80, and 120 g/kg) in replacement of poultry offal fat (POF) in the basal diet on the CTTAD of dietary nutrients, dietary metabolizable energy (ME) content and on dogs’ faecal characteristics were analysed in eight adult dogs distributed in a double Latin-square design (4 × 4). Experiment 2 evaluated the CTTAD of the nutrients in diets containing either corn or poultry offal fat used as fat sources in replacement of 92% of a basal diet containing beef tallow in nine adult dogs applying a randomized experimental design. Experiment 3 compared the palatability of diets containing either corn oil or poultry offal meal and coated or not with a palatant by first choice test and intake ratio (IR) calculation. Dietary CTTAD and ME content, and faecal characteristics were not different (P > 0.05) among diets with increasing CO concentrations or compared with the diet with POF. No differences (P > 0.05) in the CTTAD of acid-hydrolysis ether extract (AHEE) were detected between diets containing CO (98.62%) or POF (97.94%). The inclusion of CO in did not influence diet palatability (P > 0.05). These results indicate that corn oil may be utilized as fat source in dog foods.

Herbivorous primates present a selective consumption profile and morphological adaptations to use the fibrous fraction of their diets. Brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba) are generalist herbivores; however, when kept under human care, they usually receive diets rich in fruits and with insufficient amounts of fiber. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in howlers on apparent total tract digestibility coefficients (ATTDC), fecal consistency, and intestinal fermentation products. A group of 26 adult howler monkeys, 13 males and 13 females, were fed two diets formulated to have 33% or 40% NDF for 11 days, according to a randomized block design (N = 26). The block factor was the enclosures with one, two, or three individuals (each enclosure corresponded to an experimental unit), totaling in eight replicates per treatment. There were no differences in dry matter and nutrients intake between treatments (p > 0.05). The diet with 33% NDF resulted in higher (p

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the microalgae Schizochytrium sp., as a dietary source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on dogs with gingivitis. Two diets containing 0 and 0.4% of microalgae Schizochytrium sp. were offered for 30 days to 12 randomly distributed adult Beagles to determine gingivitis. Gingivitis score and area were analyzed on days 0 and 30. Prior to the analysis, the area was gently cleaned with cotton wool on the surface of the crown of the teeth. There was no change in the gingivitis score (P>0.05). However, there was a reduction (P

Background Direct-fed microbials (DFM), such as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, may improve gut functionality of the host by favouring non-pathogenic bacteria and reducing the formation of putrefactive compounds. The aim of this study was to assess the nutrient digestibility, faecal characteristics and intestinal-fermentation products in dogs fed diets with Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis. Sixteen dogs were randomly divided into two groups. Every eight dogs were fed with the control diet or the diet with the addition of 62.5 g of DFM (B. subtilis and B. licheniformis)/ton. Diets were provided throughout a 20-day adaptation period, followed by 5 days of total faecal collection. Nutrient digestibility and the metabolisable energy of the diets, plus the dogs’ faecal characteristics and intestinal fermentation products were assessed. Results There were no differences in nutrient digestibility (P > 0.05). However, DFM supplementation improved faecal score and resulted in less fetid faeces (P < 0.001). DFM inclusion reduced (P < 0.05) the biogenic amines concentration: putrescine, spermidine and cadaverine, besides the concentration of phenols and quinoline. Conclusions The use of B. subtillis and B. licheniformis as DFM reduce the concentration of nitrogen fermentation products in faeces and faecal odour, but the digestibility of nutrients is not altered in dogs.

The use of exogenous enzymes in canine nutrition has been studied as a way to improve the nutritional value of plant by-products. This study conducted 2 experiments to evaluate the effects of exogenous phytase and a complex of carbohydrases supplementation on plant protein based diets for dogs. Dietary treatments consisted of an animal protein-based diet (AD; poultry offal meal and meat-and-bone meal) without enzyme inclusion; a plant protein-based (PD; soybean meal) without enzymes, considered the control diet; PD + 5000 phytase units (FTU)/g (PD + P5); PD + 10,000 FTU/g (PD + P10); PD + 15,000 FTU/g (PD + P15); PD + 50,000 units of a carbohydrase enzyme complex (U)/g (PD + C); PD + a combination of 5000 phytase units FTU/g and 50,000 units of a carbohydrase complex U/g (PD + PC). In experiment 1, 14 dogs were fed the experimental diets and distributed in a randomized block design to assess digestibility, fecal characteristics, and fecal fermentation products. In experiment 2, a palatability test was evaluated in pairs by the means of two comparisons: PD vs. PD + PC and PD + P5 vs. PD + PC, with 16 dogs. The inclusion of PD + PC did not alter the digestibility of the diet (P > 0.05). The inclusion of phytase linearly increased fecal pH, concentrations of acetic and propionic acids, and total production of short-chain fatty acids (P 0.05) in the first choice of the dogs for a specific diet for any of the comparisons made. Enzyme supplementation did not influence nutrient digestibility, but it increased the ME content of the PD. In addition, supplementation with the carbohydrase complex increased the production of total short-chain fatty acids and reduced fecal dry matter without compromising the acceptance of the diets.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the microalgae Schizochytrium sp., as a dietary source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on diet palatability, coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients and metabolizable energy (ME), blood variables and indicators of immunity in dogs. We also evaluated oxidative stability. Two diets containing 0 and 0.4% of microalgae Schizochytrium sp. were evaluated in three experiments. On Experiment I the palatability of diets containing 0% versus 0.4% microalgae was compared. In Experiment II test diets were offered for 30 days to determine digestibility, fecal characteristics, and blood parameters. In Experiment III, the oxidative stability of diets containing microalgae versus anchovy oil was evaluated. There was a higher intake ratio of the diet containing microalgae (p < .05). The ME and CTTAD of nutrients increased (p < .05), except for ether extract after acid hydrolysis, with the inclusion of the microalgae in diet. The amount of monocytes and phagocytic granulocytes was higher (p < .05) in dogs fed 0.4% microalgae. There was greater oxidative stability for the sample containing microalgae. The addition of 0.4% microalgae presented high palatability, increased phagocytic cell numbers, and demonstrated oxidative stability superior to anchovy oil.