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It has been reported that wet foods for dogs and cats have high levels of sodium and phosphorus due to their composition. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the sodium and phosphorus contents in wet pet foods, and compare it to daily requirements for both species. Twenty‐five commercial wet foods for adult animals were evaluated, 13 for dogs and 12 for cats. The analyses’ results were compared to the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF 2018) recommendations. All foods contained phosphorus and sodium amounts above minimum requirements. Three wet foods for dogs exceeded the safe upper limit for phosphorus, and four wet foods for dogs and three for cats exceeded 3.75 g of sodium/1,000 kcal metabolizable energy (ME), considered safe by FEDIAF. No studies were found at the present time evaluating whether higher sodium levels are safe for dogs and cats; however, consumption of high phosphorus diets has been associated with adverse effects on renal function parameters. Therefore, more studies are necessary to investigate the health implications of phosphorus and sodium concentrations observed in some foods evaluated in this research., It has been reported that wet foods for dogs and cats have high levels of sodium and phosphorus due to their composition. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the sodium and phosphorus contents in wet pet foods, and compared to daily requirements for both species.

The post-operative period can generate immunological stress and can be modulated through supplementation with the omega-3 series of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diets enriched with high doses of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids and glutamine on inflammatory mediators in dogs before and after ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Twelve female dogs were divided into two groups: group A was fed a commercial diet without the addition of EPA and DHA, and group B was fed an experimental diet enriched with EPA and DHA (0.2 g/100 kcal). Experimental diet intake initiated 21 days before surgery and continued until 30 days after OVH. Parameters measured were serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP), IGF-1, lymphoproliferation and body composition before and after surgery. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS software considering the effects of age and diet and their interactions, and means were compared by the Tukey test. There was no difference between groups in body weight (p = .682), lean mass (p = .101) and body fat (p = .103). There were no group differences in serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IGF-1, CRP and the percentage of lymphocyte proliferation. However, a time effect for TNF-α was observed (p < .001), in which T0P (10 days after the surgical procedure) presented lower values of this cytokine when compared to the other evaluation time points; and interaction effects between group and time were observed for serum concentrations of IL-6 (p < .001) and IL-10 (p = .002). OVH procedure was not considered invasive enough to increase inflammatory cytokines after 30 days of surgery, as well as the dosage of the EPA and DHA used before and after the surgery did not modulate the inflammatory markers.

Maintenance energy requirement (MER) is the energy amount necessary for dogs to maintain their weight and body condition. Some factors can influence the MER, such as gender, age, neutering status and also diseases. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate MER of adult dogs with several diseases and compare with the MER of healthy adult dogs, observing the influence of parameters such as body condition score (BCS), neutering status, gender, age, diagnosis and type of food on MER of these dogs. A total of 165 adult dogs with weight changes of ≤5% were included and divided in groups according to diagnosis. Mean MER for healthy dogs was 86.09 kcal/BW0.75 , which differed from NRC and FEDIAF recommendations for inactive adult dogs (p = .047). Lowest MERs were of the endocrinopathies (78.52 ± 19.32 kcal/BW0.75 ), orthopaedic diseases (59.71 ± 19.30 kcal/BW0.75 ) and neurologic diseases (78.83 ± 32.66 kcal/BW0.75 ) groups. Gastrointestinal diseases (99.59 ± 20.36 kcal/BW0.75 ), orthopaedic diseases (59.71 ± 19.30 kcal/BW0.75 ) and neoplasia (95.61 ± 21.02 kcal/BW0.75 ) groups were the only groups that differed from the mean MER of healthy adult dogs. Regarding BCS, for each increasing point in a 9-point scale, there was a decrease of 9.8 kcal/BW0.75 on MER, independent of diagnosis (p

The study of metabolic profile can be an important tool to better understand, at a systemic level, metabolic alterations caused by different pathological conditions, such as obesity. Furthermore, it allows the discovery of metabolic biomarkers, which may help to diagnose alterations caused by obesity. To investigate the metabolic profile of blood serum of obese dogs, control dogs, and dogs that were subjected to a weight loss program. Ten obese adult spayed female dogs were included, and their body composition was determined by the deuterium isotope dilution method. The dogs were subjected to a weight loss program and formed a new experimental group after losing 20% of the initial body weight. A third experimental group was composed of ten lean adult spayed female dogs. The metabolic profile of blood serum was evaluated through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Principal Component Analyses (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) models were constructed using Pareto scaling pre-processing. Pathway analysis was also performed using the MetaboAnalist online tool. The PCA shows that the control and after weight loss groups presented a trend to negative PC1, indicating similarities between these two groups. In contrast, obese animals presented a tendency to appear on negative PC2 indicating a different metabolic profile. The OPLS-DA analysis of the serum indicated that healthy groups presented higher content of glucose, while animals that lost weight had higher levels of cholesterol and lactate than the control group. On the other hand, the analysis showed that lipid content, cholesterol, and branched-chain amino acids were highest in obese animals. Variable Influence on Projection (VIP) analysis demonstrated that Lactate is the most important metabolite for the OPLS-DA model and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) corroborated the similarity between the control group and the obese after weight loss groups. Moreover, the pathway analysis indicated the most important metabolic pathways related to this dataset. The metabolomic assessment based on NMR of blood serum differed between obese dogs and animals in optimal body condition. Moreover, the weight loss resulted in metabolic profiles similar to those observed in lean animals.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-26T06:17:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-04-27 Fundação para o Desenvolvimento da UNESP (FUNDUNESP) Affinity Petcare (Campinas, Brazil) Laboratorio de Pesquisa em Nutricao e Doencas Nutricionais de Caes e Gatos 'Prof. Flavio Prada' The present study evaluated the effects of two diets with different starch sources and two feeding methods on the glycaemic control in dogs with diabetes mellitus. The diets had similar nutrient contents (40% starch and 16% dietary fibre), one formulated with 46% of broken rice and the other with 42% sorghum and 10% lentils (as-fed). Ten client-owned diabetic dogs were fed with each diet for 2 months, in a crossover design. Five dogs received NPH human insulin and food every 12 h (feeding method 1), and the other five received insulin every 12 h but were fed three times a day (feeding method 2). In feeding method 2, morning insulin was higher than the evening dose and dogs received the second meal after 4 to 5 h of the morning insulin and meal. Parameters evaluated included insulin dosage, 12- and 8-h glycaemic curves, complete blood count, biochemical profile and urinalysis. Glycaemic curves were analysed by ANOVA with repeated measures. Glycaemic control parameters (fasting, mean, minimum and maximum glycaemia and serum fructosamine) and glucose area under the curve (AUC) were calculated and analysed by paired t test (p < 0.05). In feeding method 1, dogs fed the sorghum-based diet presented lower mean (p = 0.04) and minimum blood glucose concentrations (p = 0.03), and a tendency to lower maximum blood glucose (p = 0.06) and glucose AUC (p = 0.08) than when fed the rice-based diet. When food was provided twice a day, the ingestion of the rice-based diet resulted in higher post-prandial glucose response than the diet with sorghum and lentil. In feeding method 2, there was no effect of diet on the assessed parameters (p > 0.05). No differences in insulin dosage were observed between groups or feeding methods (p > 0.05). Providing two meals a day followed by insulin administration associated with the sorghum- and lentil-based diet improved glycaemic control in diabetic dogs. Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Agr & Veterinarian Sci, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Farmina Pet Foods, Braganca Paulista, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Agr & Veterinarian Sci, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil

Background Homemade diets are a worldwide trend, and many recipes are currently available on websites but may not be considered balanced. This study aimed to evaluate if the number of ingredients, supplement, or vegetarian/vegan-only ingredients included in a recipe influence the nutrient content of homemade diets for dogs and cats. Chemical analyses were performed on 75 diets for dogs and 25 for cats prepared according to websites’ recipes, and minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results Canine diets that met fat requirements had more ingredients than those below recommendations. None of the cat diets met iron requirements, and feline diets that met requirements of manganese had fewer ingredients and those that supplied requirements of protein and sodium had more ingredients than the diets below recommendations (p p p = 0.003), but there was a higher amount of crude fiber (p = 0.014) in vegetarian/vegan diets. Conclusion The number of ingredients and vegetarian/vegan preparation did not guarantee nutritional adequacy of diets, and the presence of supplement did not ensure a balanced diet.

Primary hyperlipidaemia in Schnauzer is characterized by increased plasma triglycerides (TG) and/or total cholesterol (TC) concentration and is associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatitis, insulin resistance and seizures. In humans, omega-3 fatty acids in addition to a low-fat diet can be used to reduce TG and TC. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids associated to a diet management with two different fat content in Schnauzer with primary hyperlipidaemia. Eighteen dogs with primary hyperlipidaemia were divided into two groups: group 1, n = 10, 8 females, 2 males, age (mean ± standard deviation) of 7.13 ± 2.70 years and body weight (BW) (mean ± standard deviation) of 7.25 ± 1.22 kg were treated with fish oil (approximately 730 mg/day of omega-3) associated with a low-fat and low-calorie diet (approximately 24g of fat/1000 kcal) for 90 days (T90); and group 2, n = 8 dogs, 6 females, 2 males, with 7.0 ± 1.77 years old and average BW of 8.36 ± 1.51 kg, treated with fish oil (approximately 730 mg/day of omega-3) and maintenance diet with moderate amount of fat (approximately 33g of fat/1000 kcal) for 90 days. Plasma TG and TC concentrations and lipoprotein (LP) profile (VLDL, LDL, HDL) were evaluated before and after treatment. TG and TC serum concentrations, expressed in mg/dL (mean ± standard deviation), before and after treatment in group 1 were: TG = 391.30 ± 487.86 (T0) and 118.7 ± 135.21 (T90); TC = 308.2 ± 63.06 (T0) and 139 ± 36.91 (T90). As for group 2, TG = 391.63 ± 336.89 (T0) and 250.75 ± 211.56 (T90); TC = 257.25 ± 92.88 (T0) and 207.25 ± 63.79 (T90). A reduction (p

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is characterized by thickening of the valve leaflets and omega-3 (ω-3) supplementation has been associated with modulation of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate, improvement of doppler echocardiographic indices, antiarrhythmic, anti-inflammatory and anti-dislipidemic effects in dogs and humans, although prospective studies of it single use are still absent in the veterinary literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of ω-3 supplementation in dogs with MMVD. Twenty-nine dogs were followed quarterly for 12 months by clinical evaluation, arterial blood pressure, electrocardiography, doppler echocardiography, thoracic radiography and laboratory tests including inflammatory mediators and cardiac biomarker blood concentrations. The dogs were classified in stages B2 and C, according to the classification proposed by ACVIM 2019. They were randomly assigned to either ω-3 group (ω-3G) or control group (CG). The ingestion of ω-3 reduced the chance of developing arrhythmias by 2.96 times (p = 0.003). The vertebral heart size (VHS) measurements were higher in the control group (p = 0.033). In conclusion, at the dosages used in this study, ω-3 dietary supplementation reduces the volumetric overload, has antiarrhythmic effect and keeps dogs with B2 and C stages of MMVD in milder stages of the disease.

Given the importance of using the vitamin-mineral supplements to guarantee the minimum nutritional recommendations for pets in homemade foods, and hypothesizing that these products may contribute to toxic metals contamination, the present study aimed to determine the concentrations of essential minerals and toxic metals in vitamin-mineral supplements available in the Brazilian market and calculate if the amount recommended by the manufacturer guarantees the minimum recommendations of NRC (2006) and FEDIAF (2020), as well as calculating the amount of toxic metals that animals would consume, according to the amounts recommended by the manufacturer. Seven vitamin-mineral supplements were analyzed. The determination of essential minerals and toxic metals was performed using ICP-OES. Comparisons were made with the minimum recommendations for essential minerals, and with the maximum tolerated levels of toxic metals established by the FDA (2011), descriptively. Most of the vitamin-mineral supplements, in the quantities recommended by the manufacturers, do not guarantee the minimum recommendations of NCR (2006) and FEDIAF (2020) for the following elements: calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc. Only one supplement had detectable selenium concentrations. Three supplements provided more than 0.02mg of mercury/kg of body weight, the safe upper limit used to establish the maximum tolerated level of this element. It is concluded that most vitamin-mineral supplements do not meet the minimum recommendations for most essential minerals and, if formulated by untrained professionals, even with supplementation, homemade foods may still be nutritionally deficient. Furthermore, some vitamin-mineral supplements analyzed may imply risks of mercury poisoning in pets.

Nowadays, there is a growing concern about contamination of toxic metals (TM) in pet food due to the great potential for health risks of these elements. TM concentrations in commercial pet foods (n = 100) as well as in ingredients used in their composition (n = 100) were analyzed and compared to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maximum tolerable level (MTL), and the TM concentrations found in the different sources of carbohydrate, protein, and fat were compared. The TM concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Concentrations above the MTL for aluminum, mercury, lead, uranium, and vanadium were observed in both dog and cat foods, and the percentage of dog foods that exceeded the MTL of these TM were: 31.9%; 100%; 80.55%; 95.83%; and 75%, respectively, and in cat foods: 10.71%; 100%; 32.14%; 85.71%; 28.57%, respectively. The MTL values of these TMs and the mean values in dog foods (mg/kg dry matter basis) (MTL [mean ± standard deviation]) were: aluminum: 200 (269.17 ± 393.74); mercury: 0.27 (2.51 ± 1.31); lead: 10 (12.55 ± 4.30); uranium: 10 (76.82 ± 28.09); vanadium: 1 (1.35 ± 0.69), while in cat foods were: aluminum: 200 (135.51 ± 143.95); mercury: 0.27 (3.47 ± 4.31); lead: 10 (9.13 ± 5.42); uranium: 10 (49.83 ± 29.18); vanadium: 1 (0.81 ± 0.77). Dry foods presented higher concentrations of most TM (P

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:45:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-10-01 The strong odour of faeces and excessive production of gases in some dog breeds have long been a concern of owners. The pet food industry uses nutritional alternatives, such as high-quality ingredients and additives, to improve the odour of faeces. However, there are still some dog breeds, such as the French Bulldog, that present this problem due to the presence into the large intestine of indigested protein. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the volatile compounds that influence the odour of dog faeces is important. This study aimed to identify changes of faecal odour compounds that are most prevalent in French Bulldogs based on food containing different high-quality protein sources and their effect in sensory analysis. Four maintenance foods with different protein sources were formulated: P, poultry meal food; W, wheat gluten food; PW, poultry meal and wheat gluten food; and PWH, poultry meal, wheat gluten, and hydrolysed protein food. Eight adult French Bulldogs were arranged in a 4x4 Latin square design and adapted to foods for 28 days. Fresh faeces were collected for analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sensory analysis. The means were compared by SAS, and statistical significance was indicated by p ≤ 0.05. No adverse effects were observed in the animals regarding VOCs, and a significant difference was observed in two of the 68 compounds identified. The animals fed a P food had higher concentrations of phenol in the faeces, whereas the indole compound was present at higher concentrations in animals fed the W food. P food was associated with higher odour perception during sensory evaluation. In summary, the source of protein in the foods had little impact on the composition of VOCs, and a greater perception of the odour was determined by sensory analysis when foods containing animal protein were administered. College of Animal Science and Food Engineering Sao Paulo State University Grandfood Indústria e Comércio Ltd Animal Nutrition and Production Department School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Pet Nutrology Research Center University of São Paulo (USP) Thomson Mass Spectrometry Laboratory Institute of Chemistry State University of Campinas College of Animal Science and Food Engineering Sao Paulo State University

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing dosages of a commercial product composed bySaccharomyces cerevisiaeyeast (YAM), with active metabolites, which are beta glucans, nucleotides, organic acids, polyphenols, amino acids, vitamins and minerals (Original XPCtm, Diamond V, IOWA, USA) added to a commercially available dry cat food. Apparent digestibility of dietary nutrients, fecal microbiota, fecal fermentation products and immunological parameters were evaluated. Twenty-seven healthy cats of mixed sexes, with a mean body weight of 4.19 ± 0.83 kg and a mean age of 9.44 ± 5.35 years were distributed by age in an unbalanced randomized block design, consisting of three experimental treatments: CD (control diet), YAM 0.3 (control diet with 0.3% yeast with active metabolites) and YAM 0.6 (control diet with 0.6% yeast with active metabolites).ResultsThe inclusion of the additive elevated the apparent digestibility of crude fiber (p = 0.013) and ash (p p = 0.004) while reducing isovaleric acid (p = 0.014), only in the treatment YAM 0.3. No differences were noticed on biogenic amines (BA), fecal pH, ammonia concentration, total and individuals short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and total and individuals branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) (except isovaleric acid in YAM 0.3). As regards to fecal microbiota, prebiotic inclusion has resulted in the reduction ofClostridium perfringens(p = 0.023). No differences were found in the immunological parameters evaluated.ConclusionIt can be concluded that the additive, at the levels of inclusion assessed shows prebiotic potential and it has effects on fecal fermentation products and microbiota without interfering on crude protein and dry matter digestibility. More studies evaluating grater inclusion levels of the prebiotic are necessary to determine optimal concentration.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent in dogs, and metabolomics investigation has been recently introduced for a better understanding of the role of diet in CKD. This study aimed to compare the serum metabolomic profile of healthy dogs (CG) and dogs with CKD (CKD-T0 and CKD-T6) to evaluate whether the diet would affect metabolites. Six dogs (5 females, 1 male, 7.47 ± 2.31 years old) with CKD stage 3 or 4 (IRIS) were included. CG consisted of 10 healthy female dogs (5.89 ± 2.57 years old) fed a maintenance diet. Serum metabolites were analyzed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were performed to assess differences in metabolomic profiles between groups and before (CKD-T0) and after renal diet (CKD-T6). Data analysis was performed on SIMCA-P software. Dogs with CKD showed an altered metabolic profile with increased urea, creatinine, creatine, citrate, and lipids. Lactate, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and glutamine were decreased in the CKD group. However, after 6 months of diet, the metabolite profiles of CKD-T0 and CKD-T6 were similar. Metabolomics profile may be useful to evaluate and recognize metabolic dysfunction and progression of CKD, and the diet may have helped maintain and retard the progression of CKD.

Background : The use of prescription diets for cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the main management approach of this disease in cats, and is considered a renoprotective strategy that may promote increased survival and/or improve quality of life, according to the stage of CKD. Besides that, nutritional assessment is important to monitor the maintenance of quality of life of the patients and their response to disease, especially those with chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to follow the clinical and nutritional status of cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) IRIS stages II, III and IV fed with a renal prescription diet, followed for 12 months. Materials, Methods & Results : Patients were fed exclusively with a dry renal prescription diet and medications for the management of CKD were prescribed when needed. Exclusion criteria were cats that already received a renal prescription diet or medications for the treatment of CKD. Cats were evaluated every 2 months, considering body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), muscle mass score (MMS), clinical and laboratory parameters. In all assessments, a complete blood count and biochemistry were performed by conventional methods with the patient fasted for 12 h. In addition, urinalysis, urinary protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) and urine culture were performed from a urine sample collected by cystocentesis. The quantitative variables were tested for their stability on consecutive assessments using the non-parametric Friedman test, and did not present significant variation during follow-up, except for systolic blood pressure (SBP). Eight cats with a diagnosis of CKD were included in the study and 6 of them remained in the same CKD stage during follow-up. On cat died due to an unrelated CKD cause. Regarding nutritional assessment, 5 of 7 cats maintained BW during the 12 months. Of these, 4 also maintained MMS and BCS. Three of 7 cats presented a decrease in MMS, 2 of which presented also a decreased BW and one maintained BW. Discussion : IRIS staging results combined with Friedman’s analysis demonstrated that the diet and the clinical management were effective in the non-progression of CKD in this study. As renal injury is not expected to be reversed in CKD, the maintenance of cats in the same IRIS stages and the minimum variation of the parameters is considered a positive result in this study. Hypertensive cats started on antihypertensive therapy during the study, achieving adequate control of SBP in most cases, what can justify the variation of this clinical parameter over the 12 months. Hyperphosphatemia was a frequent alteration, included stage II cats, and presented a positive response to nutritional and medical therapy. Despite CKD staging progression was not observed in most cats using serum creatinine as a single parameter, some cats presented BW and MMS reduction, which may have influenced this result. Weight loss and muscle wasting may have occurred by several reasons, including periods of hyporexia, presence of concomitant diseases, aging process or reduced protein content on renal prescription diets. This study enhances the importance of the association of clinical and nutritional management in the maintenance of cats with CKD. We suggest that other studies are done during longer periods of time and with a larger sample to support the results found. We also suggest new studies to evaluate the protein requirements for cats with CKD.

Prebiotics promote health benefits, however, there is no consensus on the minimal intake period required in order to obtain good results. This study evaluated the effect of the time of ingestion of prebiotics on fecal fermentation products and immunological features in dogs. Twenty-four adult dogs were randomly distributed in a block design with six groups and four treatments. Diet and intake period were variation factors. Diets were either a control diet without the addition of prebiotic (CO) or with the inclusion of 1% of a commercial product containing a minimum of 0.38% galactooligosaccharides (GOS), 0.5% (B1) or 1% (B2) of a prebiotic blend. Time variable was set at 30 and 60 days for evaluation of immunity and gut health. Results were analyzed in the Statistical Analysis System software (SAS), version 9.4, considering the repeated measures over time design, and means were compared by the Tukey test and p &lt, 0.05 was significant. Propionic acid was the only variable that had an interaction effect, with reduction of this metabolite in treatment B2 in the period of 60 days. At T60, concentrations of immunoglobulin A, lactic acid, and pH in the feces increased (p &lt, 0.05) in all treatments regardless of prebiotic inclusion or not. GOS increased fecal score and lactic acid concentrations. Therefore, a 60-day intake period of a prebiotic blend was not sufficient to modulate fecal and immune variables and higher concentrations of a single prebiotic would be more relevant for results.

Some differences regarding Vitamin D metabolism are described in dogs and cats in comparison with humans, which may be explained by an evolutionary drive among these species. Similarly, vitamin D is one of the most important regulators of mineral metabolism in dogs and cats, as well as in humans. Mineral metabolism is intrinsically related to bone metabolism, thus disturbances in vitamin D have been implicated in the development of chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD) in people, in addition to dogs and cats. Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with Renal Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (RSHPT), which is the most common mineral disorder in later stages of CKD in dogs and cats. Herein, we review the peculiarities of vitamin D metabolism in these species in comparison with humans, and the role of vitamin D disturbances in the development of CKD-MBD among dogs, cats, and people. Comparative studies may offer some evidence to help further research about vitamin D metabolism and bone disorders in CKD.

Background The knowledge of how owners view the body condition of their animals is an important factor for the success of the prevention/treatment of obesity and the engagement/adherence to nutritional interventions, which are fundamental to improve the animal prognosis. For this reason, the objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of the owners regarding the body condition score of their animals, compare the perception between cat vs. dog owners, and owners from the countryside vs. metropolitan region of São Paulo State in Brazil. Results 601 dogs and 110 cats were included in this study. There was no significant difference in body condition score assigned by owners by species. Owners of dogs and cats classified by the veterinarian as ideal, overweight, and obese who disagree with body condition score assigned by veterinarian mainly underestimate the body condition score of their animals, while lean dogs’ owners overestimate it. Countryside dog owners had a higher rate of disagreement with the veterinarian and more often underestimate the body condition score than owners from the metropolitan region. The owners of lean cats have the same judgments with veterinarians. Conclusions Owners of dogs and cats have difficulty assessing the body condition score, especially owners from countryside.

Canine obesity is associated with comorbidities, a shortened lifespan, and a poorer quality of life, but epidemiological studies characterizing canine obesity in Latin America are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of canine obesity in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the possible associated causal factors. Randomly-selected households from different city regions were visited. Dogs in each household were evaluated and owners completed a questionnaire whilst their anthropometric measures were taken. Total of 285 dogs from 221 owners were included, and the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was 40.5%. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was greater in female dogs (P = 0.003) and in dogs that were neutered (P = 0.001). There was also a positive association between BCS and frequency of visits to a veterinarian (P = 0.026), feeding frequency (P = 0.033), and higher snack intake (P = 0.011). Further, the BCS of dogs was greater when their owners reported consuming more snacks themselves (P = 0.005) and whose had a presence of elderly people in the household (P = 0.006). In conclusion, the prevalence of obesity found in a Brazilian metropolitan region was similar to that if other countries, and neutering and snack intake were associated with the development of this disease.

The present study aimed to verify and compare the costs of homemade diets with extruded and wet commercial diets for dogs in maintenance and consuming therapeutic diets (obesity, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hepatic encephalopathy, chronic kidney disease, and food hypersensitivity), which is important information that impacts in the choice of food by the owners. The maintenance energy requirements (MER) were estimated for adult dogs of different sizes (3 kg, 15 kg, 30 kg, and 50 kg) and the daily amounts of food intake were estimated for each type of food. The costs were calculated per day, per 1000 kcal of metabolizable energy of product and per kg of metabolic weight of the animal. Fourteen complete and balanced homemade diets were formulated, and in each proposed group, two diets with different protein sources were used. Under the conditions of the present study, it was possible to conclude that homemade diets were more expensive than dry maintenance diets and dry therapeutic diets, while commercial wet diets were more expensive in all of the scenarios.

Nos ultimos anos a relacao entre seres humanos e animais de companhia estreitou-se consideravelmente e houve uma expansao da gama de produtos da industria pet food disponiveis no mercado. Nesse contexto, os petiscos ganharam maior popularidade, uma vez que os tutores buscam agradar seus pets com esse tipo de alimento. Devido a crescente importância do segmento de petiscos, ha a necessidade de informacoes precisas sobre a composicao nutricional desses produtos, como o teor de gordura, uma vez que nao foram encontrados estudos que avaliassem a eficacia dos metodos de determinacao do teor deste nutriente em petiscos destinados a caes e o excesso de minerais pode implicar em riscos para a saude. Assim, o presente trabalho comparou tres metodologias para determinacao de gordura em petiscos para caes, e tambem determinou os seus respectivos teores de umidade, calcio e fosforo, cujos resultados foram comparados aos valores declarados pelos fabricantes nos rotulos dos produtos. Os metodos de determinacao da gordura avaliados foram: extrato etereo (EE), extrato etereo apos hidrolise acida (EEHA) e teor de gordura obtido em analisador Ankom XT15 (ANKOM). Vinte e quatro petiscos produzidos por 17 empresas foram avaliados. Os resultados das tres metodologias de determinacao da gordura foram comparados com o emprego do teste Tukey. A comparacao entre os resultados das analises laboratoriais e os valores declarados nos rotulos foi realizada por meio de estatistica descritiva. Nao houve diferenca entre os tres metodos avaliados (p = 0,34) em relacao ao teor de gordura dos petiscos examinados. Em relacao a conformidade nutricional dos rotulos, 25% (n = 6) dos petiscos apresentaram teor de umidade superior ao declarado, 50% (n = 12) apresentaram menor teor de gordura; 25% (n = 6) menor teor de fosforo e, em 50% (n = 12) deles, o teor de calcio estava fora da faixa minima e maxima declarada no rotulo. Portanto, devido a ausencia de diferenca entre os resultados, as tres metodologias de determinacao de gordura podem ser utilizadas. Quanto a conformidade dos rotulos em relacao aos teores de calcio, fosforo e gordura, e necessario maior controle sobre a composicao nutricional desses alimentos, uma vez que a maioria dos tutores fornece petiscos em elevadas quantidades para os caes, que podem determinar excessivo consumo de energia.

Chronic kidney disease is a common disease in dogs, and factors such as serum concentrations of creatinine, albumin, and phosphorus at the moment of diagnosis may influence the survival of these patients. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the relationship between survival in dogs with chronic kidney disease and laboratory parameters (creatinine, phosphorus, albumin, and hematocrit) and nutritional parameters (body condition score, muscle mass score, type of food, appetite and feeding method). A total of 116 dogs with chronic kidney disease stages 2 to 4 were included, and survival was calculated considering the time between diagnosis and death. Survival curves were configurated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and a comparison between survival curves was performed by the log-rank test. Factors related to survival were disease stage (p

Neutering or spaying is a commonly recommended veterinary procedure. However, veterinarians are often confronted with conflicting findings and differences in concepts regarding practice and proper nutritional management after the procedure. The objective of the present review was to bring to light the most recent literature, summarise it and discuss the findings focusing on the risks and benefits of neutering in dogs and cats, and to determine the appropriate nutritional management for these animals.

Background Hyperlipidaemia is considered a cause of other diseases that are clinically important and potentially life threatening. Combination of pea and barley as exclusive starch sources is known to interfere with glycemic control in diabetic dogs, but their effect on lipid profile of hiperlipidaemic dogs is yet to be evaluated. Twelve adult diabetic dogs were fed three dry extruded diets with different starch sources and different fat levels: peas and barley (PB), maize (Mi), and peas, barley and rice (Ba) with 15.7, 15.6 and 9.0% of their dry matter as fat, respectively. Plasmatic cholesterol and triglycerides concentration curves over 10 h were obtained after 60 days on each diet and with the same NPH insulin dose. ANOVA test or Friedman test were used to compare the dietary effects on triglycerides and cholesterol variables among the diets. Results Dogs presented lower mean (p = 0.05), fasting (p = 0.03), and time 8-h postprandial (p = 0.05) triglyceridemia after PB diet period than Ba diet period and time 4-h postprandial (p = 0.02) lower after PB than Mi diet. Cholesterolemia mean, minimum, maximum, area under the cholesterol curve and times points: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10-h postprandial, had lower values after PB ingestion in comparison to Mi, without difference to Ba diet. Conclusion Inclusion of pea and barley, as exclusive starch sources, in therapeutic diets for diabetic dogs can minimize plasmatic triglycerides and cholesterol concentration at fasting and at different postprandial time, compared to the maize diet or diet with lesser fat content.

Foi realizada uma revisão sobre a fisiopatogenia, sinais clínicos, diagnóstico e principais tratamentos e técnicas para o desvio portossistêmico em pequenos animais. As fontes pesquisadas foram: CAB, MEDILINE por um período retrospectivo de 20 anos e acervos da Biblioteca da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ) da Universidade de São Paulo (USP). O desvio portossistêmico congênito (DPSC) é uma das anormalidades vasculares mais comuns em cães, as raças de pequeno porte apresentam maior incidência. Os DPSCs em cães e gatos são comunicações vasculares que ocorrem do sistema venoso portal para o sistema venoso sistêmico, ou seja, fazem uma via secundária. Há dois tipos de DPSCs, intra-hepático e extra-hepático, observados com frequência em raças de grande porte e miniaturas, respectivamente. O diagnóstico é baseado no histórico de animais jovens com retardo de crescimento, letargia, convulsão ou distúrbio de comportamento principalmente após alimentação, retorno demorado de anestesia ou sedação, crise de encefalopatia hepática, em raças predispostas. A confirmação do vaso anômalo é realizada pela ultrassonografia com doppler, angiografia por tomografia computadorizada ou por ressonância magnética. O manejo clínico pode aliviar sinais clínicos de encefalopatia hepática, porém em longo prazo, é questionável, pois o fluxo sanguíneo portal continua desviado para a circulação sistêmica, comprometendo a distribuição de fatores hepatotróficos ao fígado e ocorrendo uma contínua atrofia do mesmo. O único tratamento definitivo é o cirúrgico, idealmente com técnica que atenue progressivamente o vaso anômalo e evite a hipertensão portal aguda. Dentre as técnicas de tratamento cirúrgico descritas o uso de ameroide constrictor apresenta-se como uma das formas mais seguras a obtenção do fechamento do desvio. Entretanto, os portadores de DPSC podem sofrer de complicações perioperatórias graves e necessitam de abordagem clínicocirúrgica específica, associado a um diagnóstico por imagem precisa para a correta localização do vaso anômalo e sucesso cirúrgico.

The objective of this study was to compare the dosages for anesthesia induction in obese dogs using propofol based on lean body weight or total body weight. For this purpose, seven dogs with ideal body condition score (BCS) (BCS 4-5; 17.3 ± 2.5% fat mass) were included in the control group (CG), seven obese dogs (BCS 8-9; 45.7 ± 2.9% fat mass) in the total body weight group (TBWG) and seven obese dogs (BCS 8-9; 42.8 ± 6.3% fat mass) in the lean body weight group (LBWG). Anaesthesia was induced by a constant rate infusion of propofol at 150 mg kg−1 hour−1 through a propofol infusion pump until the loss of consciousness; the animals in CG and TBWG received a propofol infusion based on total body weight; the animals in LBWG received a propofol infusion based on lean body mass (in kg) determined by the deuterium dilution method. The results were compared between the groups using the Tukey test (p < 0.05). The propofol dosage used was 11.4 ± 3.2 mg kg−1, 8.0± 2.0 mg kg−1 and 14.1 ± 4.7 mg kg−1 in groups CG, TBWG and LBWG, respectively, and they were different among all groups (p < 0.001). There was also a statistical difference in the time between the start of propofol infusion and loss of consciousness in which LBWG took longer than CG and TBWG (p = 0.004). This study shows that obese dogs require lower dosages of propofol when inducing anesthesia than ideal BCS dogs anesthetized with dosages based on total body weight, when the propofol dosages are calculated on the basis of muscle mass it should be increased.

Due to the presence of receptors in the cells of numerous body tissues, vitamin D is associated with several physiological functions that go beyond calcium and phosphorus homoeostasis and control of bone metabolism in the body. In humans, several studies have associated lower vitamin D concentrations with numerous diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases, and also with an increase in the total mortality rate of the population. Recently, this nutrient started to gain importance in veterinary medicine, and several articles have shown a correlation between low vitamin D status and diseases unrelated to bone metabolism. The present review aims to highlight the recent publications that investigated this relationship, bringing the evidence that exists so far in dogs and cats.

O cálcio (Ca) é um macroelemento que faz parte da composição mineral da dieta de animais de companhia. Este macroelemento é considerado um cátion de forte capacidade alcalinizante e, de acordo com a fonte e quantidade inclusa, pode aumentar o pH urinário. Os sais de cálcio têm diferentes solubilidades e dependendo do ânion ao qual o cálcio está associado, pode ser mais ou menos absorvido e assim, alterar o pH da urina. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de duas fontes de cálcio na alcalinização do pH urinário, bem como a excreção de eletrólitos urinários e o equilíbrio ácido-básico de felinos. Foi selecionada uma dieta extrusada para gatos e adicionados 160mEq/kg de cálcio das fontes carbonato de cálcio (CaCO3) ou gluconato de cálcio (C12H22CaO14). No tratamento controle, não houve adição de fontes de cálcio. Foram utilizados nove gatos adultos, de raças mistas, em dois períodos experimentais, com seis repetições por tratamento. Os animais apresentavam idade média de 4,0±1,3 anos e peso corporal médio de 3,96±0,71kg. Estes permaneceram em gaiolas metabólicas em período de adaptação durante sete dias, seguido de coleta total de urina durante seis dias. Nestas amostras foram aferidos o volume, densidade, pH e concentração de cálcio (g/d) O equilíbrio ácido-básico foi avaliado por hemogasometria em amostras de sangue venoso. As duas fontes de cálcio alcalinizaram a urina (P

This study evaluated the effects of increasing concentrations of spray-dried yeast cell wall (YCW) in diets for healthy adult cats on apparent nutrient digestibility and on bacterial composition and fermentation products in the stool. Fourteen cats with an average weight of 4.40 ± 1.05 kg and an average age of 6.2 ± 0.54 years were used and assigned to treatments in an unbalanced randomized block design (by experimental period) with two blocks and three or four cats per diet in each block. Treatments included: control (0% YCW), 0.2% YCW, 0.4% YCW and 0.6% YCW, totalling seven animals per experimental diet. We found that YCW did not affect body weight, nutrient and food intake, faecal production, faecal score, faecal pH or urine output (p > .05). Regarding faecal bacteria, we observed a linear reduction in Clostridium perfringens, a quadratic reduction in Escherichia coli, and linear increases in Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. (p

As a consequence of the increasing number of dog and cat owners, the pet food industry is expanding the range of pet food products in the market. In order to obtain more necessary information about the wet food segment for dogs and cats, the aim of this study was to determine the nutritional composition, to evaluate the information declared on the labels, and to compare the composition with the FEDIAF recommendations for protein and fat. Furthermore, three different methodologies of fat analysis were compared: crude fat (CFa), crude fat after acid hydrolysis (CFAH), and fat content obtained with Ankom XT15 (ANKOM) to determine the most adequate method for fat determination in wet foods. Twenty-five wet food products were evaluated, 13 wet foods for dogs and 12 for cats. Centesimal composition analyses obtained in this study were compared with guaranteed analysis declared on the label and with FEDIAF minimum recommended requirements for each species. The results of the nutritional composition and the values described on the label and the evaluation of the three fat determination methods were compared using the mixed model test with repeated measurements in the same samples, respectively (p < 0.05) in the SAS program, evaluation of protein adequacy and fat content were analyzed by mathematical calculations of difference and proportion. No difference was observed between nutritional composition of wet foods and the values declared on the labels for the majority of the diets analyzed, and there was a predominance of products that exceeded FEDIAF minimum recommendations of protein and fat for both species. No difference was observed between the three methods of fat content evaluation (p = 0.68). It was concluded that wet foods evaluated in this study match the label information and FEDIAF nutrient requirement recommendations, considering recommended calorie intake. All three fat determination methodologies evaluated were similar, justifying the choice of the easiest or cheapest method. Devido ao aumento do número de cães e gatos domiciliados, a indústria de alimentos para animais de estimação tem expandido a gama de produtos existentes no mercado de pet food. Para obter informações mais relevantes sobre o segmento de alimentos úmidos para cães e gatos, este trabalho determinou a composição nutricional, avaliou as informações declaradas nos rótulos e comparou a composição com as recomendações da Fediaf de proteína e gordura. Também foram comparadas três metodologias diferentes de análise de gordura: extrato etéreo (CFa), extrato etéreo após hidrólise ácida (CFAH) e teor de gordura obtido no analisador Ankom XT15 (ANKOM) para determinar o método mais adequado de avaliação de gordura em alimentos úmidos. Foram avaliadas 25 marcas de alimentos úmidos, 13 para cães e 12 para gatos. As análises de composição centesimal obtidas neste estudo foram comparadas com a informação nutricional declarada nos rótulos e com as necessidades mínimas recomendadas pela Fediaf para cada espécie. Os resultados da composição nutricional, os valores descritos no rótulo e a avaliação dos três métodos para determinação da gordura foram comparados com o emprego do teste t e modelo misto com medidas repetidas nas mesmas amostras, respectivamente (p < 0,05) no programa SAS. Já a avaliação da adequação nutricional de proteína e do teor de gordura foram analisados por cálculos matemáticos de diferença e proporção. Para a maioria dos alimentos avaliados não foi observada diferença entre a composição nutricional dos alimentos úmidos e os valores declarados em rótulo, e houve predominância de produtos que excederam as recomendações mínimas de proteína e gordura da Fediaf para ambas as espécies. Quanto às metodologias de extração de gordura, não foi observada diferença entre os três métodos avaliados (p = 0,68). Concluiu-se que os alimentos úmidos avaliados atendem às informações declaradas pelos fabricantes e também às recomendações nutricionais da Fediaf com base na ingestão energética recomendada. Em relação às metodologias avaliadas para determinação de gordura nestes alimentos, a similaridade entre tais resultados justifica o uso da técnica de maior facilidade ou de menor custo.

An integrated study on the effect of renal diet on mineral metabolism, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), total antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory markers has not been performed previously. In this study, we evaluated the effects of renal diet on mineral metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation in dogs with stage 3 or 4 of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Body condition score (BCS), muscle condition score (MCS), serum biochemical profile, ionized calcium (i-Ca), total calcium (t-Ca), phosphorus (P), urea, creatinine, parathyroid hormone (PTH), FGF-23, interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-&alpha, ) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured at baseline (T0) and after 6 months of dietary treatment (T6). Serum urea, P, t-Ca, i-Ca, PTH, FGF-23, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-&alpha, and TAC measurements did not differ between T0 and T6. Serum creatinine (SCr) was increased at T6 and serum PTH concentrations were positively correlated with serum SCr and urea. i-Ca was negatively correlated with urea and serum phosphorus was positively correlated with FGF-23. Urea and creatinine were positively correlated. The combination of renal diet and support treatment over 6 months in dogs with CKD stage 3 or 4 was effective in controlling uremia, acid&ndash, base balance, blood pressure, total antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory cytokine levels and in maintaining BCS and MCS.

Pet owners often don’t acknowledge the need for home-prepared diet formulation by a trained professional and may use recipes from sources such as the internet. Macronutrient and mineral composition of home-prepared diets were analyzed and compared to NRC and FEDIAF recommendations, and heavy metal concentrations were analyzed and compared to FDA maximum tolerable levels (MTL) for dogs and cats. Recipes of home-prepared diets for adult dogs (n = 75) and cats (n = 25) were evaluated. Analyses of protein, fat, and fiber were performed according to AOAC, and mineral and heavy metal analyses were performed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). None of the diets supplied recommended levels of all nutrients evaluated, and more than 84.0% of diets presented three or more nutrients below recommendations. Nutrients with most levels below recommendations were calcium and potassium in recipes for dogs and iron and zinc in recipes for cats. As for heavy metals, levels of lead, cobalt, mercury, uranium, and vanadium were above MTLs. Results suggest that home-prepared diets may be a health risk to dogs and cats if not properly formulated. Furthermore, the chronic heavy metal intake must be better elucidated in order to understand the full impact of results.

Obesity is characterized by a low degree of chronic inflammation state that, along with metabolic modifications, promotes important changes in the animal's organism. Adipose tissue actively participates in inflammation and immunity, and several defense cells of the organism may, therefore, be involved in the diversity found between obese and ideal weight individuals. Studies regarding this subject have shown immune cell changes in humans and rats, however, the literature is scarce in relation to dogs. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the gene expression profile of immunoinflammatory response and the lymphoproliferation of obese dogs before and after weight loss. Eight female dogs, neutered, of different breeds, aged between 1 and 8 years (4.74±3.19), obese, with body condition score (BCS) of 9 out of a 9-point scale and body composition determined by the deuterium isotope dilution method were included. The obese dogs were enrolled in a weight loss program and after losing 20% of their initial weight became a second experimental group. A third experimental group consisted of eight female dogs, neutered, aged between 1 and 8 years (3.11±0.78) and with ideal BCS (5 out of a 9-point scale). Gene expression of immunoinflammatory cytokines (resistin, leptin, adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) was assessed by qRT-PCR and immunity was assessed by lymphoproliferative response using the flow cytometry technique. The data that presented normal distribution was evaluated by analysis of variance by the PROC MIXED of the SAS and when differences were detected, these were compared by the Tukey test. Regarding the gene expression data, the procedure PROC GLIMMIX was adopted and the methodology of generalized linear model was used, in which the Gama distribution proved to be adequate. Values of p

Canine obesity is associated with genetic, environmental, and behavioural factors, with the latter including both the behaviour of the dog and the owner. Knowledge about owner perception of canine obesity and its treatment can inform the development of new strategies to help prevent and manage this disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the opinions of dog owners regarding canine obesity and weight management. Dog owners residing in the city of Sao Paulo (Brazil) completed a questionnaire, either at home or in the waiting rooms of 3 veterinary hospitals. Owners determined their dog’s body condition score (BCS), and this was compared with BCS determined by a veterinarian. Questionnaire findings from dogs that were in overweight (BCS 6-7/9) or obese (BCS (8-9/9) condition were compared with those in ideal weight (4-5/9) using chi-square tests and odds ratios. A total of 926 dogs were included, of which 480 (52%), 317 (34%) and 129 (14%) were in ideal, overweight and obese condition, respectively. Many owners under-estimated their dog’s weight status, with the proportion increasing as the dog’s weight status increased (ideal 60/480, 13%; overweight 174/317, 55%; obese 88/129, 68%; P

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two prebiotics in different concentrations on nutrient digestibility, fermentative products and immunological variables in adult dogs. Twenty-four adult dogs were randomly divided into six blocks according to their metabolic body weights (BW0.75); within these groups, dogs were randomized to four treatments: control without prebiotics (CO); inclusion of 0.5% prebiotic blend Yes-Golf (B1); inclusion of 1.0% galactooligosaccharide (GOS); and inclusion of 1.0% prebiotic blend Yes-Golf (B2). The experiment lasted 30 days, with 20 days adaptation and 10 days stool and blood collection. Results were analyzed for normality and means were separated by ANOVA and adjusted by the Tukey test at the significance level of 5.0%. Prebiotic supplementation had no effect on apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC), total stool production and fecal scores (p > 0.05). Prebiotics evaluated also did not alter fecal pH, nor the concentrations of ammonia, lactic acid, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and most fecal branched chain fatty acids (BCFA) (p > 0.05). The addition of GOS decreased the concentration of iso-valeric acid (p = 0.0423). Regarding immunological variables, concentrations of fecal IgA were not influenced by the treatments. Treatments GOS and B2 increased the total number of polymorphonuclear cells, as well as the oxidative burst in relation to treatments B1 and CO (p < 0.0001). Treatment B2 improved the rate of S. aureus phagocytosis in relation to CO (p = 0.0111), and both the GOS and B2 treatments had a better index for E. coli phagocytosis than the CO treatment (p = 0.0067). In conclusion, there was indication that both prebiotics GOS and B2 at 1.0% inclusion improved the immunity of healthy dogs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the macronutrients composition, fatty acid and amino acid profiles, and essential minerals content of all vegan foods for dogs and cats available in the Brazilian market, and to compare results with FEDIAF (2019) and AAFCO (2019) recommendations. Four vegan pet foods were assessed (three for dogs and one for cats). The comparisons were made in a descriptive manner. All foods met the minimum recommendations for macronutrients. Arachidonic acid was not reported in any food label. Regarding the FEDIAF recommendations, one food for dogs had low calcium, another had low potassium and a third had low sodium. The cat food presented potassium content lower than recommended. The Ca:P ratio did not meet the minimum recommendation of FEDIAF (2019) and AAFCO (2019) in any of the dog's foods analyzed, and the cat food also did not present the minimum recommendation based on FEDIAF (2019). Copper concentrations exceeded the legal limit in all foods. Zinc concentrations exceeded this limit in two foods (one for dogs and one for cats) and iron levels exceeded the legal limit in one dog food. One of the dog foods did not meet the minimum recommendation for methionine and the cat food did not meet the minimum recommendation for arginine. In addition, when the amount of nutrients consumed by animals with low energy requirements was simulated, in addition to the same non-conformities described above, it was observed that the cat food does not meet the minimum recommended of protein and taurine in unit/Kg0.67. It was concluded that all foods analyzed had one or more nutrients below the recommended levels and some presented zinc and copper excess, therefore, these foods should not be recommended for dogs and cats, because dietary deficiencies found may lead to health risks for dogs and cats. Furthermore, manufacturers should review their formulations to ensure the nutritional adequacy of these foods.

Highlights • Aging can promote changes in the immune system in dogs. • Nutritional intervention in older dogs aims to increase lifespan. • The yeast cell wall comprises β-(1,3)-D-glucan, β-(1,6)-D-glucan and mannoproteins. • Elderly dogs when compared to adult dogs had lower absolute T and B lymphocyte counts. • Mannoproteins stimulated acquired and innate immune responses in adult and elderly dogs., Nutritional intervention in older dogs aims to increase lifespan and improve life quality as well as delay the development of diseases related to ageing. It is believed that active fractions of mannoproteins (AFMs) obtained through extraction and fractionation of yeast cell walls (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) may beneficially modulate the immune system. However, studies that have evaluated this component and the effects of ageing on the immune system of dogs are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the immunological effects of AFMs in adult and elderly dogs. Three extruded iso-nutrient experimental diets were formulated: without addition of AFM (T0); with AFM at 400 mg/kg (T400); and with AFM at 800 mg/kg (T800). Thirty-six beagle dogs were used, and six experimental treatments, resulting in combinations of age (adult and elderly) and diet (T0, T400, and T800), were evaluated. On days zero, 14, and 28, blood samples were obtained for leucocyte phenotyping and phagocytosis assays. On days zero and 28, a lymphoproliferation test, quantification of reactive oxygen (H2O2) and nitrogen (NO) intermediate production, evaluation of faecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) content, and a delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity test (DCHT) were performed. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS software. Repeated measure variance analyses were performed, and means were compared by the Tukey test. Values of P ≤ 0.05 were considered significant, and values of P ≤ 0.10 were considered tendencies. Dogs fed T400 tended to have higher neutrophilic phagocytic activity than dogs fed T800 (P = 0.073). Regarding reactive oxygen intermediates, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neutrophils from animals that were fed T400 had a tendency to produce more H2O2 than those from animals fed the control diet (P = 0.093). Elderly dogs, when compared to adult dogs, had lower absolute T and B lymphocyte counts, lower auxiliary T lymphocyte counts, and higher cytotoxic T lymphocyte counts (P

Background Canine obesity is the cause of several health issues, and may predispose other diseases, such as orthopaedic disorders, endocrinopathies, metabolic abnormalities and cardiorespiratory disease which can lead to a decreased quality of life and reduced lifespan. Dog are considered overweight when their body weight is ≥15% above their ideal body weight, and as obese when their body weight exceeds 30% of optimal. Prevalence of canine obesity is estimated to be around 5%–20%, and up to 30%–40% when all overweight dogs are considered. Treatment is based on weight loss programmes, focused on caloric restriction associated with exercise. However, success rate of treatment is low. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons for weight loss failure of obese dogs during treatment with low‐calorie diets. Methods Records of obese dogs undergoing weight loss programmes between May 2014 and May 2017, assessed by a team specialized in veterinary nutrition, were retrospectively evaluated. Dogs were classified according to weekly weight loss rate (WWLR) (, Association between features of 73 obese dogs undergoing a weight loss program and weekly weight loss rate.

Com o presente estudo, objetivou-se comparar três diferentes metodologias para determinação de gordura: extrato etéreo (EE), extrato etéreo após hidrólise ácida (EEHA) e determinação pelo analisador Ankom XT15 (ANKOM), em petiscos para cães; avaliar os teores de cálcio e fósforo nesses alimentos, bem como comparar os resultados com os valores declarados nos rótulos. Os resultados das três metodologias foram comparados através do teste t (p

The source of starch may interfere with glycaemic control in dogs, but few studies have evaluated these aspects in diabetic dogs. This study compared the effects of two isonutrient diets with different starch sources, peas and barley (PB) v. maize (Mi), on diabetic dogs. The Mi diet was processed in order to generate a lower starch gelatinisation index. In all, fifteen adult diabetic dogs without other conditions were included. The animals were fed two dry extruded rations with moderate levels of fat and starch and high levels of protein and fibre using a random, double-blind cross-over design. Glycaemic curves over 48 h were developed via continuous glucose monitoring after 60 d on each diet and with the same neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin dosage. The following were compared: fasting, mean, maximum and minimum blood glucose, maximum and minimum glycaemia difference, glycaemic increment, area under the glycaemic curve, area under the glycaemic increment curve and serum fructosamine concentration. Paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare the amount of food and nutrients ingested and the dietary effects on glycaemic variables between the diets. Dogs fed the PB diet presented a lower average mean interstitial glucose (P=0·01), longer mean hypoglycaemic time (PPP=0·03). Thus, the processing applied to the Mi diet was not sufficient to achieve the same effects of PB on glycaemic control in diabetic dogs.

EnglishUrolithiasis is a common disorder in the veterinary clinic and is considered as one of the most frequently cause of morbidity. This disorder is closely associated with urinary pH and nutrition plays a key role in the control of this disease, because through dietary manipulation it is possible to modify the urinary pH. Sulfur is considered macroelement with a strong influence on the acid-base status and may be crucial to control urinary pH in cats. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of addition of different sources of sulfur (S) in the diet of cats on the urinary parameters and acid-base balance. Forty-two healthy adult cats were divided into 3 groups, and each group of 14 cats received 7 diets in a complete randomized block design. Calcium sulfate (CaSO4), DL-methionine (DLM) and methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) were added to a control diet in two levels (1.28g S/kg and 2.56g S/kg) to formulate 6 other experimental diets. The acid-base balance was evaluated by hemogasometry in samples of venous blood. The DLM at the highest level and MHA differed of the control diet in relation to urinary pH (P Key words: calcium sulfate; felines; methionine; methionine hydroxy analogue; urolithiasis portuguesA urolitiase e uma desordem comum na clinica veterinaria, considerada como uma das maiores causas de morbidade. Esta desordem esta intimamente associada ao pH urinario sendo que a nutricao desempenha papel fundamental no controle dessa doenca, pois atraves da manipulacao dietetica e possivel modificar o pH urinario. O enxofre e considerado um macroelemento com forte influencia no equilibrio acido-basico e pode ser crucial para controlar o pH urinario em gatos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da adicao de diferentes fontes de enxofre (S) na dieta de gatos nos parâmetros urinarios e no equilibrio acido-basico destes animais. 42 gatos adultos saudaveis foram divididos em 3 grupos e cada grupo de 14 gatos recebeu 7 dietas em um delineamento de blocos ao acaso. O sulfato de calcio (CaSO4), a DL-metionina (DLM) e a metionina hidroxi-analoga (MHA) foram adicionados a uma dieta controle em dois niveis (1,28g S/kg e 2,56g S/kg) para formular outras 6 dietas experimentais. O equilibrio acido-basico foi avaliado por hemogasometria em amostras de sangue venoso. O DLM no teor mais alto e MHA diferiram da dieta controle em relacao ao pH urinario (P Palavras-chave: felinos; metionina; metionina hidroxi-analoga; sulfato de calcio; urolitiase

Coprophagia is a common canine habit, although it is aversive for human beings. Despite absence of clinical risk to animals and their owners, this behavior may lead the owners to get rid of their dogs. The lack of information and effective corrective methods make it difficult for veterinary clinicians to contribute to eradication of this problem. The objective of this study was to evaluate nutritional, behavioral, and hereditary aspects involved in the manifestation of coprophagia in dogs, the effectiveness of the most common corrective methods, and the perception of owners about the subject through a questionnaire designed for coprophagic and non–coprophagic dogs’ owners. Owners of 70 adult animals were interviewed, of which 42.8% (n = 30/70) were coprophagic and 57.1% (n = 40/70) were non-coprophagic. There was no difference between sex, habits, lifestyle, habitat, number of meals, nutritional background, commercial diet, and reproductive status. However, development of coprophagia appears to be influenced by the presence of a coprophagic cohabitant.

The aim of this study was to explore the role of early central parenteral nutrition support with and without lipid emulsion in enterectomized dogs undergoing small bowel partial resection. Enterectomized dogs often cannot be fed properly via an oral or enteral route immediately post-surgery. After enterectomy, the animals received parenteral nutrition or crystalloid solution until they were able to voluntarily take in an oral diet. All dogs were recruited at the University of Sao Paulo veterinary teaching hospital. Eighteen dogs with intussusception, a foreign intestinal body, linear foreign intestinal body, or intussusception associated with a foreign intestinal body underwent enterectomy surgery and were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: crystalloid solution (CS group), parenteral nutrition with a mix of glucose and amino acids (GA group) or parenteral nutrition with a mix of glucose, amino acids and lipids (GAL group). A serum chemistry panel and complete blood count were collected prior to surgery and at the end of the study. Albumin increased in the GA and GAL group (p=0.042 and p=0.038 respectively) after hospitalization, but no significant differences were identified among the groups. Body weight decreased by 4.9% (p=0.042) in the CS group, but there were no significant changes in the GAL and GA groups. There was a significant decrease in the recovery scores in the GA and GAL groups during hospitalization (p=0.039 in both groups). Early parenteral nutrition was beneficial for patient recovery in post-surgical small bowel partial resection, indicating better quality, and no major complications or side effects were observed during the hospitalization period in the studied dogs. RESUMO: O objetivo desse estudo era estudar os efeitos da nutrição parenteral central precoce com e sem emulsão lipídica em cães submetidos à ressecção parcial do intestino delgado. Os cães enterectomizados frequentemente não conseguem ser adequadamente alimentados por via oral ou enteral no pós-cirúrgico imediato. Após a enterectomia, os animais receberam nutrição parenteral ou solução cristaloide até o momento em que fossem capazes de alimentar-se voluntariamente por via oral. Todos os animais foram selecionados no hospital veterinário da Universidade de São Paulo. Dezoito cães diagnosticados com intussuscepção, corpo estranho intestinal, corpo estranho linear ou intussuscepção associada com corpo estranho intestinal foram submetidos à enterectomia e aleatoriamente alocados para receber um dos três tratamentos: solução cristaloide (grupo CS), nutrição parenteral com mistura de glicose e aminoácidos (grupo GA) ou nutrição parental com mistura de glicose e lipídios (grupo GAL). Hemograma e bioquímica sérica foram coletados antes da cirurgia e no final do estudo. Houve aumento de albumina no grupo GA e GAL (p=0,042 e p=0,038 respectivamente) após a hospitalização, mas não houve diferença significativa entre grupos. O peso corpóreo diminuiu cerca de 4,9% (p=0,042) no grupo CS mas não houve alterações significativas no grupo GAL e GA. Houve uma diminuição significativa no escore de recuperação no grupo GA e GAL durante a hospitalização (p=0,039 em ambos os grupos). A nutrição parenteral precoce mostrou-se benéfica para a recuperação no pós-operatório dos cães submetidos à ressecção parcial do intestino delgado, sinalizando uma melhora na qualidade da recuperação e ausência de grandes complicações ou efeitos colaterais durante o período de hospitalização dos animais estudados.

Porphyromonas gulae is one of the key microorganisms in biofilm dysbiosis that leads to periodontal disease, a prevalent disease in cats. Gingipains are proteases secreted that promote the disruption of cell adhesion and the differentiation of osteoclasts. The use of anti-gingipain immunoglobulin Y (IgY-GP) has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional prevention and treatment methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of IgY-GP on different parameters related to oral health in cats. Twenty adult mixed-breed cats were divided into 2 groups of 10 cats fed with 2 extruded diets differing only by coating. The control group received a coating of 4 g/kg of powdered egg and the test group received a coating of 4 g/kg of IgY-GP. The experiment followed a crossover design with 2 periods, each lasting 40 days with a washout period of 30 days. The evaluated parameters were plaque, calculus, gingivitis index, and percentage of Porphyromonas gingivalis of the oral cavity (%PG-OC) at baseline and after 40 days of diet consumption. All cats remained healthy throughout the study and no adverse reactions or side effects were observed. After 40 days of IgY-GP consumption, the plaque index was significantly lower compared to the baseline ( P = .0133). There were no significant changes in calculus index, gingivitis index, and %PG-OC between groups after 40 days ( P > .05). The consumption of IgY-GP reduces plaque accumulation, which may lead to an improvement in the oral health of adult cats.

Diabetes Mellitus é uma desordem crônica que resulta em hiperglicemia pela deficiência absoluta ou relativa de insulina, que gera complicações que podem levar à morte. O sucesso do tratamento do cão diabético depende da aplicação de insulina e do adequado manejo nutricional. Estudos que avaliaram aspectos nutricionais de cães diabéticos focavam na fibra dietética como o principal fator controlador da glicemia, porém novas pesquisas apontam o amido como principal responsável pelas respostas glicêmicas pós-prandiais e atribuem importante papel ao escore de condição corporal e ao manejo alimentar no adequado controle glicêmico de cães diabéticos. O objetivo deste trabalho é revisar os principais aspectos da nutrição de cães diabéticos para o melhor controle da doença. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that results in hyperglycemia by absolute or relative insulin deficiency, sometimes leading to fatal complications. The successful treatment of diabetic dogs depends on nutritional management and insulin applications. Studies evaluating the nutrition of diabetic dogs focused on fiber as the main factor in glycemic control; however, new research describes the role of starch as key in postprandial glycemic fluctuation, also attributing a central role for body condition scores and feed management in the adequate glycemic control of diabetic dogs. The aim of this paper is to review nutritional aspects to better control diabetes in dogs.

As fontes comuns de proteína utilizadas na fabricação de rações para cães são oriundas de coprodutos, os quais podem apresentar digestibilidade reduzida de acordo com a fonte. Este estudo avaliou os efeitos da adição da enzima papaína em dietas secas e extrusadas na palatabilidade, digestibilidade dos nutrientes, qualidade e produção fecal de cães adultos. Uma dieta foi formulada contendo farinha de vísceras de frango, farinha de carne e ossos e farinha de penas hidrolisadas como fontes proteicas. Esta foi posteriormente dividida em três dietas isonutrientes: controle negativo (CN) sem adição da enzima; adição de 855.000 UI de papaína por quilograma de ração (EZ1); e adição de 2.280.000 UI de papaína por quiilograma de ração (EZ2), ambas adições feitas antes da extrusão. O experimento seguiu delineamento em blocos casualizados, com dois blocos de nove animais (três animais por tratamento em cada bloco), totalizando 18 cães, e seis repetições por tratamento. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análise de variância, com as médias dos três tratamentos comparadas por contrastes polinomiais (P 0,05). Apenas o escore fecal reduziu com o aumento da adição da enzima (P 0.05). The fecal score was reduced with increased addition of enzyme (P < 0.05).

RESUMO: O estudo objetivou avaliar a adesão e a percepção dos proprietários de cães, residentes na cidade de São Paulo/SP, quanto ao emprego de dieta caseira no manejo nutricional de seu animal de estimação. Foram entrevistados por contato telefônico 55 proprietários que forneciam dieta caseira no manejo nutricional do seu cão. O questionário contemplou perguntas relacionadas ao preparo e eficiência das dietas, bem como o manejo dos animais. Verificou-se que considerável número (parcela) de prescrições (45,9%) esteve associado a pacientes com hiporexia. Dentre os proprietários que relataram dificuldade no preparo (10,9%), o tempo dispendido (33,3%) foi a maior problemática. Quando questionados em relação às modificações nas fórmulas prescritas, 60% admitiram que a realizaram sem prévia recomendação. Na opinião dos entrevistados, a dieta caseira não causou alterações nas fezes (50%) e na pelagem (62,7%) dos animais em comparação ao emprego de um alimento comercial e foi considerada adequada pela maioria (79,0%). As dietas caseiras podem ser amplamente utilizadas, mostrando-se especialmente importantes em cães doentes e/ou hiporéticos por apresentarem maior aceite em relação à dieta comercial, no entanto, nem todos os tutores estão aptos a utilizá-la. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adhesion and perception of dog owners from the city of São Paulo, Brazil, on the employment of homemade diet for the nutritional management of their pet. The participants were 55 owners that provided homemade diet for their dog. The interviews were conducted by telephone and the questionnaire included points related with the preparation and effectiveness of diets, as well as the handling of animals. It was found that a considerable number of prescriptions (45.9%) was associated with patients with hyporexia. Among the owners who reported difficulty in the preparation (10.9%), time spent (33.3%) was the most problematic topic. When questioned in relation to changes in the prescribed formulas, 60% admitted that conducted it without recommendation. In the opinion of interviewed owners, the homemade diet did not cause changes in feces (50%) and coat (62.7%) of the animals compared to the use of a commercial food and was considered appropriate by the majority (79.0%). The homemade diets can be widely used, being especially important in dogs with diseases and/or dogs with hyporexia, since they are more easily accepted than the commercial diet; however, not all owners are able for its right use.

Benefits to microbial fermentation in the colon and as a consequence less flatulence can be promoted for the health of adult dogs according to the amount and protein source. The present study evaluated different protein sources in dry food for brachycephalic dogs regarding microbial fermentation and nutrient digestibility. Four dry dog foods with similar protein content were formulated for adult maintenance: poultry meal (PM) diet; wheat gluten (WG) diet; PM + WG diet; and PM + WG + hydrolysed protein (HP) diet. Eight French bulldog adult dogs were arranged in a 4 × 4 Latin square design during the 28 d trial. Fresh faeces were collected for assessment of nutrient digestibility and analyses of faecal pH, SCFA, biogenic amines, ammonia and lactate. Means were compared by the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS and by Tukey's test, consideringP ≤ 0·05. The animals fed the WG and PM + WG diets showed higher digestibility for DM (P P P P P