Adronie Verbrugghe

• DVM, PhD Vet Sci, Dip ECVCN
• Professor (Associate) at University of Guelph

Indirect calorimetry can provide insights into the metabolic processes occurring in cats through substrate utilization and energy expenditure (EE). Additionally, the influence of dietary macronutrients on the heat increment of feeding (HIF) in cats remains unexplored. As such, this proof of principle study aimed to test the short-term effects of th...

Despite the rising popularity of plant-based (vegan) diets for dogs, the metabolic effects of plant-based diets in dogs have not been thoroughly investigated. Evaluating the impact of a vegan diet on the fecal metabolome in dogs could offer valuable insight into the effects on gastro-intestinal and overall health. This study evaluated the fecal met...

Background It is unknown if gastrointestinal dysbiosis in diarrheic calves causes disease or is a consequence of the disease. Objectives Describe the fecal microbiota of calves before, during, and after recovering from diarrhea. Animals Fifteen female Holstein calves of 0 to 21 days old from a single farm. Seven calves remained healthy throughout...

Commercial extruded cat foods deviate noticeably from the natural diet of wild cats and contain greater carbohydrate and less protein. This alteration in macronutrient distribution is postulated as a potential factor in feline obesity, yet the precise role of carbohydrates in either predisposing to, or treating, obesity in cats remains inconclusive...

Obesity has become a concerning problem in cats. Increasing evidence demonstrates the utility of metabolomics in identifying disease biomarkers and assessing the effects of nutritional interventions, although limited information exists regarding alterations in fecal metabolites in lean and obese domestic cats in response to different macronutrient...

Purpose Pet guardians are increasingly seeking vegan dog foods. However, research on the impact of these diets on gastrointestinal (GI) physiology and health is limited. In humans, vegan diets modify the GI microbiota, increasing beneficial digestive microorganisms. This study aimed to examine the canine fecal microbiota in response to a vegan diet...

Treats are a prevalent aspect of pet care, frequently given by dog and cat caregivers for varying reasons. However, recommendations of reducing or eliminating treat feeding poses a common challenge, leading to potential non-adherence surrounding weight management practices. To explore caregivers’ perceptions and experiences surrounding treat feedin...

Neonatal calf diarrhea is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality globally. The changes associated with the gastrointestinal microbiota in neonatal calves experiencing diarrhea and its etiology are not fully understood or completely defined in the literature. Several studies have demonstrated that the fecal microbiota of calves that e...

Feline obesity continues to be a priority health and welfare issue. Most research surrounding obesity currently focuses on obesity treatment. However, treatment for feline obesity is slow, often unsuccessful and not without consequences. Identifying high-risk populations for obesity onset is crucial for developing and implementing preventive strate...

Canine fecal microbiota profiling provides insight into host health and disease. Standardization of methods for fecal sample storage for microbiomics is currently inconclusive, however. This study investigated the effects of homogenization, the preservative RNAlater, room temperature exposure duration, and short-term storage in the fridge prior to...

Despite Phe being an indispensable amino acid for cats, the minimum Phe requirement for adult cats has not been empirically defined. The objective of study 1 was to determine the minimum Phe requirement, where Tyr is in excess, in adult cats using the direct amino acid oxidation (DAAO) technique. Four adult male cats were used in an 8×4 Latin recta...

There is an abundance of research focusing on the nutritional needs of the cat, though aspects surrounding treat feeding have received far less attention. Feeding practices have the potential to cause nutrient imbalances and adverse health outcomes, including obesity. The objective of this study was to identify and describe the perceptions, motivat...

Obesity remains a significant concern for dogs and cats, and reducing or eliminating treats is commonly recommended as a strategy for weight management. Caregivers can struggle with adherence to such dietary recommendations. Previous research suggests caregivers are reluctant to reduce treats but there is limited understanding of the underlying fac...

There is a lack of empirical data on the dietary Met requirement, in the presence of Cys or cystine, in adult cats. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the Met requirement, in the presence of excess Cys, in adult cats at maintenance using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique. Six adult neutered male cats were initially selec...

Introduction Plant-based (vegan) diets for dogs are commercially available, however, research investigating long-term nutritional adequacy of these diets is scarce. Use of client-owned animals has become increasingly popular for apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility (ATTD) studies, yet low guardian compliance with the study protocol, such as...

A 4-year-old, female-spayed American Bulldog presented to the Ontario Veterinary College’s Health Sciences Center’s Clinical Nutrition Service for nutritional management of hepatic enzymopathy and suspected copper-associated hepatitis. Medical history revealed a 3-month history of gradually increasing serum ALT. Additional diagnostics included nega...

Simple Summary In addition to veterinary advice, pet owners rely on the internet for information on their pet’s health. Effectively managing a pet’s weight is often an underestimated component of wellness for pets, and there is an opportunity for veterinary practices to utilize an online platform to educate pet owners on the importance of weight ma...

Objective To determine whether 3 and 5 mm laparoscopic cup biopsy forceps provide samples of equivalent diagnostic quality in cats. Study design Experimental study. Animals Twelve colony cats undergoing a concurrent nutrition study. Methods Two biopsy forceps (3 and 5 mm) and three biopsy techniques (twist, pull, and twist + pull) were used to c...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary choline and L-carnitine on the lipotropic gene expression in the muscle and liver of overweight and lean cats, when fed for body weight (BW)maintenance. Overweight [n = 6, body fat percent (BF%): 33.2 ± 1.38] and lean (n = 6, BF%:18.4 ± 0.93), 1-2 year old, male, neutered cats re...

Dogs are considered omnivores based on their evolution, consuming diets that include animal tissue. Few feeding trials evaluating the nutritional suitability of exclusively plant-based (vegan) diets in dogs have been published, and the efficacy of vitamin D2 in maintaining canine serum vitamin D levels has not been clearly determined. A blinded die...

Introduction Due to the involvement in one-carbon metabolism and lipid mobilization, choline and L-carnitine supplementation have been recommended to minimize hepatic lipid accumulation and support fat oxidation, respectively. This study investigated the lipotropic benefits of choline or L-carnitine supplementation in lean and obese cats maintainin...

Treats are commonly fed by most dog caregivers and can constitute a significant proportion of a dog's diet, potentially contributing to obesity. Feeding aspects related to treats specifically, remain underexplored. An e-survey was voluntarily completed by 716 dog caregivers predominantly from Canada and the USA to identify and describe caregivers'...

Introduction The fecal metabolome provides insight into overall gastrointestinal and microbial health. Methods for fecal sample storage in metabolomics research vary, however, making comparisons within current literature difficult. This study investigated the effect of ambient temperature exposure on microbial-derived metabolites of feline fecal sa...

Background: Pulses are an attractive alternative protein source for all mammals; however, recent reports suggest that these ingredients may be related to the development of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to quantify the effects of the dietary pulse intake by adult dogs on cardiac function using...

Choline participates in methyl group metabolism and has been recognized for its roles in lipid metabolism, hepatic health and muscle function in various species. Data regarding the impacts of choline on feline metabolic pathways are scarce. The present study investigated how choline intake affects the metabolomic profile of overweight cats fed at m...

Choline is beneficial for energy metabolism and growth in various species. Choline may work similarly in kittens at risk of obesity. Direct infusion mass spectrometry (Di-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to investigate the metabolomic signatures of kittens supplemented with or without additional dietary choline for 12...

Background There are limited studies investigating the use of fecal microbial transplant (FMT) in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the feasibility of adding FMT to standard therapy (corticosteroids and a hypoallergenic diet) for dogs with IBD and to and to describe the changes in measured o...

In North America, 60% of cats is estimated to be overweight or obese, predisposing cats to obesity-related health consequences, which reduce quality and quantity of life. Weight loss is recommended, yet current protocols are often unsuccessful. Moreover, drastic energy restriction can put overweight and obese cats at risk of developing feline hepa...

With interest in grain-free diets (GFD) and plant-based diets, understanding the use of pulse ingredients is warranted. Recently our laboratory found that high pulse inclusive diets did not cause echocardiographic changes in healthy adult dogs after 20 weeks of feeding. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the safety of pulse ingredient...

Canine obesity is becoming an increasingly prevalent concern among companion animal veterinarians and professionals alike. A number of sociodemographic, dietary, and exercise related variables have been shown to be predictive of a dog’s bodyweight, however, all previous surveys designed to address these variables have been focussed on only one area...

Background Some dog owners elect to feed their dog a plant-based food either as part of or for their entire dietary intake. Being omnivores or facultative carnivores, a strictly plant-based diet is not the natural type of food dogs evolved to consume, leaving some question as to whether this feeding management strategy is safe and healthy for dogs....

Choline is an essential nutrient linked to hepatic lipid metabolism in many animal species, including cats. The current study investigated the serum lipid profiles, serum liver enzymes, respiratory quotients and energy expenditures of overweight cats fed maintenance diets, in response to graded doses of supplemental dietary choline. Overweight (bod...

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Simple Summary Environmental changes in the home, specifically around litter box management, can be stressful for cats, and resulting behavioural changes, such as house soiling, are one of the leading causes of owner frustration. Current guidelines recommend a 6-day litter transition; however, these recommendations are based largely on anecdotal re...

Gonadectomy is a major risk factor for feline obesity. The lipotropic effects of choline have demonstrated benefits for growth and carcass composition in livestock. The consumption of supplemental choline on body weight (BW), body composition, lipid metabolism, energy expenditure (EE), and serum satiety hormones were evaluated in 15 gonadectomized...

OBJECTIVE To replicate a previously defined behavioral procedure to acclimate adult cats to temporary restriction in indirect calorimetry chambers and measure energy expenditure and respiratory quotient changes during acclimation. ANIMALS 8 healthy adult cats (4 spayed females, and 4 neutered males; mean ± SEM age, 2.5 ± 1.5 years; mean body weigh...

Objectives The objectives of this study were to determine whether a technology-enhanced weight-loss program, using a home pet health technology ecosystem, is an effective tool in feline weight-loss management in multiple-cat households and to evaluate its impact on cat behavior. Methods The study was a prospective parallel unmasked block-randomize...

Simple Summary Gastric emptying is the release of nutrients from the stomach into the small intestine. The rate at which gastric emptying occurs may be associated with diabetes and obesity risk in humans and could help prevent weight gain in dogs. The largest portion of carbohydrates in pet diets is provided by various starches that are digested an...

The increasing prevalence of canine obesity across the globe has become the number one health concern for dogs. Part of the problem may be the way owner’s perceive their dog’s body weight. The goal of the current survey was to assess what variables, related to both owner and dog’s feeding and exercising practices, were predictive of the owner’s per...

This study aimed to investigate changes in serum metabolites using direct infusion mass spectrometry (Di-MS) after 12 weeks with or without additional choline in growing, post-gonadectomy kittens. The present study was approved by the University of Guelph Animal Care Committee (AUP#4118). Intact, male kittens (3-months old; n = 15) were fed a base-...

The objective of this study was to determine the dose-response relationship between dietary choline intake and one-carbon cycle activity in overweight cats at maintenance energy requirements. This study was approved by the University of Guelph Animal Care Committee (AUP#4118). Overweight (body condition score:≥6/9) adult male neutered cats (n = 14)...

Simple Summary Plant-based pet foods appear to be growing in popularity, but it is unclear how suitable these products are for dogs and cats, considering both species naturally consume diets rich in, or exclusively comprised of, animal tissues. Laboratory analyses of essential nutrients were performed on 26 plant-based diets available in Ontario, C...

Grain based ingredients are replaced in part by pulse ingredients in grain-free pet foods. Pulse ingredients are lower in methionine and cysteine, amino acid (AA) precursors to taurine synthesis in dogs. While recent work has investigated plasma and whole blood taurine concentrations when feeding grain-free diets, supplementation of a grain-free di...

Gastric emptying rate (GER) may impact diabetes and obesity in humans and could provide a method to reduce canine weight gain. Starch, the most common source of carbohydrates (CHOs) in pet food, is classified as rapidly or slowly digestible, or resistant to digestion. This study investigated starch source effects in commercial extruded dog foods on...

Simple Summary Research has estimated that the majority of domestic cats are overweight or obese. Current weight-loss plans tend to have disappointing outcomes and are not without risk. During periods of severe energy restriction, obesity predisposes cats to developing fatty liver. Choline has been linked to fat metabolism in other animals but has...

A 6-month-old, intact male Great Dane dog fed a veterinary therapeutic liver diet was evaluated after diagnosis of an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and hind limb angular limb deformity to determine appropriateness of diet. Evaluation of the current diet revealed it to be inadequate to meet the nutrient requirements of a large breed puppy. The do...

Objectives The objective of this study was to verify the safety of policosanol supplementation for domestic cats. The effects of raw and encapsulated policosanol were compared with positive (L-carnitine) and negative (no supplementation) controls on outcomes of complete blood count, serum biochemistry, energy expenditure, respiratory quotient and p...

A 2-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat was presented for recommendations for dietary management of chronic FLUTD using a strictly plant-based diet as per the stipulations of the cat's owner. The cat had a history of urethral obstruction of unknown etiology, persistent marked struvite crystalluria, and persistent inappropriate eliminatio...

Feeding guidelines on commercial dog food packages provide a suggested starting point for food provision for dogs. The equations used to develop commercial dog food feeding guidelines and the owner feeding practices surveyed were examined in this study. The equations used to develop feeding guidelines and the energy density calculation method (Trad...

Thiamine is an essential dietary nutrient in cats; however, studies on the stability of thiamine in pet food are limited. The objective of this study was to analyze thiamine concentrations in commercial feline extruded diets over time at room and freezing temperatures. Twelve diets were split in half and thiamine concentrations were assessed using...

Background Cats, being obligate carnivores, have unique dietary requirements for nutrients most commonly found in dietary ingredients of animal origin. As such, feeding a diet devoid of animal-derived ingredients has been postulated as a possible cause of nutrient imbalances and adverse health outcomes. A small proportion of cat owners feed strictl...

Background Beliefs of pet owners strongly influence their decision-making surrounding their pets’ diet. Thus, nutritional guidance is an essential component of veterinary practice and integral to managing rising rates of pet obesity. This study examined pet owners’ trust of, perceived effectiveness of, and intentions to follow nutritional guidance...

Grain-free pet foods have been sold for over a decade and comprise more than 40% of dog and cat diets sold today. Grain-free diets replace grain ingredients with pulse ingredients, which are high in lysine but low in methionine and cysteine, the precursor amino acids to taurine synthesis in the dog. The objective of this study was to evaluate the p...

Decreased circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and increased inflammatory marker concentrations have been reported separately in canine cancer. Correlations between the two exist in humans, but little work has examined links in dogs. This study aimed to determine plasma 25(OH)D and inflammatory marker concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs wi...

Background: This study aimed to determine if obese cats undergoing energy restriction for weight loss would meet the National Research Council's (NRC) indispensable amino acid and vitamin recommendations when fed a purpose-formulated diet. Thirty cats were placed into one of two groups; obese (BCS 8 to 9/9; n = 16) and lean (BCS 4 to 5/9; n = 14)...

The effects of feeding frequency on postprandial response of circulating appetite-regulating hormones, insulin, glucose and amino acids, and on physical activity, energy expenditure, and respiratory quotient were studied in healthy adult cats. Two experiments were designed as a 2 x 3 replicated incomplete Latin square design. Eight cats, with an av...

This study adapted the established glycemic index (GI) methodology used in human research to perform two studies in sled dogs in order to assess the blood glucose raising potential of pulse-based dog foods. The first was a pilot study (n=6 dogs) to determine the GI of single starch sources (white bread, cooked white rice and cooked green lentils) u...

The relationship between microbial community and host has profound effects on the health of animals. A balanced gastrointestinal (GI) microbial population provides nutritional and metabolic benefits to its host, regulates the immune system and various signaling molecules, protects the intestine from pathogen invasion, and promotes a healthy intesti...

Background Pet owners have many feeding options, some may be considered unconventional by veterinary practitioners. Provision of appropriate nutrition is a basic requirement, with adverse health outcomes possible when a pet diet is inadequate. Objective To capture dog and cat feeding practices, with a special focus on countries with large English-...

Extant research shows veterinarians face increasing challenges in discussing nutrition with clients despite receiving professional nutrition education in the veterinary medical curriculum. This study's aim was to elicit student veterinarians' baseline nutrition-related perceptions and nutrition information-seeking behaviors at the time of entering...

Objective To describe the body composition of dogs with or without cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease. Study design Cross‐sectional. Animals Adult dogs in which CCL disease was diagnosed (n = 30) and adult dogs without clinical signs of orthopedic disease (n = 30). Methods Body weight, body condition score, and muscle condition score (MCS)...

Background: Research in humans and mice suggests that obesity influences the abundance and diversity of gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota, and that an "obese microbiome" influences energy metabolism and fat storage in the host. Microbiota membership and composition have been previously assessed in healthy cats. However, research investigating the e...

This survey aimed to investigate and compare diet type and supplement use between dogs (Canis lupus familiaris, L.) with cancer and a population of owner‐reported healthy dogs and to assess the sources of information dog owners consult. Respondents were mainly from English‐speaking countries. Dogs were considered healthy (N = 213) if owners reporte...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of 3 diet history questions on the amount and type of diet-related information gathered from pet owners and to assess whether diet-related information obtained with each question in person differed from information obtained with a diet history survey. SAMPLE: 99 pet owners. PROCEDURES: Participants’ responses to 1...

Veterinarians play a critical role in providing nutrition consultation and supporting clients to adopt healthy dietary habits for their pets; thus applicable, informative nutrition education in veterinary schools is essential. The aim of this study was to explore incoming veterinary students’ perceived importance, emphasis, and confidence in the ve...

Inhibitory control is a term used to envelop a collection of processes that allow an organism to refrain from engaging in an inappropriate prepotent or responsive behavior. Studies have examined the propensity of inhibitory control by nonhuman animals, from the cognitively complex processes involved in self-control to potentially less cognitively t...

A 4‐month‐old male Old English Sheepdog was presented for evaluation of a raw meat‐based homemade diet after a 1‐month history of progressive lameness. Marked dietary deficiencies were detected, which included calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. Hypovitaminosis D and hypocalcaemia were diagnosed by serum analysis. Evidence of severe diffuse osteopen...

Canine food allergies are the result of an immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to dietary proteins and can manifest as a variety of dermatologic and/or gastrointestinal clinical signs. Food elimination trials followed by provocation tests are used to diagnose food allergies; however, no research has been conducted to determine whether elimina...

People who avoid eating animals tend to share their homes with animal companions, and moral dilemma may arise when they are faced with feeding animal products to their omnivorous dogs and carnivorous cats. One option to alleviate this conflict is to feed pets a diet devoid of animal ingredients—a ‘plant-based’ or ‘vegan’ diet. The number of pet own...

Questionnaire results. (SAV)

The glycemic index (GI) impacts blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, and weight management in humans. This study investigated the GI, postprandial glycemic and insulinemic response, and satiety hormones in sled dogs consuming four commercial extruded dog foods containing different carbohydrate sources. The four test diets were classified base...

The microbial community inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract provides many roles in animal health, disease, and nutrition. The microbial community’s composition and metabolic function has not been studied in depth in healthy domestic cats. In order to research, treat, and prevent diseased states further, a comprehensive characterization of the hea...

Obesity implements a major health risk for the canine and feline population, especially as obese dogs and cats are predisposed to devastating health complications that have a large negative impact on the quality of life and reduce life span. Moreover, the prevalence of companion animal obesity in Western countries, reaching more than 50% already, c...

Insufficient data exists regarding provision of adequate amounts of essential nutrients to obese cats during energy restriction. This study aimed to investigate predicted dietary intake of essential amino acids (AA) in obese cats undergoing energy restriction for weight loss and compare with National Research Council (NRC) 2006 recommendations. Six...

Nutritional assessment guidelines recommend that veterinary teams assess the body composition of pets at every visit. The objective of this study was to determine how veterinary teams in Ontario, Canada assess body composition in cats and dogs. An online survey was distributed to veterinary teams, with questions on how often body composition is ass...

OBJECTIVE To quantify vitamin D 3 (VitD 3 ) concentrations in commercial dog foods and compare those concentrations with Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommendations and manufacturer-reported concentrations. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE 82 commercial dog foods. PROCEDURES Samples of commercially available dog foods...

Concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in similar foods were compared over 4 international food databases and results demonstrated no differences (P > 0.05) among the values from the databases. Therefore, the use of different food databases for homemade dog and cat diet formulation should not affect the final diet nutrient density pre...

A 6-month-old intact female giant schnauzer dog fed a nutritionally unbalanced homemade diet was evaluated because of a 1-month history of lameness and difficulty walking. Abnormalities identified on ancillary tests, in conjunction with the dog's clinical improvement following diet change, suggested a diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency and nutrition...

Background: High protein diets shift the faecal microbiota into a more unfavourable composition in obese humans. In lean dogs, higher protein consumption is accompanied with increased production of putrefactive fermentation products, whereas obese dogs have a different gut microbiota compared to lean dogs. Still, the impact of high dietary protein...

Recent pet food recalls for insufficient dietary thiamine have highlighted the importance of adequate thiamine intake in dogs and cats, as thiamine is an essential dietary nutrient with a critical role in energy metabolism. Prolonged thiamine deficiency leads to clinical signs that can span several organ systems, and deficiency can be fatal if not...

The domestic cat’s wild ancestors are obligate carnivores that consume prey containing only minimal amounts of carbohydrates. Evolutionary events adapted the cat’s metabolism and physiology to this diet strictly composed of animal tissues and led to unique digestive and metabolic peculiarities of carbohydrate metabolism. The domestic cat still clos...

Objectives: To compare haemostatic function in healthy dogs after treatment with low-dose aspirin alone, fish oil alone or a combination of these two therapies. Materials and methods: Double-blinded randomised controlled clinical trial on 16 healthy client-owned dogs. Comprehensive haemostatic testing was performed at baseline and after 7 days o...

Background: Low blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations have been associated with cancer in dogs. Little research has examined what other factors may affect 25(OH)D concentrations. Objectives: (1) To determine whether the presence of cancer (lymphoma, osteosarcoma, or mast cell tumor [MCT]) in dogs is associated with plasma 25(OH)D co...

Background Feline fecal microbiota analyses can potentially be impacted by a variety of factors such as sample preparation, sequencing method and bioinformatics analyses. Another potential influence is changes in the microbiota from storage of samples prior to processing. This study examined the effect of ambient temperature exposure on the feline...

Figure S1. Box and whisker plot of the distribution of ICa values for each group of dogs enrolled in the clinical study.