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Effects of Fiber on Digestibility and Transit Time in Dogs
Abstract and Figures
This study examines effects of variations in fiber content on nutrient assimilation, fecal output, and gastrointestinal transit time in the dog. Four normal Beagles were fed four diets in a randomized block design. The basal diet was a canned, balanced, meat-based dog food (Alpo Trio) to which added 3, 6, and 9% by weight of alpha cellulose (Solka Flok). Food intake and fecal outputs were recorded for 5-day periods. Samples of diets and fecal collections were analyzed for dry matter, nitrogen, fat, carbohydrate and ash; digestibilities were calculated. Transit times were measured by a radiographic marker technique. Fecal weight and water increased linearly; digestibility of dry matter decreased from 90 to 70% and ash from 43 to 32% with added fiber. Responses of protein, carbohydrate and fat were less pronounced but were regular; regressions of their digestibilities on added fiber were significant. Regression estimate of true digestibility for alpha-cellulose was 6%. Intestinal transit time decreased from a mean of 37.4 to 28.7 hours with added fiber. Decreased intestinal time would contribute to depression of fry matter digestibility. Increased fecal water output probably also reflected retention by fiber.
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... Rather, it was expected that the 15C treatment would result in the lowest digestibility due to the increased dietary fiber content and greatest fecal output. Previous studies have reported the effects of dietary fiber on gastric emptying, digesta transit time, and nutrient digestibility in dogs (Burrows et al., 1982;Russell and Bass, 1985;Fahey et al., 1990). Russell and Bass (1985) concluded that an increase in dietary fiber content and viscosity resulted in slowed gastric emptying in dogs. ...
... Russell and Bass (1985) concluded that an increase in dietary fiber content and viscosity resulted in slowed gastric emptying in dogs. However, Burrows et al. (1982) reported a decrease in intestinal transit time with added dietary fiber in dogs. Therefore, decreased transit time could explain a decrease in nutrient digestibility (Burrows et al., 1982). ...
... However, Burrows et al. (1982) reported a decrease in intestinal transit time with added dietary fiber in dogs. Therefore, decreased transit time could explain a decrease in nutrient digestibility (Burrows et al., 1982). Fahey et al. (1990) reported that increased dietary fiber did not impact digesta mean retention time of dogs, but still decreased dry matter and organic matter digestibility. ...
There has been increased interest among pet owners to feed vegetarian diets to their pets. However, the primary protein sources used in pet food today are animal based, warranting a need to evaluate novel plant-based ingredients to meet the protein demand. Corn fermented protein (CFP), a coproduct from ethanol production, may provide a plant-based alternative protein source for pet food. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of increasing levels of CFP on extrusion processing, stool quality, apparent total tract digestibility, and palatability in dog diets. Four extruded diets were fed to 12 adult beagle dogs in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. The control diet contained 15% soybean meal (0C) and CFP was exchanged at either 5%, 10%, or 15% of soybean meal (5C, 10C, and 15C, respectively). Dogs were fed each dietary treatment for 9 days of adaption followed by 5 days of total fecal collection. Feces were scored on a 1–5 scale, with 1 representing liquid diarrhea and 5 representing hard pellet-like. Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to all diets as an external marker to estimate digestibility. Data were analyzed using orthogonal contrasts in SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Dry bulk density of kibble decreased ( P < 0.05), whereas kibble toughness increased ( P < 0.05) with CFP inclusion. Fecal dry matter, dry fecal output, and defecations per day increased ( P < 0.05) when dogs were fed increased levels of CFP. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility of CFP treatments were comparable ( P > 0.05) to 0C. There was a decrease ( P < 0.05) in organic matter, crude fat, gross energy, and total dietary fiber digestibility in the CFP treatments compared with 0C. A cubic relationship ( P < 0.05) was observed in the digestibility of all nutrients except crude fat, indicating that 10C resulted in the lowest digestibility. For the palatability assessment, dogs had no preference when comparing the 5C treatment with the 0C treatment. Even with the differences in dietary treatments, inclusion of CFP at 5%, 10%, and 15% still resulted in acceptable processing parameters, kibble characteristics, and utilization when fed to dogs.
... kg weight range of dingoes (Strahan 1983). For dog breeds within this weight range, maximum retention times are between 33.3 and 47.5 h (Banta et al. 1979;Burrows et al. 1982;Hernot et al. 2005;Childs-Sanford and Angel 2006;De Cuyper et al. 2018). ...
... Their thorough study used an array of markers to measure passage rates of diets through the digestive system of beagles (a breed of C. familiaris). Their results were within ranges reported by other studies (Burrows et al. 1982;Hernot et al. 2005;Childs-Sanford and Angel 2006;De Cuyper et al. 2018). From these data, we estimated that spores would not appear in dingo scats within the first 2 h after ingestion, and 100% of spores would be defecated by C 42 h. ...
... So far, cellulose is mostly used as a source of dietary fiber for diets targeting weight loss, i.e., diets that are reduced in calories [21][22][23]. When trees are used to make paper pulp, the component cellulose is created. ...
... It also increases fecal output according to several studies [26][27][28][29]. Furthermore, the higher the concentration of added cellulose, the more the digestion of organic matter is impaired, and the more the fecal output elevates [21,30]. Despite the benefits of cellulose for caloric dilution, product performance, and animal health, pet food manufacturers are looking to other types of fiber due to the product's increased costs and limited consumer appeal [3]. ...
In order to enhance the health and welfare of obese dogs and to facilitate the required loss of body weight, commercial diets are produced with fibrous ingredients. Cellulose is a common dietary fiber used mainly in powdered form. However, other processing forms and fibers are available as fibrous additives. This work aimed to test the effects of different fiber sources on apparent total tract digestibility and fecal quality in dogs. Four diets were fed to eight dogs (experimental design: 4 × 4 Latin square) for a 14-day period each. In addition to a basal diet (CO), three experimental diets varying in fiber sources were used: powdered cellulose (CE), granulated cellulose (GC), and lignocellulose (LC). Dogs fed the CO had lower crude fiber digestibility than those fed the other experimental diets (p < 0.0033). Dogs fed diets supplemented with fiber sources had lower gross energy digestibility (range: 76.2–77.3%) compared with those fed the CO (84.4%). In all groups, the fecal score (consistency and shape) ranged within the optimal values; solely wet fecal output was increased for the fiber groups compared with those on the CO. This study demonstrated that various sources of fiber such as GC and LC can be used as alternatives to CE without restrictions.
... The decreased nutrient digestibility of the CFP treatment compared to the BDY treatment is likely due to the increased dietary fiber content of CFP. As increased dietary fiber has been known to decrease nutrient digestibility in both dogs and cats (Burrows et al., 1982;Fahey et al., 1990;Sunvold et al., 1995;Fischer et al., 2012). The TDF digestibility in the current study was higher than expected however values are similar to those reported for diets containing SBM and yeast fed to cats (Holt and Aldrich, 2022). ...
The inclusion of yeast in pet food can provide health benefits and increase palatability. Corn fermented protein is a co-product from ethanol production which contains approximately 20-25% yeast. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the yeast in CFP on diet production and utilization when fed to healthy adult cats. The four experimental diets included a control with 15% soybean meal (CON) and diets containing either 3.5% brewer's dried yeast (BDY), 2.5% brewer's dried yeast plus 17.5% distillers dried grains with solubles (BDY+DDGS), or 17.5% corn fermented protein (CFP). All treatments except CON were formulated to contain 3.5% yeast. Experimental diets were fed to adult cats (n = 11) in an incomplete 4 x 4 replicated Latin square design. Cats were adapted to diet for 9 days followed by a 5-d total fecal collection. Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to all diets as an external marker to estimate digestibility. Data were analyzed using a mixed model in SAS (version 9.4, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC) with treatment as a fixed effect and cat and period as random effects. Preconditioner discharge temperature was greater (P < 0.05) for CON and BDY (average, 96°C) compared to BDY+DDGS and CFP (average, 91°C). Extruder screw speed, die temperature, kibble toughness, and kibble hardness were greatest (P < 0.05) for CFP. The bulk density of BDY+DDGS at 392 g/L was greater (P < 0.05) than BDY and CFP (average, 342 g/L). The sectional expansion index of kibble for CFP was greater (P < 0.05) than BDY+DDGS and smaller (P < 0.05) than CON but similar to BDY. Fecal output was greatest (P < 0.05) for cats fed BDY+DDGS. Nutrient digestibility was lowest (P < 0.05) for BDY+DDGS. The concentrations of short-chain and branched-chain fatty acids in fecal samples were not altered (P > 0.05) by dietary treatment. Cats had no preference (P > 0.05) when comparing CON to BDY or BDY+DDGS. However, cats consumed significantly less CFP compared to CON. The significant differences for bulk density, fecal output, and nutrient digestibility among dietary treatments are likely due to a greater fiber effect of DDGS compared to CFP. Therefore, the yeast component in CFP may provide greater kibble expansion and nutrient utilization compared to DDGS when fed to cats.
... The present results are in agreement with those in previous studies which reported the negative effects of fiber on energy and nutrient digestibility in dogs [24,[37][38][39]. Fibers are less digestible than starch, protein, and fat due to the lack of fiber-degrading enzymes secreted in the stomach and the small intestine of dogs, although microbes in the large intestine may partially digest dietary fiber [40][41][42]. In addition, fibers potentially disturb the degradation of other nutrients by exogenous enzymes [43], which explains the negative correlation between dietary NDF and IVID of CP in this work. ...
The aims of this study were to determine in vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) in commercial dog diets and to develop equations for predicting the IVID of DM and CP in dog diets based on chemical composition. Eighteen commercial dog diets were analyzed for IVID of DM and CP using a two-step in vitro procedure for dogs. The diet samples in flasks with digestive enzymes were incubated for 2 h and 4 h to simulate digestion in the stomach and the small intestine, respectively. The contents of CP, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and ash in the diets ranged from 14.4 to 42.5%, 3.5 to 23.5%, 6.4 to 34.6%, and 4.9 to 10.0%, respectively, on an as-is basis. The NDF contents were negatively correlated with the IVID of DM and CP (r = −0.73 and r = −0.62, respectively; p < 0.05). The most suitable prediction equations for the IVID of DM and CP in the dog diets were: IVID of DM (%) = 81.33 + 0.46 × CP − 0.77 × NDF, R2 = 0.78; IVID of CP (%) = 81.25 + 0.33 × CP − 0.49 × NDF, R2 = 0.64, where all nutrients were in % on an as-is basis. In conclusion, dry matter and protein utilization of dog diets based on in vitro digestibility assays can be estimated fairly well using protein and fiber concentrations as independent variables.
... Can we discuss optimum nutrient profiles only based on digestible protein, digestible carbohydrates, and fat? The rather high and constant fiber concentration could just be the mere result of 'collateral ingestion', or the observed intake concentrations might represent a threshold value that bears ingest to ensure optimal gut health and motility without impairing digestible energy consumption (Burrows et al., 1982;Kienzle et al., 2006). ...
The dietary nutrient profile has metabolic significance and possibly contributes to species' foraging behavior. The brown bear (Ursus arctos) was used as a model species for which dietary ingredient and nutrient concentrations as well as nutrient ratios were determined annually, seasonally and per reproductive class. Brown bears had a vertebrate- and ant-dominated diet in spring and early summer and a berry-dominated diet in fall, which translated into protein-rich and carbohydrate-rich diets, respectively. Fiber concentrations appeared constant over time and averaged at 25% of dry matter intake. Dietary ingredient proportions differed between reproductive classes; however, these differences did not translate into a difference in dietary nutrient concentrations, suggesting that bears manage to maintain similar nutrient profiles with selection of different ingredients. In terms of nutrient ratios, the dietary protein to non-protein ratio, considered optimal at around 0.2 (on metabolizable energy basis), averaged around 0.2 in this study in fall and around 0.8 in spring and summer. We introduced the minimal non-fat to fat ratio necessary for efficient maintenance metabolism. This ratio varied across seasons but never fell beneath the theoretically estimated minimum to ensure metabolic efficiency. This population thus managed to ingest diets that never exerted a lack of glucogenic substrate, suggesting that metabolic efficiency may either be a driver of active diet selection or that natural resources available to bears did not constitute a constraint in this respect. Given the considerable proportion of fiber in the diet of brown bears, the relevance of this nutrient and its role in foraging behavior might be underestimated.
... Although this technique can be readily applied to a patent A. caninum infected dog, there are some caveats that must be considered. First, a normal dog's GI tract (duodenum to rectum) transit time is more rapid than a ruminant or equine (Burrows et al., 1982;Mambrini and Peyraud, 1997;Patton et al., 2022); therefore, direct comparisons of GI tract time to clear contents including dead worms or residual parasite eggs may be not appropriate. Next, fenbendazole is reported to transiently suppress worm fecundity initially, from day 3 up-to day 10 post-treatment, followed by egg counts rapidly rising again sometime around or after day 10 post-treatment (Jimenez ). ...
Reports of anthelmintic resistance in Ancylostoma caninum are increasing in frequency in the United States of America (USA). In the last few years in vitro and in vivo studies characterized individual isolates, demonstrating multiple anthelmintic drug resistance (MADR). In 2021, the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists initiated a hookworm task force to address this issue. The first report of drug resistant A. caninum occurred in 1987 in Australian racing Greyhounds. In the last five years multiple case reports and investigations show drug resistant A. caninum is becoming a much greater problem in the USA and now extends beyond racing Greyhounds into the general companion animal dog population. The literature, regarding drug resistance in livestock and equine nematodes, provides helpful guidance along with diagnostic methods to better understand the evolution and selection of canine MADR hookworms; however, there are limitations and caveats due to A. caninum's unique biology and zoonotic potential. Mass drug administration (MDA) of anthelminthic drugs to humans to reduce morbidity associated with human hookworms (Necator americanus) should consider the factors that contributed to the development of MADR A. caninum. Finally, as Greyhound racing undergoes termination in some regions and the retired dogs undergo subsequent rehoming, drug resistant parasites, if present, are carried with them. Drug resistant A. caninum requires greater recognition by the veterinary community, and small animal practitioners need to be aware of the spread into current pet dog populations. The current understanding of anthelmintic resistance, available treatments, and environmental mitigation for these drug resistant A. caninum isolates must be monitored for horizontal spread. A major goal in this emerging problem is to prevent continued dissemination.
Fat has high energy density and is considered one of the primary energy sources for dogs, however, increasing fat level in dry dog food has been challenging due to the lubrication and limitation of the coating system. The objective was to determine the effect of whole soybeans (WSB) on nutrient digestibility, stool quality, and palatability by dogs. The corn gluten meal, chicken fat, and brewers rice were replaced by WSB at 10, 20, and 30% (WSB10, WSB20, and WSB30, respectively) in the base diet (WSB0). Twelve beagles were randomly assigned. The digestibility trial was duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design where dogs were allowed a 9-d adaptation followed by a 5-d total fecal collection for each period. Least-square means were analyzed with a single degree of freedom contrasts and significance at α = 0.05. Palatability was determined with a 2-bowl test by 20 beagles for 2 d with each WSB diet compared to the WSB0. First choice preference between two diets and total food consumption were recorded. Individual intake ratios (IR) were calculated (intake of each diet/total intake) for each dog. First choice (FC) was analyzed by a Chi-square probability, and the diet consumption was compared by a Wilcoxon signed rank test and a 2-way analysis of variance. Fecal moisture, output, and defecation frequency increased linearly ( P < 0.05) as WSB increased. Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, fat, and gross energy decreased linearly ( P < 0.05) as dogs fed the increased level of WSB. The fresh fecal pH in dogs decreased linearly ( P < 0.05) as WSB content increased. The acetate, propionate, and the total short-chain fatty acid concentration increased linearly ( P < 0.05) while the total branched-chain fatty acid concentration decreased linearly ( P < 0.05) as WSB increased. Dogs had greater ( P < 0.05) FC for WSB diets than WSB0, but there was no difference among treatments for diet consumption and IR. In conclusion, additional thermal processing before extrusion may improve nutrient digestibility of WSB. The stool quality and palatability were not affected, and fermentation in hindgut increased by WSB by dogs.
Many fiber ingredients are used by the pet food industry; however, little data are available regarding the fermentation characteristics of alternative fibers currently being used. The objectives of this study were to determine organic matter disappearance (OMD) and postbiotic production from various fruit and vegetable fiber sources using an in vitro dog fecal inoculum model. Apple pomace (AP), blueberry pomace (BP), cranberry pomace (CP), tomato pomace (TP), and pea fiber (PF) were used as experimental treatments. Inoculum was prepared using freshly voided feces under anaerobic conditions. Predigested fibers were inoculated and incubated for 1, 3, 6, and 12 h at 39ºC. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), total volatile fatty acids (VFA), and OMD were determined for each fiber source and time point in triplicate. After 12 h or incubation, OMD was similar (P>0.05; average of 18.5%) among treatments. Proportionally, acetate was greater for BP and AP (P<0.05; average of 80.1%) than for the other treatments (68.3 to 71.2%). Molar proportions of propionate was greatest (P<0.05) for CP (26.8%) compared to the remaining treatments (13.6 to 20.7%). Butyrate was proportionally greater for PF (7.7%; P<0.05) than for BP and CP (average of 4.8%) and was lowest for AP (3.8%); however, TP was not different from PF (P>0.05; average of 7.25%). Total VFA concentration was highest for AP (P<0.05) followed by TP (1.17 and 0.75 mmol*g -1 of substrate, respectively). Both BP and PF were similar (average of 0.48 mmol*g -1 of substrate) and lower than for TP, with CP having the lowest VFA concentration (0.21 mmol*g -1 of substrate) among all treatments. Additionally, when comparing molar concentrations, AP and TP (average of 0.0476 mmol*g -1 of substrate) had greater butyrate concentrations than did PF (0.0344 mmol*g -1 of substrate). The AP, BP, and TP treatments had both linear and quadratic relationships (Table 7; P<0.05) for acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations across time. Cranberry pomace only demonstrated a linear relationship for propionate (P<0.05), whereas acetate and butyrate had quadratic relationships with time. Pea fiber only demonstrated quadratic relationships between acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations and time (P<0.05). Overall, the fiber substrates evaluated were marginally to moderately fermentable when incubated for up to 12 h with canine fecal inoculum.
Introduction
Pet foods fortified with fermentable fibers are often indicated for dogs with gastrointestinal conditions to improve gut health through the production of beneficial post-biotics by the pet's microbiome.
Methods
To evaluate the therapeutic underpinnings of pre-biotic fiber enrichment, we compared the fecal microbiome, the fecal metabolome, and the serum metabolome of 39 adult dogs with well-managed chronic gastroenteritis/enteritis (CGE) and healthy matched controls. The foods tested included a test food (TF1) containing a novel pre-biotic fiber bundle, a control food (CF) lacking the fiber bundle, and a commercially available therapeutic food (TF2) indicated for managing fiber-responsive conditions. In this crossover study, all dogs consumed CF for a 4-week wash-in period, were randomized to either TF1 or TF2 and fed for 4 weeks, were fed CF for a 4-week washout period, and then received the other test food for 4 weeks.
Results
Meaningful differences were not observed between the healthy and CGE dogs in response to the pre-biotic fiber bundle relative to CF. Both TF1 and TF2 improved stool scores compared to CF. TF1-fed dogs showed reduced body weight and fecal ash content compared to either CF or TF2, while stools of TF2-fed dogs showed higher pH and lower moisture content vs. TF1. TF1 consumption also resulted in unique fecal and systemic metabolic signatures compared to CF and TF2. TF1-fed dogs showed suppressed signals of fecal bacterial putrefactive metabolism compared to either CF or TF2 and increased saccharolytic signatures compared to TF2. A functional analysis of fecal tryptophan metabolism indicated reductions in fecal kynurenine and indole pathway metabolites with TF1. Among the three foods, TF1 uniquely increased fecal polyphenols and the resulting post-biotics. Compared to CF, consumption of TF1 largely reduced fecal levels of endocannabinoid-like metabolites and sphingolipids while increasing both fecal and circulating polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles, suggesting that TF1 may have modulated gastrointestinal inflammation and motility. Stools of TF1-fed dogs showed reductions in phospholipid profiles, suggesting fiber-dependent changes to colonic mucosal structure.
Discussion
These findings indicate that the use of a specific pre-biotic fiber bundle may be beneficial in healthy dogs and in dogs with CGE.
Sixty-four cases of a variety of intestinal disorders in small animals were treated with Sterculia Gum orally. Satisfactory results were obtained when the drug was used alone or in conjunction with supportive therapy. The efficacy of the treatment was adequately demonstrated in both the diarrhoeic and the constipative case, and no evidence of contra-indication was reported. Sterculia Gum absorbs at least sixty times its own volume of water, and it was found particularly valuable in the treatment and control of dehydration in the cat.
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Two commercial type diets, one a cereal based dry food, the other a fortified all meat canned food were fed to male and female adult beagle dogs to evaluate effects of diet on rate of digesta passage and organic acid concentration along the gastrointestinal tract. Passage of fluid and particulate markers through the tract was fairly rapid. The stomach was the major site of digesta marker retention, especially particulate marker. There was no other point along the tract where particulate markers were selec tively retained. The rate of passage for the meat diet was slower than for the cereal diet. The pH of the stomach dropped significantly 2 hours post- feeding, continued to drop at 4 and 8 hours, then increased rapidly by 12 hours, reflecting changes in stomach fill. The pH of digesta in the cecum and colon of cereal fed dogs was significantly lower than that of meat fed dogs. Concentrations of lactic acid in the various segments of the gastro intestinal tract were generally greater in cereal fed dogs except for the stomach where the concentration was the highest for dogs fed meat at a period 2 hours post-feeding. Concentrations of VFA were highest in the cecum and colon and were not significantly affected by diet. The nutritional and possible physiological importance is discussed. J. Nutr. 109: 1592-
Citrus pectin (15 g/day) was added for 3 weeks to metabolically controlled diets in nine subjects. Pectin was consumed with fruit and sugar as a gel in divided doses with meals. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were reduced by a mean of 13% (P less than 0.001). Fecal fat excretion increased by 44% (P less than 0.001); neutral steroids by 17% (P less than 0.001) and fecal bile acids by 33% (P less than 0.02). Plasma triglyceride levels did not change.
Fat balance studies and quantitative analysis of fecal trypsin were done on 2 groups of Beagles fed either a meat-base (8.8% fat) or a cereal-base (10.5% fat) diet. In the amount fed, the meat-base diet provided 2.5 to 3 times more fat than the cereal-base diet, yet the mean daily fecal fat output of the 2 groups was not significantly different. Thus the percentage assimilation of fat in cereal-base diet (90.0%) was significantly (P less than 0.01) lower than that in the meat-base diet (96.9%). Dietary composition made no significant difference in fecal trypsin output, although the mean output from dogs fed the meat-base diet 4 times higher than that from dogs fed the cereal-base diet.