Carolina Pedro Zanatta

Metodologias para determinação da digestibilidade de dietas contendo fontes proteicas vegetal ou animal em cães

The objective was to evaluate different methods of measuring digestibility in dogs fed two diets containing animal (poultry by products - PBP) and vegetable (soybean meal - SBM) protein sources. The methods evaluated were: total fecal collection (TFC) and indicators: acid insoluble ash (AIA), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and crude fiber (CF). Eight dogs were distributed in Cross Over in split plots (plot: sources of protein; subplot: methods for digestibility), fed by five days of adaptation and five days of total fecal collection. The diet containing SBM had a higher ADC of CP, while the diet containing POM showed higher ADC of all nutrients and metabolizable energy (ME). The ADC and ME determined by the TFC and the indicators did not differ. Thus, the ADC of diets in dogs can be determined by TFC and CF, ADF and AIA indicators, regardless of source of dietary protein.

Body condition of dogs fed diets containing soya hulls.

Obesity is a growing problem in dogs. Therefore, there is an increasing need of foods for obese dogs with high-fibre content to dilute energies and to reduce energy absorption. Soya hulls are cheap and are widely available as a fibre source. We aimed at evaluating the body condition of dogs fed diets containing 0 % soya hulls (0SH) or 16 % soya hulls (16SH) in replacement of maize. Twelve adult dogs, with 11·3 (se 1·6) kg average body weight (BW), 4·1 (se 0·1) years old and body condition score (BCS) between 4 and 7, were completely randomised assigned (six per treatment) and were fed the 0SH diet according to their maintenance energy requirements or the same amount in grams (g/kg BW0·75) of the 16SH diet once daily for 56 d. The animals were evaluated on days 0 and 57 for BW, BCS (1, very thin to 9, obese), subcutaneous fat thickness in the L7 vertebra using ultrasound (L7), canine BMI (CBMI) and body fat (BF). Data were analysed by the Students t test and Kruskal–Wallis test (P < 0·05). The change (final – initial) in BW (−0·58 v. −0·49 kg), BCS (−1 v. −1), L7 (−2 v. 0·35 mm), CBMI (−0·85 v. −0·63 kg/m2) and BF (−5·0 v. −5·4 %) of dogs fed the 0SH and 16SH diets, respectively, were not different (P > 0·05). The 16SH diet, with 11·4 % restriction in metabolisable energy, did not change the BCS of adult dogs. Further studies evaluating the supply of soya hulls only to overweight/obese dogs should to be carried out, because these dogs may respond differently than the group evaluated, which had a BCS between 4 and 7 (ideal to overweight).

Comparação da digestibilidade de um alimento seco extrusado entre cães adultos e filhotes

Os diversos alimentos completos para caes existentes no mercado objetivam atender as necessidades nutricionais do animal quanto ao estadio fisiologico, conforme as alteracoes que possam ocorrer no aproveitamento dos nutrientes. Com a finalidade de comparar os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) e as caracteristicas das fezes de um alimento seco extrusado de caes adultos e filhotes, foram utilizados 12 caes da raca Beagle, sendo seis adultos, cinco anos, e seis filhotes, cinco-seis meses, mantidos em gaiolas metabolicas e distribuidos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. Os animais foram alimentados duas vezes ao dia com um alimento completo seco extrusado para filhotes, por um periodo de adaptacao de cinco dias seguidos por cinco dias de coleta total de fezes. Houve diferenca apenas para o CDA do extrato etereo em hidrolise acida, sendo maior para os filhotes - 95,3 vs 89,5%. Em relacao as caracteristicas das fezes, os filhotes apresentaram pior escore fecal, devido as fezes terem se mostrado mais umidas, alem de maior pH em fezes secas e maior teor de amonia, culminando em pior qualidade. Conclui-se que filhotes de 5-6 meses de idade apresentam maior digestibilidade da gordura quando comparado a caes adultos, porem defecam fezes com pior escore fecal.