Our
objective was to determine the effects of raw meat–based diets with and without
inulin or yeast cell-wall (YCW) extract on macronutrient digestibility, blood
cell counts, serum metabolite concentrations and fecal fermentative end-product
concentrations in healthy adult dogs. Six spayed female dogs were fed each of
the following six diets for 21 days: beef control, beef and 1.4% inulin, beef
and 1.4% YCW extract, chicken control, chicken and 1.4% inulin, and chicken and
1.4% YCW extract.
All
dogs maintained desirable fecal quality characteristics and produced low fecal
volume. All diets were highly digestible (protein digestibility was over 88%;
fat digestibility was over 97%). Differences in fermentative end-product
concentrations among all diets were minor, but a significant increase in fecal
short-chain fatty acid concentrations was evident when dogs were fed beef-based
diets with inulin and YCW extract.
Fecal
spermine concentrations were higher with diets containing inulin and YCW
extract than with control diets. Blood cell counts and serum metabolite values
were within reference limits after each trial. All diets resulted in
maintenance of nitrogen balance.
The
raw meat–based diets evaluated were highly digestible in dogs. The increase in
fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations achieved when inulin and YCW
extract were included may be beneficial to canine health.
Source: A.N. Beloshapka
et al., 2012. Effects of inulin or
yeast cell-wall extract on nutrient digestibility, fecal fermentative
end-product concentrations and blood metabolite concentrations in adult dogs
fed raw meat–based diets. AJVR 73: 1016-1023.
doi: 10.2460/ajvr.73.7.1016