Adding a polyphenol-rich fiber bundle to food impacts the gastrointestinal microbiome and metabolome in dogs.

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.

Microbiome function underpins the efficacy of a fiber-supplemented dietary intervention in dogs with chronic large bowel diarrhea.

Background: Chronic large bowel diarrhea is a common occurrence in pet dogs. While nutritional intervention is considered the primary therapy, the metabolic and gut microfloral effects of fiber and polyphenol-enriched therapeutic foods are poorly understood.

Methods: This prospective clinical study enrolled 31 adult dogs from private veterinary practices with chronic, active large bowel diarrhea.

A prospective multicenter study of the efficacy of a fiber-supplemented dietary intervention in dogs with chronic large bowel diarrhea.

Background: Chronic large bowel diarrhea is common in dogs and can have a significant impact on their overall health and well being. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a therapeutic food with select dietary plant fibers known to contain antioxidant and polyphenol compounds on clinical signs in dogs with chronic diarrhea.

Methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted in 31 adult dogs currently experiencing chronic diarrhea from private veterinary practices in the United States.

Successful nutritional control of scratching and clinical signs associated with adverse food reaction: A randomized controlled COSCAD'18 adherent clinical trial in dogs in the United Kingdom.

Background: Adverse reactions to food are a common dermatological condition in dogs, requiring nutritional intervention using novel or hydrolysate protein-based foods.

Objective: To evaluate a therapeutic food containing egg and phytonutrients in dogs with food allergies using an activity monitor and core outcome set for canine atopic dermatitis (COSCAD'18) in a controlled double-masked, multicenter, prospective clinical trial.

Animals: Adult dogs with a history of adverse food reaction as diagnosed by a food elimination trial were recruited from general practices.

Successful nutritional control of scratching and clinical signs associated with adverse food reaction: A randomized controlled COSCAD'18 adherent clinical trial in dogs in the United States.

Background: Adverse reactions to food are a common dermatological condition in dogs, requiring nutritional intervention using a novel or hydrolysate protein-based food.

Objective: To evaluate a therapeutic food containing egg and phytonutrients in dogs with food allergies using an activity monitor and core outcome set for canine atopic dermatitis (COSCAD'18) guidelines and in a controlled double-masked, multicenter, prospective clinical trial.

Animals: Adult dogs with a history of adverse food reaction as diagnosed by a food elimination trial were recruited from general practices.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid as a Nutritive Supplement for Humans and Animals: An Overview of Its Use in Dog Food.

Alpha-lipoic acid (a-LA) is used as a nutritive additive in dog food. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of studies published to date in PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library and MedlinePlus involving alpha-lipoic acid supplementation, which included human clinical trials as well as animal studies, to evaluate its utility as a supplement in foods for healthy, adult dogs. While an upper limit of alpha-lipoic acid intake in humans has not been conclusively determined, the levels for oral intake of a-LA have been better defined in animals, and distinct differences based on species have been described.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Is an Effective Nutritive Antioxidant for Healthy Adult Dogs.

This study was designed to determine the effect of alpha-lipoic acid on the glutathione status in healthy adult dogs. Following a 15 month baseline period during which dogs were fed a food containing no alpha-lipoic acid, dogs were randomly allocated into four groups. Groups were then fed a nutritionally complete and balanced food with either 0, 75, 150 or 300 ppm of alpha-lipoic acid added for 6 months.

Cats with IRIS stage 1 and 2 chronic kidney disease maintain body weight and lean muscle mass when fed food having increased caloric density, and enhanced concentrations of carnitine and essential amino acids.

A prospective, randomised, 6-month feeding trial was performed in 28 adult cats with International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage 1 and 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD). All cats were assigned to either a control food: Royal Canin Renal Support A Feline, dry or a test food: Hill's Prescription Diet k/d Feline with chicken, dry. Food intake was recorded daily; body weight weekly; and serum, urine, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and body condition assessments were performed at 0, 1, 3 and 6 months.

Use of Accelerometer Activity Monitors to Detect Changes in Pruritic Behaviors: Interim Clinical Data on 6 Dogs.

Veterinarians and pet owners have limited ability to assess pruritic behaviors in dogs. This pilot study assessed the capacity of the Vetrax triaxial accelerometer to measure these behaviors in six dogs with pruritus likely due to environmental allergens. Dogs wore the activity monitor for two weeks while consuming their usual pet food (baseline), then for eight weeks while consuming a veterinary-exclusive pet food for dogs with suspected non-food-related skin conditions (Hill's Prescription Diet Derm Defense Canine dry food).

Pharmacokinetics of orally administered DL-α-lipoic acid in dogs.

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics of DL-α-lipoic acid in dogs when administered at 3 dosages via 3 methods of delivery.

Animals: 27 clinically normal Beagles.

Procedures: In a 3 × 3 factorial Latin square design, 3 dosages (2.

In vivo measurement of flatulence and nutrient digestibility in dogs fed poultry by-product meal, conventional soybean meal, and low-oligosaccharide low-phytate soybean meal.

Objective: To determine an optimal window for determining peak flatulence and evaluate the effects of oligosaccharides and supplemental beta-mannanase in soybean meal-based diets on nutrient availability and flatulence.

Animals: 6 dogs.

Procedures: Dogs were used in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a 6 x 6 Latin square experiment to evaluate the digestibility, flatulence, and fecal odor metabolites of low-oligosaccharide low-phytate soybean meal (LLM), conventional soybean meal (SBM), and poultry by-product (PBP) meal diets with or without supplemental beta-mannanase (5 g/kg).

Nutritional and behavioral effects of gorge and fast feeding in captive lions.

Nonhuman animals in captivity manifest behaviors and physiological conditions that are not common in the wild. Lions in captivity face problems of obesity, inactivity, and stereotypy. To mediate common problems of captive lions, this study implemented a gorge and fast feeding schedule that better models naturalistic patterns: African lions (Panthera leo) gradually adapted from a conventional feeding program to a random gorge and fast feeding schedule.

The role of supplementary dietary antioxidants on immune response in puppies.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementary antioxidants (AOX) and whey protein on the immune function health of puppies. Four groups of 10 puppies were fed a control and 3 different test foods (control + antioxidants (AOX), control + AOX + 1% whey protein, and a grocery brand (low AOX)) for 6 weeks. A standard vaccination protocol with a combination canine parvovirus (CPV) and distemper (CDV) vaccine was carried out at 2 and 4 weeks.