The Fecal Microbiota in the Domestic Cat () Is Influenced by Interactions Between Age and Diet; A Five Year Longitudinal Study.

In humans, aging is associated with changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota; these changes may contribute to the age-related increase in incidence of many chronic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes. The life expectancies of cats are increasing, and they are also exhibiting the same types of diseases. While there are some studies investigating the impacts of diets on gastrointestinal microbiota in young cats, the impacts of aging in older cats has not been explored.

Effect of age, sex and body weight on the serum concentrations of cobalamin and folate in cats consuming a consistent diet.

Objectives Multiple feline diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver and biliary tract are known to cause abnormal serum cobalamin and folate concentrations. Measuring the serum concentration of these vitamins can therefore be a helpful diagnostic tool. However, factors other than disease, in particular age, have also been suggested to have an effect on the serum concentration of cobalamin and folate.

Key bacterial families (Clostridiaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae and Bacteroidaceae) are related to the digestion of protein and energy in dogs.

Background: Much of the recent research in companion animal nutrition has focussed on understanding the role of diet on faecal microbiota composition. To date, diet-induced changes in faecal microbiota observed in humans and rodents have been extrapolated to pets in spite of their very different dietary and metabolic requirements. This lack of direct evidence means that the mechanisms by which microbiota influences health in dogs are poorly understood.

Investigation of cell-free DNA in canine plasma and its relation to disease.

Background: DNA is released from dying cells during apoptosis and necrosis. This cell-free DNA (cfDNA) diffuses into the plasma where it can be measured. In humans, an increase in cfDNA correlates with disease severity and prognosis.

Design and evaluation of a novel chitosan-based system for colon-specific drug delivery.

Tritrichomonas foetus is a flagellated protozoan parasite that colonizes the feline colon causing colitis and chronic foul smelling diarrhoea. Despite the efficacy of Ronidazole in the treatment of T. foetus, Ronidazole has been reported to cause neurotoxicity in some cats due to rapid absorption in the small intestine.

Energy requirements of adult dogs: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the maintenance energy requirements of adult dogs. Suitable publications were first identified, and then used to generate relationships amongst energy requirements, husbandry, activity level, methodology, sex, neuter status, dog size, and age in healthy adult dogs. Allometric equations for maintenance energy requirements were determined using log-log linear regression.

Effects of physiologic concentrations of l-lysine on in vitro replication of feline herpesvirus 1.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of various concentrations of l-lysine on in vitro replication of feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1).

Sample: Cultures of Crandell-Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cells.

Procedures: CRFK cells were inoculated with FHV-1 and maintained in media with 20 combinations of l-arginine and l-lysine concentrations.

Dietary isoflavone absorption, excretion, and metabolism in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).

Dietary isoflavones, capable of influencing reproductive parameters in domestic cats (Felis catus), have been detected in commercial diets fed to captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). However, the absorptive and metabolic capacity of cheetahs towards isoflavones has not yet been studied. Experiments were designed to describe the plasma concentration-time curve, metabolite profile, and urinary and fecal excretion of genistein and daidzein in cheetahs following consumption of isoflavones.

Modulation of innate and acquired immunity by an estrogenic dose of genistein in gonadectomized cats.

Dietary genistein has potential as a surrogate estrogen to restore normal control of food intake in cats following gonadectomy. However, since genistein affects immunological responses in other species it is important to determine if there is any immunological effect of genistein in cats, before long-term feeding of it could be considered. It was hypothesized that the minimum estrogenic dose of genistein (peak serum concentration 0.

Hydrolyzed protein diets for dogs and cats.

The primary aim of a hydrolyzed protein diet is to disrupt the proteins within the diet sufficiently to remove existing allergens. Published assessment of hydrolyzed protein diets includes physiochemical and immunologic assays as well as nutritional and clinical feeding trials. Potential problems include poor palatability, hypoosmotic diarrhea, and a reduced nutritional value, although persistent allergenicity is the most significant.

Evaluation of the immunogenicity of dietary proteins in cats and the influence of the canning process.

Objective: To characterize the antigen-specific immune response to dietary proteins in cats and evaluate whether there was a qualitative or quantitative difference between the responses to dietary proteins when those proteins were fed unprocessed or as part of a canned diet.

Animals: 14 healthy domestic shorthair cats.

Procedure: Cats were fed 2 dietary proteins (soy and casein) either as unprocessed aqueous suspensions or as part of canned diets for 21 days.

Evaluation of a routine diagnostic fecal panel for dogs with diarrhea.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic yield of a routine fecal panel and determine whether Clostridium perfringens or C difficile toxin production is associated with acute hemorrhagic diarrheal syndrome (AHDS) in dogs.

Design: Case-control study.

Animals: 260 dogs with diarrhea and 177 dogs with normal feces.