Feed additives, such as prebiotics and essential oils, are used in pet foods and can affect digestibility, palatability, and intestinal functionality of dogs. The combined effects of yeast cell wall and oregano essential oil on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and palatability of diet, intestinal fermentation products, and fecal microbiota in dogs were analyzed. Eighteen adult dogs were fed for 20 days with three dry extruded diets for adult dogs: control (without the additive), a diet containing 1.5 kg/ton of yeast cell wall and oregano essential oil (1.5YCO), and a diet containing 3.0 kg/ton of yeast cell wall and oregano essential oil (3.0YCO). The inclusion of both levels of YCO reduced the intake ratio. The addition of 3.0YCO reduced the ATTD of dry matter, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). There were greater putrescine and cadaverine concentrations and lower histamine and ammonia (p < 0.05) in the feces of dogs fed 3.0YCO. In addition, fecal odor of dogs fed YCO was less fetid than the control group (p < 0.05). There was greater fecal bacterial diversity in dogs fed with both dietary concentrations of YCO evaluated (p < 0.05). Dogs fed 1.5YCO and 3.0YCO showed higher relative abundance of Blautia and Faecalibacterium and lower abundance of Streptococcus (p < 0.05) in the feces, in comparison to the control group. Given the modulation of microorganisms considered beneficial and the lower fecal concentrations of histamine, phenols, and ammonia, the YCO blend resulted in indicators of improvement of intestinal functionality in dogs.

Saponins are bioactive compounds known for modulating potential inflammatory metabolites produced by the gut microbiome, including ammonia. This study evaluated the effects of the saponin sources, Yucca schidigera (7% saponins) and Gleditsia amorphoides (21% saponins), on intestinal functionality, antioxidant, and inflammatory markers in adult dogs. Eighteen Beagle dogs (10 males and eight females), with 12.20 ± 1.33 kg body weight were randomly divided into three groups: Control (no saponins), 200 g Yucca schidigera/ton of diet (Yucca), and 200 g Gleditsia amorphoides/ton of diet (Gleditsia), totaling six replications per treatment. Dogs were fed experimental diets for 20 days. Fresh fecal samples were collected on day 20 to analyze: dry matter, score, pH, ammonia, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), and biogenic amines. Blood was also collected on day 20 to analyze inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant enzymes, and liver enzymes. Preliminary results showed that the Gleditsia group had higher fecal propionate concentrations and lower histamine concentrations (P < 0.05). Both the Yucca and Gleditsia groups presented lower fecal concentrations of ammonia and spermine than the Control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the Yucca and Gleditsia groups showed lower lipid peroxidation and higher catalase activity, whereas only the Gleditsia group showed lower alkaline phosphatase activity than the Control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, Yucca and Gleditsia can modulate fecal fermentative metabolites and improve the antioxidant status of dogs. These findings also showed the safety of using Yucca and Gleditsia during the experimental period. Key-words: Ammonia, Propionate, Saponin extracts.

Stressful situations can negatively affect the intestinal microbiota and contribute to gastrointestinal disorders. This study investigated the effects of a synbiotic (SYN) on fecal characteristics and ammonia concentrations, selected fecal bacterial groups, and dysbiosis index (DI) of healthy adult Beagles undergoing an abrupt dietary change. Sixteen adult dogs were divided into two groups: a placebo (PLA, no supplementation, n = 8) and a SYN supplementation group (n = 8). Dogs from both groups were fed a highly digestible diet for 20 days. On day 21, all dogs underwent an abrupt transition to a less digestible diet, which they continued to receive for an additional 20 days. Fecal samples were collected on days 20, 22, and 40 to analyze fecal dry matter, score, ammonia, pH, microbiota, and DI. The SYN supplementation did not affect fecal characteristics or DI of dogs (p > 0.05). After dietary change, an increase in fecal Bifidobacterium and universal bacteria was observed only in the PLA group (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary transition increased DI and fecal Escherichia coli regardless of the SYN supplementation (p < 0.05). Dogs fed the highly digestible diet presented greater fecal Peptacetobacter hiranonis and lower Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides (p < 0.05). Dogs supplemented with SYN presented lower fecal Clostridium perfringens than the PLA group when fed the less digestible diet (p < 0.05). These results suggest that abrupt dietary change may promote alterations associated with intestinal dysbiosis in dogs. Moreover, SYN supplementation was associated with lower fecal C. perfringens abundance in dogs fed the less digestible diet.

Background: Puppies have particular characteristics due to gastrointestinal immaturity, influencing physiological processes. Hypothesis/Objectives: Evaluate the effects of age and consumption on apparent diet digestibility coefficients (ADC), fecal characteristics, fermentation metabolites, and fecal microbiome in growing dogs. Animals: Eight dogs were evaluated at 2, 5, 8, 11, and 14 months old in experiment 1 and 12 dogs at 14 months old in experiment 2. Methods: This was a prospective experimental study. Dietary ADC, fecal characteristics, fermentation metabolites, and fecal microbiome were evaluated in 2 experiments: the first analyzed the effect of age, and the second, the effect of consumption in 2 groups: adult intake (AI) and puppy intake (PI). Results: Older dogs had lower ADC of dry matter (DM), ether extract, and metabolizable energy, and higher ADC of crude protein (CP) (P < .05). Younger dogs had lower fecal DM and fecal score and higher fecal production (P < .05). Older dogs had higher fecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids and indoles and lower concentrations of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) (P < .05). Dogs aged between 2 and 5 months had a higher fecal abundance of Streptococcus and Escherichia coli and lower abundance of Turicibacter and Peptacetobacter (P < .05). The ADC of DM, organic matter, and CP were lower in PI dogs than in AI dogs (P < .05). The AI dogs had higher fecal DM and fecal score and lower fecal production (P < .05). Puppy intake dogs had higher fecal concentrations of ammonia and BCFA and a higher abundance of Streptococcus and a lower abundance of Blautia (P < .05). Conclusions and clinical importance: Age and feed intake influence the ADC of nutrients and energy, the fecal microbiome, and fermentation metabolites, with the microbiota stabilizing after 8 months of age in dogs.

Cães e gatos podem ser acometidos por diversos distúrbios gastrointestinais, como as enteropatias crônicas. Diante disso, as empresas pet food desenvolveram alimentos coadjuvantes para auxiliar no tratamento desses distúrbios. Dessa forma, objetivou-se analisar as concentrações de macronutrientes e ingredientes dos alimentos secos extrusados coadjuvantes destinadas a cães e gatos com distúrbios gastrointestinais disponíveis no Brasil. As pesquisas dos produtos foram feitas por meio de sites dos fabricantes e busca de termos booleanos na internet, sendo encontrados 11 alimentos coadjuvantes para distúrbios gastrointestinais para cães, de 6 marcas distintas, e 5 alimentos coadjuvantes para distúrbios gastrointestinais para gatos, de 5 marcas distintas. As concentrações proteicas (PB) variaram menos para cães (21 a 25% e 55,7 a 64,4 g/1000 kcal) e mais para gatos (30 a 40% e 72,8 a 97,8 g/1000 kcal). Entretanto, as concentrações de extrato etéreo (EE) variaram principalmente nos alimentos para cães, sendo 5% até 18% de EE (14,5 a 43,9 g/1000 kcal). As concentrações de fibra bruta (FB) também variaram principalmente nas dietas para cães (1,9 a 12,6% e 5 a 39,3 g/1000 kcal), devido às dietas específicas para animais com constipação ou diarreia responsiva a fibra. As principais fontes proteicas, lipídicas e de fibras para cães e gatos foram: farinha de vísceras de aves e ovo em pó; gordura de frango e óleo de peixe e polpa de beterraba e casca de psyllium. Portanto, os alimentos comerciais coadjuvantes para distúrbios gastrointestinais apresentam moderada PB, mas alta variação no EE e FB, principalmente para cães.