Burger is a practical source of animal protein for consumers, sold both raw (ready-to-cook) and cooked (ready-to-eat), and can be an alternative to stimulate the consumption of rabbit meat, which is a source of healthy animal protein. This study evaluated the effects of different levels of oat bran addition on physicochemical properties and sensory acceptance of rabbit meat burgers. Burgers were formulated with 0, 5, 10, and 15% oat bran plus garlic and salt, then manually processed and analyzed for composition, technological parameters (pH, cooking loss, shrinkage percentage, water holding, texture, and color), and sensorial acceptance. The higher the levels of inclusion of oat bran, the lower the burger moisture (p < 0.0001). Burgers with 15% oat bran presented higher content of lipids and carbohydrates, thus higher caloric value (p < 0.0001). The loss of water during cooking was greater in the burger without the inclusion of oat bran (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found for color and aroma attributes. Overall acceptability was higher for burgers with 5% oat bran. Rabbit meat burgers containing oat bran may represent a viable alternative to improving their sensory and technological profiles and overall consumer acceptance.

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.

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.

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.