The effects of age and dietary resistant starch on digestibility, fermentation end products in faeces and postprandial glucose and insulin responses of dogs.

The same food formulation processed to obtain two different starch gelatinisations (SG) and resistant starch (RS) contents was evaluated in old and adult dogs, regarding apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, fermentation products in faeces, and postprandial glucose and insulin responses. A diet with corn was ground and extruded in two different ways, obtaining Low RS (2.2 g/kg DM; 99.9% of SG) and High RS (15.3 g/kg DM; 62.6% of SG). Each diet was fed to adults (4.0 ± 0.7 years) or old beagle dogs (11.5 ± 0.4 years) in a 2 (ages) x 2 (RS amounts) factorial arrangement with 8 dogs per food. Data were evaluated by analysis of variance, and postprandial responses by analysis of variance of repeated measurements over time (p < 0.05). Diet × age interaction was observed for protein ATTD, with lower values for old dogs fed High RS than those for the other treatments (p < 0.05). No age or diet effect was verified for the ATTD of other nutrients and faecal score. Faecal moisture and pH were higher for adults than that for old dogs (p < 0.05). The High RS food increased acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations in faeces, regardless of age (p < 0.01). Old dogs presented lower acetate and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and higher lactate and ammonia than adults (p < 0.05). Only for old dogs the intake of the High RS food reduced ammonia and increased faecal lactate (p < 0.05). An age × diet interaction was verified for glucose postprandial response, with lower values for old dogs fed High RS food (p < 0.05), while no differences were found for the other treatments. Old dogs had higher postprandial insulin secretion regardless of the diet (p < 0.05), and lower insulin increment at 180 min after the meal when fed the Low RS than when fed the High RS food (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the diet with lower SG and higher RS improved the intestinal microenvironment, with higher butyrate and total SCFA without altering faeces production or score. Old dogs presented less acetate and total SCFA and higher lactate and ammonia in faeces than adults. The High RS food increased lactate and reduced ammonia in faeces of old dogs, with possible positive influences for gut health. Old dogs had higher postprandial insulin secretion than that of adults to maintain blood glucose, and the diet with higher RS content reduced the postprandial glucose response of old dogs.

Feed processing effects on digestibility, palatability, excreta fermentation products and blood parameters in blue-fronted amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva)†.

Captive parrots show a high incidence of obesity and other metabolic disorders due to the consumption of unbalanced diets. Therefore, this study evaluated the digestibility and metabolic effects of transitioning blue-fronted amazons from a high fat diet (sunflower seeds) to processed diets with three degrees of starch gelatinization (SG). The same feed formulation was processed to obtain pelletized feed (PEL) at 27.1% SG; low-cooked extruded feed (EXTL ) at 81.6% SG; and high-cooked extruded feed (EXTH ) at 98.5% SG. Thirty adult parrots were fed sunflower seeds for 90 days, then were distributed in a completely randomized design with 10 repetitions per treatment, and fed one of the three prepared diets for 160 days. Feed palatability, apparent digestibility, excreta concentrations of volatile fatty acids, lactate and ammonia, initial and final radiographic examinations, blood cell counts and glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and uric acid levels were evaluated. The data were analysed by an analysis of variance and compared by Tukey's test (p < 0.05). Sunflower seed was more digestible than processed feeds (p < 0.05). Diet processing interfered with fat and starch digestibility (p < 0.001), being higher in the PEL than in the EXTH and EXTL respectively. Transitioning from sunflower seeds to balanced diets reduced serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and AST (p < 0.05) and increased red blood cell, haemoglobin, lymphocyte, monocyte and leucocyte counts (p < 0.01). Radiographs indicated a decreased hourglass (p = 0.015) and a reduced heart-liver ratio after ingesting the processed feeds (p < 0.05). Feed processing did not affect blood cell counts, serum biochemistry or radiographic examinations. In conclusion, parrots preferred the extruded diet and did not require an extensive SG to properly digest the feed. Consuming the processed diets improved the birds' metabolism and health.

A retrospective study of canine cutaneous food allergy at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital from Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil / Estudo retrospectivo da dermatite trofoalérgica canina em um Hospital Veterinário de Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brasil

Cutaneous food allergy is an adverse immunological response, triggered by antigenic dietary components that may escape the digestion process and are absorbed intact through the gastrointestinal mucosa. In Brazil, there are only a few reports on cutaneous food allergy and antigenicity of food components used in pet food production. Thus, the aim of this report was to assess and describe data from medical records of canine patients diagnosed with cutaneous food allergy at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital from Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, in order to evaluate epidemiological and clinical aspects related to this skin problem. From 2007 to 2012, 29 dogs received the diagnosis of cutaneous food allergy after an eight-week hypoallergenic elimination trial. Among them, purebred dogs were more frequent, as well as females, and their mean age was 50.4 months old. Pruritus was reported in all cases, especially in interdigital areas. In order to establish the diagnosis, most patients received home-cooked elimination diet, based on potato and lamb in approximately 80% of the cases. Besides, it was highlighted the importance of the hypoallergenic elimination diet being rigorously followed by dogs' owners, aiming the adequate control of the clinical signs related to cutaneous food allergy.

A dermatite trofoalérgica é uma resposta imunológica adversa, desencadeada por componentes dietéticos antigênicos, que escapam do processo de digestão e são absorvidos intactos pela mucosa gastrointestinal. No Brasil, há poucos relatos acerca da dermatite trofoalérgica e da antigenicidade dos componentes utilizados na produção de alimentos para animais. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar e relatar dados de prontuários de pacientes caninos diagnosticados com dermatite trofoalérgica em um Hospital Veterinário de Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil, a fim de analisar os aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos relacionados a este problema de pele. De 2007 a 2012, 29 cães receberam o diagnóstico de dermatite trofoalérgica após oito semanas de dieta de eliminação hipoalergênica. Dentre eles, destacam-se os cães de raça definida e as fêmeas como mais frequentes, com idade média de 50,4 meses. Prurido foi a queixa relatada em todos os casos, especialmente na região interdigital. Para fins diagnósticos, a maioria dos animais recebeu dieta caseira de eliminação, a base de batata e carneiro em aproximadamente 80% dos casos. Ademais, destaca-se a importância de que a dieta de eliminação hipoalergênica seja criteriosamente seguida pelo proprietário, a fim de controlar adequadamente os sinais clínicos da dermatite trofoalérgica.

Correspondência entre obesidade e hiperlipidemia em cães / Correspondence between obesity and hyperlipidemia in dogs

Os efeitos deletérios do excesso de peso sobre a saúde dos cães são bastante citados na literatura, mas pouco investigados. O termo hiperlipidemia refere-se ao aumento da concentração de lipídeos (colesterol, triglicérides ou ambos) séricos. As desordens lipídicas são relativamente comuns nos cães e essas condições podem ocorrer como resultado de um defeito primário no metabolismo de lipoproteínas ou como consequência de doença sistêmica subjacente. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a frequência de animais obesos que apresentam alterações nas concentrações de lipídios séricos e analisar a possível correspondência dessa condição com grau de obesidade, sexo, idade e castração. Foram incluídos 30 cães obesos com escore de condição corporal (ECC) igual ou superior a 8 (em escala de um a nove, com nove representando obesidade acentuada) e um grupo controle de dez animais com ECC igual a cinco. Nos animais com ECC 9 (n=21), foi encontrada frequência de 52,4 por cento (n=11) de cães com hipercolesterolemia e 33,3 por cento (n=7) com hipertrigliceridemia. Nos animais com EEC 8 (n=9), foi encontrada frequência de 22,2 por cento (n=2) de hipercolesterolemia e de 33,3 por cento (n=3) de hipertrigliceridemia. Essas alterações também apresentaram correspondência com o sexo feminino, faixa etária entre quatro e sete anos e a castração. Todavia, a elevação desses metabólitos foi moderada e não se situou em faixa de reconhecido risco à saúde.

The harmful effects of obesity on dog health are quite mentioned in the literature, but little investigated. The term hyperlipidemia refers to the increase of lipid and/or fat concentration (cholesterol, triglycerides or both) in serum. These disorders are relatively common in dogs and may happen as a result of a primary defect in metabolism of lipoproteins or as a consequence of a subjacent systemic disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of obese dogs that present alterations on cholesterol and triglycerides serum concentration, and to study the correlation of these disorders with obesity degree, sex, age and castration. Thirty obese dogs with body condition score (BCS) equal or superior to 8 (on a scale between one to nine, and nine representing severe obesity) and a control group of ten dogs with BCS 5 were included. Animals with BCS 9 (n=21 dogs) presented a frequency of 52.4 percent (n=11 dogs) of hypercholesterolemia and 33.3 percent (n=7) of hypertriglyceridemia. Dogs with BCS 8 (n=9) presented a frequency of 22,2 percent (n=2) of hypercholesterolemia and 33,3 percent (n=3) of hypertriglyceridemia. These alterations also presented correspondence with female sex, age between 4 and 7 years and castration. However, the cholesterol and triglycerides increases were moderate, and not remained within the range of recognized health risk.