Current Knowledge
Feeding dogs high-protein diets appears to promote increased fermentative and putrefactive processes in the colon, compromising intestinal health. Conversely, the use of prebiotics may improve microbiota health by preventing proteolysis.What This Research Adds
This study demonstrates that supplementing with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) can reduce the concentrations of fermentative products in dogs and enhance the expression of bifidobacteria involved in these processes.Conclusions
Despite the positive results obtained, further studies are necessary to better understand the effects of diet on the intestinal microbiota of dogs and, consequently, on their overall health.
Supplementing dogs' diets with prebiotics such as fructooligosaccharides reduces the harmful fermentative products from high-protein diets and lowers the expression of bacteria involved in these processes, contributing to intestinal microbiota health.
Prebiotics and Proteins in a Dog’s Diet
While proteins are fundamental in canine nutrition, excessively protein-rich diets seem to favor the increase of fermentative and putrefactive processes in the colon, compromising the animal's intestinal environment and overall health.
Research suggests prebiotics can improve microbiota well-being by reducing fermentative byproducts and preventing proteolysis (protein degradation). This study tested the effects of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a commonly used prebiotic in humans, on fecal bacterial populations, colon fermentative processes, and "total apparent digestive capacity" (ATTD) in 12 healthy adult dogs. These dogs were sequentially fed four different dietary plans:
- LP Diet: Low-protein (229 g/kg)
- HP Diet: High-protein (304 g/kg)
- LP+FOS Diet: Low-protein with FOS (15 g/kg)
- HP+FOS Diet: High-protein with FOS (15 g/kg)
Pork meat served as the sole protein source. Diets were administered for 28 days, separated by a 12-day wash-out period on a low-protein standard diet.
Study Results
- Fecal pH: Reduced during HP diet, increased during LP diet with FOS.
- Ammonia Levels: Altered with FOS supplementation (41.1 µmol/g for LP; 58.6 µmol/g for HP).
- Propionic Acid: Reduced under LP diet, increased under HP diet with FOS.
- Acetic/Propionic Acid Ratios: Increased under LP, reduced under HP with FOS.
- Bifidobacteria: Reduced under LP, increased under HP with FOS.
- Digestive Capacity and Mineral Absorption: Improved with FOS in LP diet, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, and iron.
Conclusions
A moderate protein increase in a dog’s diet raises fermentative product production in the colon, including ammonia. However, adding fructooligosaccharides enhances microbiota well-being and digestive capacity. While these findings are promising, further research is recommended to explore diet-microbiota-health interactions in dogs.
More: Dog Nutrition
