Prevalence of incidental humeral intracondylar fissures in brachycephalic breed dogs in CT studies

Humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) have been predominantly reported in spaniel breeds and proposed to be possible risk factors for humeral condyle fractures (HCF). We hypothesized that the prevalence of incidental HIF in French Bulldogs may be greater than that of other brachycephalic breeds. A retrospective, observational, prevalence study was performed using CT examinations of French bulldogs and other brachycephalic breed dogs presenting for an unrelated condition. Two European College of Veterinary Diagnostic and Imaging-certified radiologists reviewed the images of the humeral condyles of these dogs. A classification system was devised to grade the findings. We considered a Score 1 to be normal, Score 2 to have centralised sclerosis, Score 3 to have a partial fissure and Score 4 to have a complete fissure. A total of 228 elbows were reviewed from 122 dogs. Of this population, 145 elbows were from French Bulldogs, 54 were from Pugs, and the remainder were from a mix of other brachycephalic breeds. The prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4) in elbows of the French bulldog, pug and other breed groups was 6.9% (CI 2.8–11%), 5.6% (CI 0–11.7%), and 3.4% (CI 0–10.15%), respectively. At a dog level, the prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4 present in at least one elbow) was found to be 11.8% (CI 4.6–19%) in French Bulldogs, 11.1% (CI 0–22.9%) in Pugs, and 5.26% (CI 0–15%) in the other breed group. There was no significant difference between the breed groups. The inter-reviewer reliability for CT scoring of HIF based on Cohen's weighted kappa was low at 0.19.     

ELISA testing for common food antigens in four dry dog foods used in dietary elimination trials

This study evaluated four over the counter venison dry dog foods available from one on-line retail vendor for potential contamination with common known food allergens: soy, poultry or beef. An amplified, double sandwich type enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test of soy, poultry and beef proteins were performed by an independent accredited food laboratory. The ELISA test for poultry protein was found to be unreliable when testing in dry dog foods because false negatives occurred. ELISA testing of control diets for both soy and beef proteins performed as expected and could be useful in antigen testing in dry dog foods. Three of the four over the counter (OTC) venison canine dry foods with no soy products named in the ingredient list were ELISA positive for soy; additionally one OTC diet tested positive for beef protein with no beef products listed as an ingredient list. One OTC venison diet was not found to be positive for soy, poultry or beef proteins. However, none of the four OTC venison diets could be considered suitable for a diagnostic elimination trial as they all contained common pet food proteins, some of which were readily identifiable on the label and some that were only detected by ELISA. Therefore, if the four OTC venison products selected in this study are representative of OTC products in general, then the use of OTC venison dry dog foods should not be used during elimination trials in suspected food allergy patients.     

A pilot study on in vitro solubility of phosphorus from mineral sources,feed ingredients and compound feed for pigs,poultry, dogs and cats

Excess phosphorus (P) as seen in cat foods can have a negative effect on health (Dobenecker, Webel, Reese, & Kienzle, 2017 ; Pastoor, Klooster, Mathot, & Beynen, 1995 ). P surpluses may affect the environment, and economics in food producing animals, whereas marginal supply may impair performance and health. P can only be absorbed if it is soluble. Solubility of feed P in water and weak acid solution—as a precondition for absorption—was investigated in feed for dogs, cats, pigs and poultry. Different P containing mineral compounds (Ca(H₂PO₄)₂, CaHPO₄?2H₂O, Ca₄Na(PO₄)₃, KH₂PO₄, K₄P₂O₇, NaH₂PO₄, Na₅P₃O₁₀ (29 samples), as well as eight different ingredients such as wheat or meat, 64 compound feeds for pig and poultry, eight complete dry and 13 complete moist dog foods, 25 complete moist cat foods and 29 experimental diets were analysed for P solubility. Finely ground feeds were soaked in water or hydrochloric acid (0.4%) for 1 and 90 min. The samples were centrifuged and the supernatant was analysed for P (photometric vanadate molybdate method after wet ashing). The solubility of P from inorganic sources reflected the solubility of the main compound of the feed grade material. “organic” ingredients, such as fish meal or meat, showed a lower P solubility than inorganic sources. Most ingredients from animal origin (exception fish meal) had a higher P solubility than those from plant origin. When inorganic and “organic” P sources were mixed, the P solubility of the mixture reflected the P solubility and percentages of its compounds. In chicken, turkey and pig compound feed the percentage of acid soluble P increased with increasing P content. Pet moist food showed high percentages of water‐soluble P. The results show that the method is suitable to obtain data on water and acid solubility of P in feed and ingredients.     

Protein requirements of growing pups fed practical dry-type diets containing mixed-protein sources

The protein requirement of Pointer pups fed practical diets was assessed in 3 experiments. Eight-week-old pups required 25.2% protein when fed a combination of corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and meat and bone meal for 2 weeks. However, when a poor-quality poultry by-product meal was substituted for some of the corn gluten meal and meat and bone meal, the requirement increased to 27.5%. This increased requirement was explained by decreased digestibility of the poultry by-product meal diet. Pups fed each of the diets required 18% digestible protein to maximize growth rate. Sixteen-week-old pups were more efficient at utilizing the experimental diets, requiring only 23% crude protein (17.2% digestible protein) to maximize growth rate.     

Processing traits and digestibility of extruded dog foods with soy protein concentrate

Soya bean protein concentrate (SPC) with two particle sizes were evaluated on extrusion parameters, kibble formation, digestibility and palatability of dog foods. Eight diets were extruded: PBM—control diet based on poultry by‐product meal (PBM); GM—a diet in which corn gluten meal (GM) replaced 45% of the diet protein; cSPC15%, cSPC30% and cSPC45%—diets in which SPC of coarse particle size (600 μm) replaced 15%, 30% and 45% of the diet protein; and sSPC15%, sSPC30% and sSPC45%—diets in which SPC of small particle size (200 μm) replaced 15%, 30% and 45% of the diet protein. The digestibility of nutrients was evaluated for the PBM, GM, cSPC45% and sSPC45% diets, using six dogs per food. The PBM, GM and cSPC45% diets were compared for palatability. Data were submitted for analysis of variance, and the means were compared by polynomial contrasts or Tukey's test (p < .05). The cSPC increased the specific mechanical energy (SME) application, extrusion temperature and pressure linearly, resulting in lower kibble density and higher expansion and starch gelatinization (SG) (p < .01). When comparing the PBM, GM, cSPC45% and sSPC45% diets, higher SME, extrusion temperature and pressure, SG and kibble expansion were verified for the cSPC45% diet (p < .05). The DM, fat and crude protein digestibility were similar among diets. Faecal pH, ammonia and lactate did not differ, demonstrating that the removal of oligosaccharides and soluble non‐starch polysaccharides of SPC produces an ingredient with mostly non‐fermentable fibre. Dogs preferred the PBM to the GM diet (p < .05), but consumed the PBM and cSPC45% foods equally. In conclusion, SPC exhibited good extrusion functionality, favouring kibble expansion and SG, with high digestibility, similar to that of PBM. The removal of soluble compounds from soya beans resulted in an ingredient with low fermentable fibre content, which did not alter faecal formation or characteristics.     

Acrochordonous plaques in two Bulldogs and a Pug dog

Acrochordons or fibroepithelial polyps are exophytic to pedunculated tumour-like lesions of the skin reported to occur in humans and animals. We report here a new and unusual presentation of numerous, closely associated acrochordons forming a plaque, preferentially located at the dorsal neck of two Bulldogs and a Pug dog. Histopathologically these plaques were characterized by oedematous to fibrous cores enclosed by normal to moderately hyperplastic epidermis. We propose the name acrochordonous plaque to reflect the clinical lesion and the histopathological appearance of numerous, closely spaced acrochordons. Although the aetiology of these lesions remains unclear, there may be a breed predisposition for Bulldog-like breeds.     

Assessment of computed tomography derived cricoid cartilage and tracheal dimensions to evaluate degree of cricoid narrowing in brachycephalic dogs

The aims of this observational, analytical, retrospective study were to (i) obtain computed tomographic (CT) cricoid dimensions (height, width, and transverse‐sectional area), (ii) compare the cricoid dimensions between brachycephalic and mesaticephalic breeds, and (iii) compare cricoid cartilage dimensions between dogs without and affected with brachycephalic airway syndrome. The study is important to help to further evaluate and understand the anatomical components of brachycephalic airway syndrome. Measurements were performed in 147 brachycephalic and 59 mesaticephalic dogs. The cricoid cartilage was found to be significantly more oval in Pugs and French Bulldogs compared to mesaticephalic breeds. The cricoid cartilage transverse‐sectional area was smallest for the Pug and, after adjusting for weight, significantly smaller for Pugs (P < 0.001), Boston Terriers (P = 0.001), and French Bulldogs (P < 0.001) compared to Jack Russell Terriers. The tracheal transverse‐sectional area at C4 of English Bulldogs was significantly smaller than for Jack Russell Terriers (P = 0.005) and Labradors (P < 0.001). The cricoid cartilage transverse‐sectional area:weight ratio was significantly lower in brachycephalic breeds compared to mesaticephalic breeds (P < 0.001). The cricoid cartilage:trachea at C4 transverse‐sectional area for brachycephalic dogs was significantly larger than for mesaticephalic dogs (<0.001), demonstrating that the trachea was the narrowest part of the airway. No significant differences were found for cricoid dimensions between dogs affected with and without brachycephalic airway syndrome. However, large individual variation was found among the brachycephalic breeds and further studies investigating the relationship between cricoid cartilage size, laryngeal collapse, concurrent tracheal hypoplasia, and/or severity of brachycephalic airway syndrome are warranted.     

Intake of lambs offered ad libitum access to one of three iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous mixed rations or a choice of all three foods

Modern practices for finishing livestock typically involve offering a single uniform food to large groups of presumably similar animals in an attempt to increase efficiency. Nevertheless, differences in physiology and behavior still cause variations in performance that may precipitate biological inefficiencies by not appreciating the importance of differences among individuals, the capacity of animals to select foods that meet ever-changing individual needs, and the dynamic nature of a nutrient's value to an animal. We examined intakes of groups of lambs offered a single food or three foods differing only in their proportions of cereal grains: High, 70%; Medium, 50%; Low, 40%. Foods consisted of the same ingredients (barley, corn, sugar beet pulp, alfalfa, soybean meal, grape pomace, feather meal, wheat straw), had similar levels of metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP), and met NRC requirements. We hypothesized that intake and performance would be greater when animals had a choice of foods because high grain concentrations would not limit intake of individuals unable to process high amounts of energy from grain. In general, lambs offered a Choice of the three foods ate more, converted food more efficiently, and cost less per unit gain than lambs fed the High food (P < 0.05). Animals fed the Low or Medium foods were intermediate in their responses between these two extremes. Within Choice, preference for High, Medium, and Low shifted from the beginning (21 d) to the finishing (21 d) periods of the trial. Though lambs in the Choice treatment preferred Low > Medium and High in the beginning stage of the trial, their preferences became pronounced as we increased the amount of grain in each food during the finishing period (P < 0.05). Collectively, our findings suggest improved intake, rate of gain, and feed efficiency can result when animals are allowed to select their diets from biochemically complementary foods, possibly enabling them to realize greater benefits than typically thought from inexpensive forages. In addition, offering animals choices is an alternative to feeding uniform diets of rapidly fermented energy, a major cause of illness in feedlots.     

Milk yield and composition of lactating Comisana ewes fed total mixed rations containing nitrogen sources with different ruminal degradability

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of pelleted total mixed rations (PTMR) containing two crude protein (CP) levels and N sources with different ruminal degradability on milk yield and composition of lactating ewes. The experiment, which lasted 14 weeks, was conducted during the spring and summer of 2007 and used 80 multiparous Comisana ewes in mid-lactation, reared in permanent stabling. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used, with ewes receiving two levels of CP (low 15.5% CP and high 17.5% CP) and two type of N sources with different rumen degradable protein (low and high) for each dietary treatment: (1) high-degradable protein diet (17.5% CP) composed by soybean meal, sunflower meal and urea (HPHD), (2) low-degradable protein diet (17.5% CP) included only corn gluten meal (HPLD), (3) high-degradable protein diet (15.5% CP) composed by soybean meal, sunflower meal and urea (LPHD), and (4) low-degradable protein diet (15.5% CP) included only corn gluten meal (LPLD). In order to evaluate in vivo digestibility of PTMRs, four adult rams were placed in metabolic cages and their individual faeces and urine were collected. In the performance trial, ewe milk yield was recorded daily and Individual milk samples were analysed weekly for milk composition and to determine milk renneting parameters. The 17.5% CP diets led to better nutrient apparent digestibility coefficients and had positive effects on milk production than the 15.5% CP diets. Similar results were obtained for corn gluten meal diets, compared to diets containing soybean meal, sunflower meal and urea. Data showed that corn gluten meal diets have had a positive effects on milk fat (P < 0.05), but not on milk protein, lactose and renneting parameters. All ewes gained weight during the experimental period, but the body weight change was not significant among treatments. Our findings indicate that an increase in rumen undegradable protein (RUP) content does not negatively affect nutrient digestibility of sheep rations and milk yield and composition.     

Digestibility,fecal characteristics,and plasma glucose and urea in dogs fed a commercial dog food once or three times daily

Digestibility, fecal characteristics, and levels of glucose and urea in the plasma were determined in 8 dogs that received 2 different dog foods once or 3 times daily. One dog food (A) was 5 times more expensive than the other (B). Fecal pH and consistency, digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and crude fiber (CF) were determined. Blood samples were taken from 30 min before to 60 min after a meal. Digestibilities of DM, OM, and CP, and fecal consistency were higher, and daily fecal excretion and fecal pH were lower when dogs were fed food A (P < 0.001). The feeding schedule had no effect on plasma glucose and urea. Neither feeding frequency nor food × frequency interactions was significant for the parameters studied.     

The impact of dietary protein source on observed and predicted metabolizable energy of dry extruded dog foods

Fifty-five observations were used to determine the ME content of 8 foods containing different protein sources. The major protein sources tested included low-oligosaccharide whole soybeans; 2 low-oligosaccharide, low-phytate whole soybeans; 2 conventional soybean meals; low-ash poultry meal; low-oligosaccharide, low-phytate soybean meal; and conventional whole soybeans. The ME content of all foods ranged from 3,463 to 4,233 kcal/kg of DM. The first objective was to utilize the observed ME data and test the accuracy of the modified Atwater equation. In this study, the modified Atwater equation generally underpredicted ME compared with the observed ME (residual mean = 247 kcal/kg). The second objective was to use individual data to develop an equation, based on the chemical composition of the food, to predict the ME content of the foods. A multivariate regression analysis was used to predict ME content based on chemical composition. Five models were fitted to the data. Model 1 included CP, ether extract (EE), and crude fiber (CF). Because the foods varied in protein sources, and the ratio of total AA (TAA) to non-AA (NAA) CP ranged from 3.5:1 to 14.4:1, it was hypothesized that accounting for the proportion of TAA and NAA in CP would improve the fit of the model. Therefore, model 2 included TAA, NAA, EE, and CF. Defining CP in terms of TAA and NAA improved the r2 of the model from 0.46 to 0.79. Subsequently, models 3, 4, and 5 replaced the CF term with ADF, NDF, and hemicellulose (HEM). Model 3 included TAA, NAA, EE, and NDF. Model 4 included TAA, NAA, EE, ADF, and HEM. Model 5 included TAA, NAA, EE, and HEM. Defining dietary fiber in terms of HEM improved the r2 of model 2 from 0.79 to 0.81. Residual analysis suggested that replacing the CF term with HEM (model 5) improved the prediction of ME content. In contrast, defining fiber in terms of NDF (model 3) did not result in an improvement over model 2, whereas the ADF term (model 4) did not (P > 0.34) contribute to the overall model. Fractionating CP into TAA and NAA components further defined the chemical composition of the food. These data suggest that defining protein composition improves the accuracy of predicting the ME content of dog foods.     

蛋白质评价方法在饲料原料营养价值评定中的应用与探讨

饲料原料中蛋白质的质量直接影响着动物的营养吸收与饲料的利用效率，目前对饲料原料蛋白质的评价多采用生物价法，利用蛋白质评分法的研究则很少。因此，作者对现今国际上通用的6种蛋白质营养评价方法进行概述，并以50~75 kg生长猪营养需要量（NRC，2012）为参考蛋白，运用氨基酸评分（AAS）、化学评分（CS）、必需氨基酸指数（EAAI）、必需氨基酸相对比值（EAARR）、氨基酸比值系数分（SRCAA）和模糊评分法（FCM）作为评价标准，对9种常用饲料原料（玉米、小麦、大麦、大豆粕、棉籽粕、菜籽粕、玉米蛋白粉、鱼粉、乳清粉）蛋白质营养价值进行评价，进而得到6种蛋白质营养评价方法在饲料营养价值评定分析中的应用结果。经综合分析探讨，EAARR与FCM对饲料原料蛋白质的评价较其他方法更为科学合理，可为生长猪饲料配方设计提供参考。     

Additivity and associative effects of metabolizable energy and amino acid digestibility of corn,soybean meal,and wheat red dog for White Pekin ducks

The additivity of true amino acid digestibility (TAAD) and true metabolizable energy (TME) values in corn, soybean meal, and wheat red dog for White Pekin ducks was investigated. Differences between observed values for the complete diets and values predicted from measurements of individual ingredients were used to test additivity. Eight ducks were each assigned to the following dietary treatments: corn, soybean meal (44% CP), wheat red dog (wheat by-product with less than 4% fiber), complete Diet 1 (corn-soybean meal), complete Diet 2 (corn-red dog-soybean meal), and dextrose. Dextrose-fed ducks were used to estimate endogenous losses. The nitrogen-corrected TME (TMEn) in corn, soybean meal, wheat red dog, and two complete diets were 3.411, 2.919, 2.502, 3.148, and 3.111 kcal/g, respectively. In general, the TME and TMEn values observed in the two complete diets were not different (P > 0.05) from predicted values and indicated that the TME and TMEn in corn, soybean meal, and wheat red dog were all additive. The mean TAAD of corn, soybean meal, wheat red dog, and the two complete diets were not different, and were 87.03, 88.15, 90.58, 85.83, and 87.02%, respectively. The differences in TAAD between observed and predicted values were significant (P < 0.05) only for arginine, lysine, and aspartate in complete Diet 1, and for arginine, histidine, lysine, and aspartate in complete Diet 2. These results indicated that TME and TMEn values for corn,soybean meal, and wheat red dog were all additive in the two complete diets, but digestibilities of some amino acids were not additive and demonstrated some associative effects.     

Effect of the interval between feeding and drug administration on oral ampicillin absorption in dogs

Eight dogs of various breeds received single oral doses of 20 mg/kg bodyweight ampicillin at four different time intervals relative to feeding a meal. In treatment A the dogs were fasted for 12 hours before and after ampicillin administration. In treatment B the dogs received ampicillin immediately after, in treatment C one hour before and in treatment D two hours after the meal. Each dog received these treatments during a period of feeding dry and canned dog food according to an 8 × 8 Latin square design. Blood samples were taken at specified time intervals after drug administration by jugular venepuncture. Antibiotic concentrations in plasma were determined by microbiological assay. Non-compartmental pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the individual concentration-time curves and were compared by non-parametric statistic tests between treatments and types of food. With both dry and canned food ampicillin absorption was impaired when the drug and food were given at the same time (treatment B) as compared to the absorption in fasting dogs (treatment A and C). On dry food, drug absorption was also decreased in treatment D. It is recommended for clinical purposes to give ampicillin to fasted dogs, and to wait at least one hour before feeding. After a meal (dry food) waiting two hours until drug administration is not sufficient to avoid impaired ampicillin absorption.     

The effect of straw meal on the crude protein and amino acid metabolism and the digestibility of crude nutrients in broiler breeding hens. 3. Digestibility of amino acids

In two experiments with colostomized broiler hens the influence of a straw meal supplement on the apparent digestibility of the amino acids of the ration and the 15N labelled basic amino acids in wheat was studied. In experiment 1 the animals received 120 g mixed feed plus 0, 20, 30 and 40 g straw meal per animal and day. The digestibility of the amino acids decreased on average from 86% to 83%, 80% and 79% with the growing straw intake. In contrast to the control variant, 20 g straw meal intake resulted in a significant decrease of digestibility for lysine, histidine, glycine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, cystine and methionine. 30 and 40 g straw meal reduced significantly the digestibility of all amino acids with the exception of arginine. The amino acid composition of the crude protein in faeces changed only very slightly due to the straw supplement. In experiment 2 15N labelled wheat was a component of the ration. Of the 15N labelled amino acids lysine, histidine and arginine, 88, 90 and 95% were apparently digested. The adaptation of the animals to straw meal intake did not change the digestibility of the amino acids.     

Effect of different fibre types on the digestibility of nutrients in cats

In this study the effect of different fibre types was investigated on the acceptance of foods (in a short-term study) and on the nutrients' digestibility by using 10 adult, castrated cats. Peanut hull (PH, source of lignin), dried sugar beet pulp (SBP, source of hemicelluloses and pectin) and alfalfa meal (ALF, source of cellulose) were mixed to a poultry meat based cat food in 10% on dry matter (DM) basis. The average DM intake did only slightly differ according to the type of fibre added. Supplementation of basal food by dried SBP did not influence the digestibility of DM and crude protein (CP) significantly. Using ALF as a fibre source decreased the digestibility of DM (85.8% vs. 78.6%) and CP (93.8% vs. 92.0%) significantly. More severe decline could be observed in the digestibility of DM (85.8% vs. 63.4%) and CP (93.8% vs. 83.7%) when using PH as a fibre source. Fibre sources also influenced the stool DM content significantly. While application of PH increased the DM content of the faeces (45.0% vs. 49.6%), the use of dried sugar beet or ALF reduced the faecal DM content (45.0% vs. 24.1% and 39.0%, respectively). According to these results the less digestible fibre source (PH) increased the DM content of the faeces while by improving the digestibility of the fibre sources the DM content of the faeces decreased. It can be concluded, that not only the absolute fibre content of the food but also the type of fibre must be taken into account when evaluating its possible role as a component of weight loss products.     

The determination of a gross utilization of 15N-lysine in laboratory rats. 1. Experiment with normal intestinal flora (without antibiotic supplement)]

Wistar rats of a live weight of about 100 g were divided into 14 groups (5 animals/group). The rations given supplied the animals with 75%, 100% and 125% lysine, which brought about a moderate growth of the animals of approximately 2 g/animal and day achieved by limited feeding. The 3 lysine levels mentioned could be achieved by lysine supplements (L-lysine-HCl) for the following rations: barley (B), wheat (W), and wheat gluten (WG). For isolated soybean protein (assay protein) (S) the lysine levels 100% and 125% and for soybean meal (SM) the levels 116% and 125% could only be achieved. A control group with whole egg ration (W) (with its natural lysine content of 125% of the requirement) were also tested as comparison. During the 10-day period of the main experiment all 14 rations were supplemented with 0.5 g 15N-lysine (alpha amino group, 95% labelled with 15N). The N balance could only be significantly improved by lysine supplements in the rations B, W and SM with the lysine level of 125%. The biologic value of the protein sources was in rations B and WG also significantly improved by the highest lysine supplement. 15N excess (15N') from the deaminated 15N lysine was excreted with diet B rich in crude fibre mainly in faeces (more than 15% of the intake) and only about 10% in urine. With the diets without native crude fibre the excretion quota changed in favour of urine. The following 15N' amounts in per cent of 15N' intake from lysine were excreted in urine and faeces: B 75 = 31.3, B 100 = 30.9, B 125 = 28.0, W 75 = 24.3, W 100 = 32.2, W 125 = 32.6, GW 75 = 18.3, WG 100 = 24.2, WG 125 = 28.1, S 100 = 39.4, S 125 = 50.4, SM 116 = 34.9, SM 125 = 32.9, W 125 = 19.1. 15N excretion in urine and faeces increased in comparable relations in 6 cases of lysine increase levels only. Gross utilization of lysine can only conditionally be quantified by 15N labelled lysine supplement.     

Comparative evaluation of net digestive and absorptive efficiency in dogs and cats fed a variety of contrasting diet types

Comparative net digestive and absorptive efficiency was assessed with adult Beagles and domestic cats by apparent digestibility assays. Eight foods were used comprising two canned dog foods; canned cat foods; two samples of semipurified diet; and single samples of experimental dry cat food and fresh mince. Apparent digestibility percentages of crude protein, fat, nitrogen-free extract (NFE) and gross energy were all significantly higher in dogs than cats. Mean values obtained for dogs were (per cent): crude protein 87; fat 92; NFE 70 and energy 89. Respective values for cats were 82, 76, 67 and 79. On average, dogs obtained 11 and 9 per cent more digestible energy and protein per unit food eaten than cats. Most digestibility characteristics of foods measured in cats were significantly correlated with those for dogs and regression equations are presented predicting digestibility in cats from dog data.     

Opinions of veterinarians regarding aggression in different breeds of dogs

Aggression in 108 dog breeds and six crosses was ranked by 185 members of the Companion Animal Society of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. The Rottweiler and German Shepherd were categorised as extremely aggressive and the Akita, Basengi, Chihuahua (long-coated and short-coated), Chow Chow, Cocker Spaniel, Shar pei and Welsh Corgi (Cardigan and Pembroke) were classified as very aggressive. A chi-squared test of data from the twenty most popular breeds showed that significant differences were perceived between the breeds. Cocker Spaniels, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, German Shepherds and Rottweilers were more aggressive than Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Border Collies and Doberman Pinchers, which were more aggressive than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Bichon Frise, English Springer Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers, Weimaraners, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Dalmatians, Boxers, Bulldogs, Bull Mastiffs and Rough Collies.