Dietary trials with a commercial chicken hydrolysate diet in 63 pruritic dogs

The owners of 63 pruritic dogs were instructed to feed them a chicken hydrolysate diet exclusively for six weeks as part of diagnostic investigations into non-seasonal pruritus. Ectoparasitism and microbial infections were eliminated during the dietary trial. The dogs' skin lesions, gastrointestinal signs and frequency of defecation were assessed and scores for pruritus were assigned before they started the diet and before and after they resumed their original diet. An adverse food reaction was diagnosed if the pruritus resolved while they were on the diet, but recurred when they resumed their original food regimen. Seventeen of the 63 dogs were withdrawn from the trial, including four which found the diet unpalatable; however, its palatability was reported to be good or excellent in 48 of the dogs. An adverse food reaction alone was diagnosed in nine (19.6 per cent) of the 46 dogs and another nine had an adverse food reaction and atopy. There were gastrointestinal signs in six of the nine dogs with an adverse food reaction, which resolved on the trial diet but recurred when they resumed their original diet.     

Effects of diet on clinical signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of dietary modification on clinical signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs. DESIGN: Blinded randomized crossover study. ANIMALS: 21 dogs with EPI. PROCEDURE: Dogs were fed the diet they received at home for 2 weeks. Thereafter, they received 3 special diets (a high-fat diet, a high-fiber diet, and a highly digestible low-residue diet) for 3 weeks each. Owners scored dogs daily for the last 2 weeks of each 3-week period for severity of 6 clinical signs including appetite, defecation frequency, consistency of feces, borborygmus, flatulence, and coprophagia. An EPI index was calculated for each dog by adding the daily scores for each clinical sign. RESULTS: Significant differences in daily EPI indices among diets were observed in 20 dogs. The original diet appeared to be the most suitable in 8 dogs, whereas the high-fat diet was most suitable in 5 dogs, the high-fiber diet was most suitable in 4 dogs, and the low-residue diet was most suitable in 2 dogs. In 1 dog, the lowest EPI index score was the same during the original diet and the high-fat diet feeding periods. One dog did not complete the feeding period for the high-fiber diet. Differences in mean EPI indices among diets were not significant. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that responses to different diets varied among individual dogs. Because responses to the feeding regimens were unpredictable, it is suggested that feeding regimens be individually formulated for dogs with EPI.     

Morphological findings in young dogs chronically fed a diet containing excess calcium

Morphologic findings in Great Dane pups fed a supplement containing three times the recommended calcium content (HC-group) and a diet which followed recommended requirements (NC-group) are described. In the HC-group significant skeletal changes were found using histologic, histomorphometric, and bone labeling techniques. Both cartilage and osseous changes were present. Articular and physeal cartilage changes consisted of various-sized irregularities of retained cartilage with disturbances in enchondral ossification. These changes were comparable to osteochondrotic lesions. Osseous lesions were characterized by retarded maturation and retarded remodeling of trabecular and cortical bone, a higher percentage of total bone volume, and a decreased number of osteoclasts. Initially the parathyroid glands were found to be less active, and in the thyroid glands the C-cells were more numerous. At the end of the study these differences were far less pronounced.     

Efficacy of feeding a diet containing a high concentration of mixed fiber sources for management of acute large bowel diarrhea in dogs in shelters

BackgroundUse of diets with increased concentrations of dietary fiber is thought to be beneficial in the management of dogs with large bowel diarrhea.ObjectiveTo determine whether feeding a diet with high concentrations of soluble and insoluble fiber to dogs with acute colitis would be superior to feeding a diet with typical fiber levels.AnimalsA total of 52 dogs with acute signs of large bowel diarrhea housed in an animal shelter were entered into the study; 11 dogs per diet completed the protocol.MethodsIn this randomized, prospective study, dogs with a fecal score of 4, 5, 6, or 7 and signs of acute colitis were fed a high fiber diet (4.54% soluble; 15.16% insoluble fiber) or a standard diet (0.6% soluble; 5.33% insoluble fiber) and fecal scores compared over the course of the study with significance defined as P < .05.ResultsAll dogs fed the high fiber diet (11/11; 100%) had a fecal score <5 on the day of adoption or day 9, which was statistically different (P < .04) than dogs fed the standard diet (6/11 dogs; 55%; 95% CI: 23‐83). The proportions of stools with a fecal score >4 were greater (P = .0001) in the dogs fed the standard diet (29/48 samples; 60%; 95% CI: 45‐74) compared to the high fiber diet (8/50 samples; 16%; 95% CI: 7‐29).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe results support feeding the high fiber diet described herein to dogs with acute large bowel diarrhea.     

Efficacy of a commercial hydrolysate diet in eight cats suffering from inflammatory bowel disease or adverse reaction to food

Eight of 28 cats presenting with chronic vomiting and/or diarrhoea were diagnosed as suffering from chronic enteropathy. All cats had undergone a complete diagnostic work-up, including endoscopy. Histopathology findings varied from normal, eosinophilic, to lymphoplasmacytic gastroenteritis. On the basis of findings, the cats were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or an adverse reaction to food. A hydrolysed protein diet was used as sole therapy, and clinical signs resolved within 4-8 days in all eight cats. After 2 months the cats had gained weight. A challenge trial with their previous diet resulted in recurrence of the clinical signs, which resolved in seven cats when the test diet was reintroduced. We conclude that the hydrolysed protein diet used in the current study was effective in managing these cases.     

Efficacy of dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) for ameliorating separation-related behavioral signs in hospitalized dogs

Dogs hospitalized in veterinary clinics are likely to show signs of separation-induced anxiety from hospitalization. The study assessed the effect of dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) on 10 typical separation-related behavioral signs in hospitalized dogs. A DAP treated group (n = 24) was compared with a placebo control group (n = 19). There was overall amelioration of the signs without ‘vigilance’ and ‘anorexia’ in the DAP-treated dogs; marked decreases were noted in elimination (P = 0.038), excessive licking (P = 0.005), and pacing (P = 0.017). The results suggest that the use of DAP could decrease separation-induced anxiety, distress, and fear in inpatients, and possibly facilitate recovery in hospitalized dogs.     

Efficacy of non-acaricidal containing otic preparations in the treatment of otoacariasis in dogs and cats

Eighty-nine cats and 38 dogs naturally infested with the ear mite Otodectes cynotis were randomly allocated into two treatment groups. One group was treated with a product containing miconazole nitrate, polymyxin B sulphate and prednisolone acetate, the other with a combination of diethanolamine fusidate, framycetin sulphate, nystatin and prednisolone. The treatment (five drops in each ear) was applied twice daily for 14 days, and its efficacy was evaluated on days 7, 14 and 21 on the basis of an otoscopic examination of the external ear canal, a microscopical examination of scrapings for the presence of ear mites and clinical signs of pruritus, pain, erythema and/or exudate. Both treatments were highly effective, and there were no significant differences between the two products, either in efficacy or in the clinical improvements observed. Apart from an allergic reaction in one cat treated with the second product, no adverse effects were observed.     

Clinical signs associated with pseudorabies in dogs

Clinical signs in dogs with pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease) were tabulated from 25 confirmed cases. The duration of disease was short, ranging from 6 to 96 hours. Eight dogs were euthanatized. Of those not euthanatized, 12 (71%) died within 24 hours of onset, 16 (94%) died within 48 hours, and only 1 (6%) lived longer than 48 hours (96 hours) after the onset of clinical signs. All of the dogs had ptyalism, 84% were restless, 84% were anorectic, 76% were atactic, and 64% wandered aimlessly. Sixty-four percent of the dogs had tachypnea, 60% had dyspnea, 56% vocalized, 52% were pruritic, 48% held their necks rigidly, 36% vomited, 36% had muscle spasms, 36% were aggressive, 28% had trismus, and 24% had dysphagia. Five of 25 dogs (20%) had abnormal pupillary light responses. Two of the 25 dogs circled and 2 walked backwards. Each of the following were detected once: blindness, ptosis, facial paresis, excessive lacrimation, head-tilt, head-pressing, signs of abdominal pain, and photophobia. All dogs had been exposed to swine, although in some instances the farmer was unaware pseudorabies existed in the herd or believed it was not in the herd on the basis of negative results on serologic testing.     

The effect of a commercial high-fibre diet and an iso-malto-oligosaccharide-supplemented diet on post-prandial glucose concentrations in dogs

In order to evaluate the effect of insoluble and soluble fibre on the levels of post-prandial glycaemia, six healthy dogs were fed three different diets: a low-fibre control diet, a high-fibre diet (HF; mainly insoluble fibre) and the control diet with 10% iso-malto-oligosaccharides (IMO) added. The diets were fed for 2 days before the blood collections were started on the third day. Serial blood samples were taken 20, 60, 90, 150, 180, 240 and 360 min after feeding and one sample was taken just before the feeding after a fasting period of at least 20 h. There were no problems concerning the faecal consistency. The post-prandial glycaemia curve was significantly lower in the HF and IMO group in comparison with the control group. At 20 and 60 min the glucose concentration was significantly lower in the HF and IMO groups. At 90 and 150 min only the IMO group had a significantly lower glucose concentration. At 360 min there was a trend for a lower glucose concentration in the IMO group. The results show that both the HF and the IMO diets had a beneficial effect on post-prandial hyperglycaemia. Substitution of IMO may have the same or a slightly better effect, but this has to be confirmed in diabetic dogs and the effect may depend on the composition of the basal diet.     

Lack of effect of a diet containing zearalenone on spermatogenesis in rams.

Six breeding rams were fed a diet containing 12 mg of zearalenone daily for eight weeks. A control group of six rams was fed a diet free of zearalenone. The weekly production of spermatozoa of both groups was measured during the period of administration of zearalenone and for six weeks after the administration of zearalenone ceased. Semen production was measured in terms of the volume of ejaculate and its concentration, and the motility and abnormalities in the spermatozoa. The feeding of zearalenone had no significant effects on any of these measurements.     

Effects of diet on pharmacokinetics of phenobarbital in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of various diets on the pharmacokinetics of phenobarbital and the interactive effects of changes in body composition and metabolic rate. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 27 healthy sexually intact adult female Beagles. PROCEDURE: Pharmacokinetic studies of phenobarbital were performed before and 2 months after dogs were fed 1 of 3 diets (group 1, maintenance diet; group 2, protein-restricted diet; group 3, fat- and protein-restricted diet) and treated with phenobarbital (approx 3 mg/kg [1.4 mg/lb] of body weight, p.o., q 12 h). Pharmacokinetic studies involved administering phenobarbital (15 mg/kg [6.8 mg/lb], i.v.) and collecting blood samples at specific intervals for 240 hours. Effects of diet and time were determined by repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Volume of distribution, mean residence time, and half-life (t1/2) of phenobarbital significantly decreased, whereas clearance rate and elimination rate significantly increased with time in all groups. Dietary protein or fat restriction induced significantly greater changes: t1/2 (hours) was lower in groups 2 (mean +/- SD; 25.9 +/- 6.10 hours) and 3 (24.0 +/- 4.70) than in group 1 (32.9 +/- 5.20). Phenobarbital clearance rate (ml/kg/min) was significantly higher in group 3 (0.22 +/- 0.05 ml/kg/min) than in groups 1 (0.17 +/- 0.03) or 2 (0.18 +/- 0.03). Induction of serum alkaline phosphatase activity (U/L) was greater in groups 2 (192.4 +/- 47.5 U/L) and 3 (202.0 +/- 98.2) than in group 1 (125.0 +/- 47.5). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinically important differences between diet groups were observed regarding pharmacokinetics of phenobarbital, changes in CBC and serum biochemical variables, and body composition. Drug dosage must be reevaluated if a dog's diet, body weight, or body composition changes during treatment. Changes in blood variables that may indicate liver toxicosis caused by phenobarbital may be amplified by diet-drug interactions.     

Effect of diet on markers of intestinal health in dogs

The effects of two popular commercial pet foods on faecal markers of microbial metabolism were investigated. Adult dogs were fed a dry, extruded diet and a moist, canned diet in a randomly assigned crossover design. Fresh faecal samples were collected for chemical and enzyme activity assays. Relative to the canned diet, the dry food resulted in decreased faecal pH and faecal indole, sulphide and ammonia concentrations and increased total short-chain fatty acid, acetic and propionic acid concentrations. Faecal beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase and nitroreductase activities were decreased in dogs fed the dry diet. These changes in microbial metabolic activity are consistent with beneficial effects of the dry diet on colonic health.     

Essential fatty acids supplementation in different-stage atopic dogs fed on a controlled diet

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation in different-stages atopic dogs fed on a controlled diet. Twenty-two non-seasonal atopic dogs of different breeds and ages were included in the 2-month trial. All the patients were given an essential fatty acid (EFA) supplementation [17 mg/kg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + 5 mg/kg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) + 35 mg/kg gammalinolenic acid (GLA)], the global (diet + supplementation) omega-6 to omega-3 ratio was 5.5-1. Two groups of dogs were considered: group A 'pre-immunotherapy' (15 cases) included dogs with early stages atopy, which had not been submitted to any treatment yet; group B 'post-immunotherapy' (seven cases) included dogs with chronic atopy immunotherapy non-responsive. Clinical evaluations were performed at the beginning, on day 30 and at the end of the trial. Blood serum fatty acids profile was determined at the beginning and at the end of the study. Better clinical results were obtained in group A, a great difference was found between the two groups on pruritus score. Serum arachidonic acid (AA) was significantly lower at the end of the trial in group A while GLA was significantly higher in group B. We hypothesized that different-stages atopic dogs could have different response to EFA supplementation, maybe because of a different fatty acids metabolism. Early stages cases seem to be more responsive to EFA supplementation.     

Association between neurologic and cognitive dysfunction signs in a sample of aging dogs

In human neurology, patients with Alzheimer's disease show seizures and signs of motor deficits, such as movement disorders (i.e., restlessness, slowness, impaired gait, and, rarely, resting tremors). Because canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) is considered an Alzheimer-like disease in dogs, it might be possible to document concurrent behavioral and neurologic signs in aging canine patients as well. Twenty-one dogs (14 dogs with CDS-related signs, 7 normal dogs) greater than 7 years of age were studied. Owners completed a behavioral questionnaire and the dogs underwent a neurologic evaluation. Dogs with CDS were twice as likely to show neurologic deficits as dogs without CDS. However, based on this pilot study, a sample of 187 dogs affected with CDS are required to show statistically significant differences between the proportions of dogs with CDS and with neurologic signs and the proportions of control dogs without any of these disorders.     

Feeding trial in pigs with a diet containing sodium n-butyrate

Pigs weighing 7 to 102 kg were fed a diet containing 0.17% sodium n-butyrate. The diet increased the average daily body mass gain of pigs by 23.5%. Due to its dietetic effect, feed consumption increased by 8.9%. However, owing to the higher feed conversion, specific feed utilization was reduced by 11.8%. The experimental diet markedly reduced the percentile proportion of coliform bacteria in the ileum as compared to Lactobacillus ssp.: it decreased the coliform count and increased the counts of Lactobacillus spp. The diet increased the length of ileal microvilli and the depth of caecal crypts. It raised the concentration of immunoreactive insulin in the blood plasma. The feed supplemented with sodium butyrate did not alter adversely the clinical indices tested. It reduced feed costs by 9% and increased the returns from sales by 13%. As the additive is normally produced by microbial fermentation in the large intestine, it is not alien to the body. Sodium butyrate exerted its favourable effect in 3.6- to 24.2-fold lower concentrations than the organic acids (citric acid, fumaric acid, propionic acid) used earlier. With respect to its favourable biological and economic effect, sodium n-butyrate can be recommended for use in pig feeding as a growth promoter.     

Relationships between diet and malabsorption in dogs

Abnormalities affecting the pancreas or small intestine can result in malabsorption and diarrhoea by interfering with either the degradative or absorptive phases in the handling of one or more nutrients. Diet may be involved in the pathogenesis of certain disorders and can also influence the nature and severity of the clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal disease. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency can have serious nutritional consequences as the pancreas plays a crucial role in the degradation of the main dietary constituents. Whereas gastrointestinal peptidases help compensate for pancreatic protease deficiencies, malabsorption of carbohydrate and fat occurs and can result in osmotic and secretory diarrhoea, respectively. Small intestinal disease can result in malabsorption by interference with either the number or functioning of individual enterocytes. Diarrhoea may be due to stimulated secretion and diminished absorption of fluid and electrolytes, and also to the osmotic effects of small molecules, particularly carbohydrates, that remain in the lumen. Specific therapy depends on the disease. Dietary management is also important, for example with a restricted fat diet containing highly digestible carbohydrate and a high quality protein source. Where a specific dietary sensitivity is suspected, such as gluten-enteropathy, a hypoallergenic diet may prove particularly valuable.