Effects of ingesting different additives on fermentative variables and fecal microbiota of obese dogs

• Grant number: 24/07021-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Henrique Annibale Vendramini
• Grantee: Giovanna Calciolari Machado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Obesity is the most common nutritional condition in dogs and cats, characterized by chronic inflammation that leads to various metabolic changes. This results in significant clinical problems and, consequently, reduced life expectancy for dogs. Studies indicate that adding certain supplements to the diet can improve the health of obese animals. However, there have been few studies in the canine species. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of including different additives in the diet of obese dogs on intestinal health variables. Three experimental diets will be formulated: Control Diet (CTL) - without the inclusion of any source of beta-glucans; Beta-glucan Diet A (BGA) - control diet with the inclusion of 1000ppm of beta-1,3-glucans; Beta-glucan Diet B (BGB) - control diet with the inclusion of 1000ppm of beta-1,3/1,6-glucans. Eighteen adult male or female dogs will be included, all castrated and obese. Dogs with a body condition score equal to or greater than 8 on a nine-point scale and with a body fat percentage greater than 30%, determined by the deuterium isotope dilution method, will be considered obese. The study will evaluate the concentrations of fecal short-chain and branched-chain fatty acids, which will be measured by gas chromatography, and lactic acid by spectrophotometry. To quantify the fecal microbiota, fresh feces collected using sterile gloves will be used and submitted to 16S rRNA genetic sequencing.