Nutritional profile and gastroenterology of wild dogs (Cerdocyon thous) kept under human care

• Grant number: 24/01387-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra Melchert
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Hussni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox) has a wide territorial distribution, represents one of Brazil's most road kill species and is frequently seen in rehabilitation centers. However, little is known about the functioning of the digestive tract of wild canids, especially this species. The existing literature addresses the omnivorous diet of this animal, but there is a lack of information on the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract, the time it takes for the diet to pass through the gastrointestinal tract, and the responses to the use of the diet. The knowledge about Canis familiaris (domestic dog) is used when faced with digestive and nutritional illnesses, despite the unclear differences between the species. Therefore, this work aims to record endoscopic anatomical characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract: the oral cavity and dentition, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon, and rectum, using a flexible endoscope. It also aims to collect biopsies for histopathology, pH, gastric, and intestinal microbiome. Finally, evaluate the digestibility of the diet recommended for the species and the time the food passes through the GIT. This study will be conducted on six wild dogs (Cerdocyon thous), aged between 6 months and one year old, in addition to healthy adult animals that are destined for and maintained at the Center for Medicine and Research in Wild Animals (CEMPAS), from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, located in the city of Botucatu/SP.