STUDY:
IMPACT OF DIET ON KEY ENTEROBACTERIAL FAMILIES IN DOGS (2017)

Design: Random control trial

 

Aim: examine the impact of two diet groups on the key bacterial families, Clostridiaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae and Bacteroidaceae.

 

Sample:  16 adult, healthy dogs randomly selected from Massey University dog colony (one excluded), fed either a premium kibbled diet or a raw red meat diet for 9 weeks.

 

Key findings:

• The dogs fed a raw meat diet had more abundant bacteria associated with healthy microbiota (Fusobacterium, Lactobacillus and Clostridium) and a higher faecal health score than those kibble fed.

• For dogs fed the raw meat diet, digestibility of protein and energy were higher, and there was an improved faecal health score, reduced faecal weight, and lower volatile fatty acid (VFA) production.

 

Relevance: improving understanding of the effect of diet on dog health, especially the relationship between faecal microbiota and physiological parameters.

 

Funding: The work was funded by AgResearch Core Funding (A21247; including financial contributions from Bombay Petfoods Ltd., K9 Natural Ltd. and ZiwiPeak Ltd.) and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.

​

The authors declare that the funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

 

Peer reviewed