Inulin or YCW extract and raw diets for dogs

Our objective was to determine the effects of raw meat–based diets with and without inulin or yeast cell-wall (YCW) extract on macronutrient digestibility, blood cell counts, serum metabolite concentrations and fecal fermentative end-product concentrations in healthy adult dogs. Six spayed female dogs were fed each of the following six diets for 21 days: beef control, beef and 1.4% inulin, beef and 1.4% YCW extract, chicken control, chicken and 1.4% inulin, and chicken and 1.4% YCW extract.

Our objective was to determine the effects of raw meat based diets with and without inulin or yeast cell-wall (YCW) extract on macronutrient digestibility, blood cell counts, serum metabolite concentrations and fecal fermentative end-product concentrations in healthy adult dogs. Six spayed female dogs were fed each of the following six diets for 21 days: beef control, beef and 1.4% inulin, beef and 1.4% YCW extract, chicken control, chicken and 1.4% inulin, and chicken and 1.4% YCW extract.

All dogs maintained desirable fecal quality characteristics and produced low fecal volume. All diets were highly digestible (protein digestibility was over 88%; fat digestibility was over 97%). Differences in fermentative end-product concentrations among all diets were minor, but a significant increase in fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations was evident when dogs were fed beef-based diets with inulin and YCW extract.

Fecal spermine concentrations were higher with diets containing inulin and YCW extract than with control diets. Blood cell counts and serum metabolite values were within reference limits after each trial. All diets resulted in maintenance of nitrogen balance.

The raw meat–based diets evaluated were highly digestible in dogs. The increase in fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations achieved when inulin and YCW extract were included may be beneficial to canine health.

Source : A.N. Beloshapka et al., 2012. Effects of inulin or yeast cell-wall extract on nutrient digestibility, fecal fermentative end-product concentrations and blood metabolite concentrations in adult dogs fed raw meat–based diets. AJVR 73: 1016-1023. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.73.7.1016

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