As perceptions of plant-based diets gradually move away from the image of lettuce leaves on a plate, it’s no surprise that the popularity of this style of diet has extended to canine companion diets.
However, in the saturated pet food market, not all products are created equal and there is much debate about whether plant-based diets are suitable for dogs.
In the first study to evaluate the digestibility of commercial vegan pet foods, researchers at the University of Illinois tested two mildly cooked vegan human meals and a staple chicken-based kibble in a set of dogs. , measured their blood chemistry. , fecal composition, microbiome, and other health-related factors.
“The trend toward vegan and human foods is on the rise for dogs,” says Kelly Swanson, a professor of animal sciences at the University of Illinois and co-author. As with all food products, it is important to ensure that they are safe and “complete and balanced.” “
Two plant-based options – high-protein grain and non-grain vegan diets from the line prepared by veterinary nutritionists – and chicken dry food were fed to 12 healthy adult female beagle dogs in three separate experimental periods. rice field.
The team also evaluated the nutritional value of all three, vegan meals and kibbles featuring lentils, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, apples, blueberries, peas, and carrots, as set by the FDA for complete found to meet well-balanced industry standards. American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
“One thing to remember is that animals don’t have the ingredients they need, they have the nutrients they need,” says Swanson. “A dog can be a vegan, a vegetarian, or a meat eater, as long as they consume the nutrients they need in the right amounts and ratios.
Dog stools were collected for fecal scoring and dry matter, pH levels, metabolites, and microbiota were also assessed. The amount of poop produced was consistent over his three periods, and plant-based products provided essential fiber.
“It’s really no surprise,” Swanson says. “With these ingredients, it has more fiber and oligosaccharides and may be suitable for dogs that need to stay on a regular basis.
However, the team was surprised by measurements of certain blood metabolites, molecules that circulate in the blood and act as indicators of health. This suggests that plant-based diets may be beneficial for overweight animals.
When it comes to gut health, plant-based diets have brought good news for both poop-bag working dogs and their owners.
“There were some interesting and beneficial changes in the microbial community that may reflect the blend of fibers that were in the vegan diet,” Swanson explained. Phenol and indole, two fecal metabolites, were also dramatically reduced on these diets.
“It still smells, but it’s probably less,” he added. “Overall, it appeared that the dogs fed the vegan diet had some beneficial changes in terms of gut health.”
The researchers said that while these results were positive for dogs on a plant-based diet, the two diets used in the study were carefully formulated and home-cooked with the same type of ” The cost of these ready-made, human-grade meals can also be a disincentive for families, he added.
“But knowledge of ingredient composition and nutrient needs is important,” warned Swanson. It can become unbalanced.”
The team now wants to compare these plant-based varieties to similar human diets that contain meat, and those that contain and don’t contain dairy.
“We have shown that these vegan diets provide desirable fecal properties, high nutrient digestibility, and positive changes to specific blood and fecal metabolites.” For those interested in feeding their pets, the diets we tested are a good choice.”
This research Animal Science Journal.
Source: University of Illinois
