Digestibility of dry extruded food in adult dogs and puppies

Abstract

The number of complete dog foods on the market aim to meet the nutritional needs of the animal and the physiological stage, as the changes that may occur in the use of nutrients. In order to compare the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) and stool characteristics of an extruded dry food for adult dogs and puppies, were used 12 beagle dogs, six adults, five, and six puppies, five-six months, kept in metabolic cages and distributed in a completely randomized design. The animals were fed twice a day with a dry extruded complete food for puppies, for an adjustment period of five days followed by five days of total collection of feces. The only difference to the CDA ether extract in acid hydrolysis was higher for babies - 95.3 vs. 89.5%. As for the characteristics of the stool, the pups had a worse score fecal, feces due to have been more moist, and dry stool higher pH and higher content of ammonia, resulting in worse quality. It is concluded that infant 5-6 months of age have a higher digestibility of fat when compared to adult dogs, but defecate stool fecal worst score.