petfood pro 4/2021

Ingredients
predisposing to increased gas
production. This gas production is
associated with a higher presence of
non-assimilated substrates, resulting
in flatulence and foul-smelling feces
(Roudebush P). Hence, you must know
the specificities of your dog species.
Case study 2: The breed of the
dog impacts carbohydrate
digestion
High amylase activity in dogs is
associated with a drastic increase in
copy numbers of the gene coding for
pancreatic amylase, AMY2B, that likely
allowed dogs to thrive on a relatively
starch-rich diet during early dog
domestication. Although most dogs
digest starch more efficiently than do
wolves, AMY2B copy numbers vary
widely within the dog population. In
humans, copy numbers of the gene
coding for salivary amylase, AMY1,
correlate with both salivary amylase
levels and enzyme activity. The research
explains how amylase activity is
associated with AMY2B copy numbers
in dogs. This has implications for dog
domestication, diet, and diabetes.
The investigation of the relationship
between AMY2B copy numbers and
serum amylase activity in dogs shows
that amylase activity correlates with
AMY2B copy numbers (Maja Arendt).
The authors then describe how AMY2B
copy numbers vary in individuals from
20 dog breeds and find strong breeddependent
patterns, indicating that the
ability to digest starch varies both at the
breed and individual level.
Non-digestible elements
Although digestion and absorption
of proteins in the small intestine
are efficient processes, substantial
amounts of undigested proteins are
directed to the large intestine, where
the microbial fermentation of these
components results in the production
of various putrefaction compounds,
such as ammonia, phenols, indoles,
SCFA, branched-chain fatty acids, gases
(H 2
, CO 2
and methane), biogenic amines
(putrescine, cadaverine, histamine,
phenylethylamine) and lactate.
Clostridium perfringens, and decreases
the faecal counts of other beneficial
bacteria, resulting in imbalance in the
intestinal microbiota and consequent
increase in excretion of enterotoxins and
other metabolic products related to the
increase of the protein decomposition
in the colon.
How to prevent gas and poor
feces score in your dog?
To avoid these inconveniences, it is best
to add finely crushed starches treated
by heat to facilitate digestion, favor
digestible and high quality proteins and
limit the seeds of legumes as too much
will tend to ferment more easily.
As a general rule:
Avoid sudden changes in diet which
prevent adaptations of digestive
physiology (mainly enzymatic secretions)
and lead to inflammation of the
digestive system, diarrhea, flatulence,
apathy or even decreased immune
defenses or allergies. It is recommended
for any change in diet, to respect a
dietary transition of at least 4 to 5 days.
Avoid food overloads which overwhelm
the enzymatic faculties of the dog's
small intestine and tend to accelerate
digestive transit. In animals requiring a
high level of food, for example in young,
nursing or working dogs, it is therefore
often recommended to divide the daily
intake into 2 or even 3 meals and to give
easily digestible food.
Avoid incomplete source of protein
(in amino acids) that are difficult to
assimilate, or which escape absorption
Some of these compounds influence
faecal odor and can be toxic if produced
in high (Nery J, et al. 2012)). Moreover,
undigested proteins favor the growth
of undesirable bacteria, such as
Issue 4 2021
11