Table 3.
Fecal and urine characteristics of dogs fed extruded, mildly cooked, and raw foods
| Item | Treatment | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extruded | Grain-free roasted refrigerated | Raw | Roasted refrigerated | |
| Fecal characteristics | ||||
| pH | 6.22 ± 0.18ab | 6.78 ± 0.18a | 6.15 ± 0.18b | 6.59 ± 0.18ab |
| Fecal score1 | 2.40 ± 0.13 | 2.21 ± 0.13 | 2.08 ± 0.13 | 2.40 ± 0.13 |
| Fecal DM% | 37.16 ± 2.19a | 37.68 ± 2.19a | 28.82 ± 2.19b | 36.58 ± 2.34a |
| Fecal metabolites | ||||
| Acetate (µmol/g DMB) | 257.52 ± 24.18ab | 225.65 ± 24.18ab | 312.09 ± 24.18a | 214.52 ± 24.18b |
| Propionate (µmol/g DMB) | 116.00 ± 15.93 | 106.16 ± 15.93 | 127.33 ± 15.93 | 129.14 ± 15.93 |
| Butyrate (µmol/g DMB) | 43.59 ± 8.10 | 45.90 ± 8.10 | 44.64 ± 8.10 | 58.17 ± 8.10 |
| Total SCFA2 (µmol/g DMB) | 417.11 ± 38.44 | 377.71 ± 38.44 | 484.07 ± 38.44 | 401.83 ± 38.44 |
| Isobutyrate (µmol/g DMB) | 5.33 ± 0.70 | 5.93 ± 0.70 | 4.19 ± 0.70 | 6.68 ± 0.70 |
| Isovalerate (µmol/g DMB) | 9.66 ± 1.12 | 8.76 ± 1.12 | 6.19 ± 1.12 | 9.84 ± 1.12 |
| Valerate (µmol/g DMB) | 0.73 ± 0.11 | 0.51 ± 0.11 | 0.55 ± 0.11 | 0.83 ± 0.11 |
| Total BCFA2 (µmol/g DMB) | 15.72 ± 1.81 | 15.21 ± 1.81 | 10.94 ± 1.81 | 17.35 ± 1.81 |
| Phenol (µmol/g DMB) | 0.32 ± 0.23 | 0.51 ± 0.23 | 0.50 ± 0.23 | 1.09 ± 0.23 |
| Indole (µmol/g DMB) | 1.18 ± 0.21b | 1.10 ± 0.21b | 0.97 ± 0.21b | 2.26 ± 0.21a |
| Total P/I2 (µmol/g DMB) | 1.50 ± 0.39b | 1.60 ± 0.39b | 1.47 ± 0.39b | 3.35 ± 0.39a |
| Ammonia (µmol/g DMB) | 26.06 ± 4.23c | 36.26 ± 4.23bc | 61.43 ± 4.23a | 44.18 ± 4.23b |
| Urine characteristics | ||||
| Specific gravity | 1.042 ± 0.00 | 1.045 ± 0.00 | 1.042 ± 0.00 | 1.039 ± 0.00 |
| pH | 6.49 ± 0.16 | 6.56 ± 0.16 | 5.97 ± 0.16 | 6.44 ± 0.16 |
| Total protein | 1.19 ± 0.28 | 0.88 ± 0.28 | 0.81 ± 0.28 | 0.81 ± 0.28 |
BCFA = branched-chain fatty acid; DMB = DM basis.
1Fecal scores: 1 = hard, dry pellets; small hard mass; 2 = hard formed, dry stool; remains firm and soft; 3 = soft, formed and moist stool, retains shape; 4 = soft, unformed stool; assumes shape of container; 5 = watery, liquid that can be poured.
2Total SCFA = acetate + propionate + butyrate; Total BCFA = valerate + isovalerate + isobutyrate. Total P/I = phenol + indole.
a–cMeans in the same row without common superscript letters differ (P < 0.05).