Table 5. Fecal characteristics of dogs fed experimental diets (mean ± SD).
Parameter | Meat-based diet | Vegetarian diet |
---|---|---|
Defecation frequency (n/day) | 2.30 ± 0.71 | 2.57 ± 0.55 |
Score feces consistency | 2.14 ± 0.19 | 2.08 ± 0.08 |
Score feces shaping | 2.17 ± 0.18 | 2.11 ± 0.10 |
Mass of the feces (g wet feces/100 g food on a DM basis) | 62.9 ±12.1 | 62.9 ±1.75 |
Mass of the feces (g DM feces/100 g food on DM basis) | 18.6 ± 3.04 | 18.9 ± 2.86 |
DM content of fresh feces (%) | 29.6 ± 2.26 | 29.0 ± 1.75 |
Fecal pH values during collection | ||
• Start | 6.81 ± 0.52 | 6.54 ± 0.48 |
• End | 6.64 ± 0.22 | 6.31± 0.37 |