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Animals
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Dietary Interventions in Companion Animals and Prevention of Nutrition Disorders
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Dietary Interventions in Companion Animals and Prevention of Nutrition Disorders

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Companion Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2024 | Viewed by 3954

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Leonardo Leonardi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo, 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
Interests: veterinary science; pathological anatomy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eleonora Calzoni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Section, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
Interests: renewable energy technologies; agricultural biotechnology; enzyme immobilization; drug delivery; protein purification; protein hydrolysates; biomass; neurodegenerative diseases; biomaterial applications; biotechnology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Obesity and nutritional disorders are not just limited to humans, they also affect animals. The prevalence of overweight and obese companion animals has been increasing over the years, and the health risks associated with excess weight can have serious consequences for pets. Excess weight can cause numerous health problems, including diabetes, joint problems, heart disease, respiratory issues, skin problems, urinary tract disorders, liver disease, and cancer, all leading to a decreased life expectancy. For example, short-nosed breeds such as Bulldogs and Pugs are more prone to respiratory problems, especially if they are overweight. Apart from obesity, several other nutritional disorders can adversely affect the health of animals. Malnutrition, for instance, can arise due to inadequate intake of essential nutrients or poor absorption of nutrients, leading to weakened immune systems, stunted growth, weight loss, and other related health problems. In addition, animals may suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can cause skin and coat problems, anemia, and weakened bones. Overconsumption of specific nutrients, like salt, can also result in dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. The health of the animals can also be harmed by the intake of potentially toxic substances and contaminants. Furthermore, gastrointestinal disorders can cause malabsorption of nutrients, leading to malnutrition. It is crucial to provide a well-balanced diet to prevent these disorders from occurring. Owners and experts must address this issue with effective interventions and prevention strategies.

To fight the following diseases, it is often necessary to implement several strategies. Portion control is one of the most effective ways to manage weight, with recommended feeding guidelines and measuring cups ensuring pets are not overfed. A balanced diet, providing the right proportion of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, is essential to prevent malnutrition or nutrient deficiencies. For pets with specific health conditions, alternative diets, such as low-fat or high-fiber diets, can be effective. Regular exercise, nutritional supplements, and veterinary check-ups are also crucial in preventing obesity and other health issues.

By increasing the awareness and understanding of the risks associated with being overweight, and providing strategies for preventing and treating nutritional disorders, this Special Issue aims to publish original articles or reviews that will help pet owners, veterinarians, and animal health professionals with new valuable insights about this important issue. We call on researchers to contribute their recent findings, especially focusing on dietary strategies, prevention methods against obesity, alternative feedstuffs, owners’ perception, and nutritional disorders.

Prof. Dr. Leonardo Leonardi
Dr. Eleonora Calzoni
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • dietary strategies
  • prevention of nutrition disorders
  • owners’ perception
  • alternative feedstuff
  • nutritional dis-orders
  • obesity
  • malnutrition
  • vitamin deficiencies
  • mineral deficiencies
  • overconsumption
  • gastrointestinal disorders
  • feeding strategy
  • companion animal health

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2114 KiB  
Article
A Novel Prebiotic Fibre Blend Supports the Gastrointestinal Health of Senior Dogs
by Melanie Le Bon, Laura Carvell-Miller, Zoe Marshall-Jones, Phillip Watson and Gregory Amos
Animals 2023, 13(20), 3291; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203291 - 21 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1998
Abstract
Senior pets can suffer from a wide range of age-related diseases that can impact the quality of life for the pet and the relationship between a pet and their owner. Dietary fibre plays a key role in shaping the gastrointestinal health in mammalian [...] Read more.
Senior pets can suffer from a wide range of age-related diseases that can impact the quality of life for the pet and the relationship between a pet and their owner. Dietary fibre plays a key role in shaping the gastrointestinal health in mammalian species. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a novel prebiotic fibre blend containing sugar beet pulp, galacto-oligosaccharides, and cellulose on the health of senior dogs when fed on top of a background commercial dry diet. Thirty-two dogs aged >8 years received the prebiotic fibre blend as a dietary topper for 21 days on top of a nutritionally complete diet using a cross-over study design. The prebiotic fibre blend improved the gastrointestinal health of senior dogs as measured through improved faecal quality scores, a reduction in faecal pH, changes to the taxonomic composition of the gut, and a reduction in faecal branched-chain fatty acids, which are markers for proteolytic degradation. Broader systemic measures, such as changes to serum cytokines, were not impacted by the prebiotic fibre blend. In conclusion, a novel prebiotic fibre blend containing sugar beet pulp, galacto-oligosaccharides, and cellulose improved the gastrointestinal health of senior dogs and could have a range of potential future dietary applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Interventions in Companion Animals and Prevention of Nutrition Disorders)
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15 pages, 2329 KiB  
Article
Biogenic Amine Content Analysis of Three Chicken-Based Dry Pet Food Formulations
by Nicolò Montegiove, Leonardo Leonardi, Alessio Cesaretti, Roberto Maria Pellegrino, Alessia Pellegrino, Carla Emiliani and Eleonora Calzoni
Animals 2023, 13(12), 1945; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121945 - 10 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1528
Abstract
The pet food market is constantly expanding, and more and more attention is paid to the feeding of pets. Dry foods stand out and are often preferred due to their long shelf life, ease of administration, and low cost. In this context, dry [...] Read more.
The pet food market is constantly expanding, and more and more attention is paid to the feeding of pets. Dry foods stand out and are often preferred due to their long shelf life, ease of administration, and low cost. In this context, dry foods are formulated from fresh meats, meat meals, or a mix of the two. These raw materials are often meat not fit for human consumption; they might be subject to contamination and proliferation of microorganisms which, by degrading the organic component, can lead to the formation of undesirable by-products such as biogenic amines. These nitrogenous compounds obtained by decarboxylation of amino acids can therefore be found in high-protein foods, and their ingestion in large quantities can cause intoxication and be harmful. This study aims at analyzing the possible presence of biogenic amines in three different formulations of chicken-based kibbles for pets: one obtained from fresh meat, one from meat meal, and one from a mix of the two. This study is also focused on the presence of free amino acids as they represent the key substrate for decarboxylating enzymes. Mass spectrometry (Q-TOF LC/MS) was used to analyze the presence of biogenic amines and free amino acids. The results show that fresh-meat-based products have a lower content of biogenic amines, and at the same time a higher quantity of free amino acids; on the contrary, meat-meal- and mix-based products have a greater quantity of biogenic amines and a lower concentration of free amino acids, suggesting that there has been a higher microbial proliferation as proved by the total aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts. It is therefore clear that fresh-meat-based kibbles are to be preferred when they are used for preparing dry pet food due to the lowest concentration of biogenic amines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Interventions in Companion Animals and Prevention of Nutrition Disorders)
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