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Animals
Special Issues
Nutrition, Physiology and Metabolism of Companion Animals
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Nutrition, Physiology and Metabolism of Companion Animals

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 519

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Demin Cai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Interests: animal nutrition; animal physiology; epigenetics; nutrigenomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ping Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Interests: anti-disease nutrition; gut physiology
Dr. Haoyu Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Interests: microbiota; probiotics; mucosal immunity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on "Nutrition, Physiology and Metabolism of Companion Animals" explores the intricate relationship between diet, metabolic processes, and overall health in companion animals, particularly dogs and cats. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how nutritional interventions can influence the physiological functions and metabolic pathways in pets, thereby enhancing their well-being. The issue includes studies on the role of specific nutrients, dietary patterns, and metabolic regulation in managing chronic diseases, such as cancer in pets, which has become a significant concern in veterinary medicine. Additionally, the issue will address the involvement of the microbiota in the nutritional health of companion animals, exploring how gut microbiota composition may influence metabolic processes and disease susceptibility. The Special Issue covers a broad spectrum of topics, including the impact of dietary components on immune function, antioxidant defenses, and tumor progression. By integrating research on nutrition, metabolism, and disease prevention, this collection of articles will offer valuable insights for veterinary professionals and pet owners aiming to optimize the health and longevity of their animals. Ultimately, this issue seeks to advance the understanding of how proper nutrition can serve as a therapeutic tool in managing diseases and improving the quality of life in companion animals.

Dr. Demin Cai
Dr. Ping Hu
Dr. Haoyu Liu
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

  • companion animals
  • nutrition
  • metabolic processes
  • dietary intervention
  • chronic diseases
  • immune function
  • antioxidant defenses

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 341 KiB  
Article
Effects of Blueberry Consumption on Preference, Digestibility, and Oxidative Balance in Dogs
by Marta Maturana, Lorena Castillejos, Eduard Jose-Cunilleras, Miquel Montserrat-Malagarriga, Juan Alcaraz, Jose García and Susana M. Martín-Orúe
Animals 2025, 15(10), 1502; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101502 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 172
Abstract
The growing awareness of the diet–health connection drives interest in natural dog diets, which replace synthetic additives like antioxidants with natural ingredients. In Trial 1 of this study, preference for diets containing powdered Fucus algae (1.5%), powdered clove (0.45%), or whole blueberries (3%) [...] Read more.
The growing awareness of the diet–health connection drives interest in natural dog diets, which replace synthetic additives like antioxidants with natural ingredients. In Trial 1 of this study, preference for diets containing powdered Fucus algae (1.5%), powdered clove (0.45%), or whole blueberries (3%) was evaluated using the two-bowl method. Dogs exhibited a clear preference for the blueberry diet. In Trial 2, the impact of blueberries on apparent digestibility was assessed. Twelve Beagles were fed either a control diet (CON) or the same diet with 3% blueberries (BLU). No differences were observed, except for cellulose digestibility. Trial 3 evaluated the effect of blueberries on oxidative status during submaximal exercise. The same dogs were fed either CON or BLU diets for 4 weeks, with eight dogs completing treadmill exercises at the start and end of this period. Blood samples were collected before and after exercise. Trial 3 was replicated in summer and winter, reversing diet groups. Exercise increased creatine kinase (CK), urea, and malondialdehyde and decreased glutathione peroxidase, with stronger effects in summer, suggesting heat stress. Although the BLU diet did not mitigate exercise-induced changes, lower resting CK levels after 4 weeks in summer suggest protection against heat stress, warranting further study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology and Metabolism of Companion Animals)
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