Small Animal Nutrition and Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 772

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
ANLAR Service Co., Ltd., Pathum Thani 12130, Thailand
Interests: small animal nutrition; gut microbiota; probiotics; prebiotics; alternative protein sources

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue highlights recent advances in the science of small animal nutrition and its pivotal role in promoting health, longevity, and disease prevention in dogs and cats. Modern nutritional research extends beyond basic dietary requirements to investigate how specific nutrients, bioactive compounds, and functional ingredients modulate metabolism, immune function, gut microbiota, and systemic health. Particular emphasis is placed on novel raw material sources, including alternative and sustainable protein ingredients such as insect meals, single-cell proteins, algal biomass, yeast, and plant-based concentrates, as well as innovative lipid, fiber, and micronutrient sources with proven bioavailability and physiological benefits. Contributions explore the influence of diet on chronic diseases, the gut–organ axes (gut–brain, gut–kidney, and gut–skin), and the use of prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and synbiotics to support gastrointestinal and immune health. The issue also welcomes studies on nutrient metabolism, personalized nutrition approaches, and sustainable formulation technologies. By integrating veterinary nutrition, microbiome science, and food innovation, this Special Issue provides a platform for cutting-edge research that bridges fundamental understanding with clinical and practical applications, thereby enhancing the overall well-being of companion animals.

Dr. Attawit Kovitvadhi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • companion animals
  • dog and cat nutrition
  • functional ingredients
  • gut microbiota
  • probiotics and prebiot-ics
  • alternative protein sources
  • sustainable pet food
  • nutrient metabolism
  • personalized nutrition
  • health and disease prevention

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 1423 KB  
Article
Stability of Nε-Carboxymethyllysine and Nε-Carboxyethyllysine in Canine Urine Under Extended Room Temperature Storage
by Nicole Renée Cammack, Stephanie Archer-Hartmann, Bhoj Kumar, Christian Heiss, Parastoo Azadi and Joseph Bartges
Animals 2026, 16(6), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16060917 - 14 Mar 2026
Viewed by 405
Abstract
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) such as Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) are implicated in chronic disease processes in humans and may serve as biomarkers of dietary exposure and metabolic health. Urinary measurement of AGEs is of interest due to its non-invasive nature [...] Read more.
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) such as Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) are implicated in chronic disease processes in humans and may serve as biomarkers of dietary exposure and metabolic health. Urinary measurement of AGEs is of interest due to its non-invasive nature and relevance to biobanking and field-based sample collection; however, AGE stability in urine under common handling conditions has been poorly characterized. This study evaluates the short-term stability of CML and CEL in canine urine stored at room temperature (20 °C) for up to 168 h prior to −80 °C storage. Midstream free-catch urine samples from eight healthy dogs were aliquoted, stored at defined intervals, and analyzed in duplicate using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with isotope-labeled standards. Results demonstrate minimal detectable changes in CML and CEL concentrations, as well as in the CML/CEL ratio, over the ambient storage period. Inter-replicate agreement is high, and regression and non-parametric analyses show no association between storage duration and analyte concentration. These findings indicate that urinary CML and CEL measurements may remain reliable despite delayed processing, supporting field-based sampling and retrospective analyses. Evaluation of additional AGE species and storage conditions will further inform best practices for sample handling in veterinary and comparative biomedical research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Small Animal Nutrition and Health)
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