Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
2.9
2.0
Journals
Veterinary Sciences
Special Issues
Effects of Diet on Small Animal Health—2nd Edition
share announcement

Effects of Diet on Small Animal Health—2nd Edition

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases in Veterinary Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2024) | Viewed by 14640

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Alessandro Gramenzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Interests: microbiome; lipidomics; probiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The nutrition of dogs and cats is of increasing importance in relation to the state of animal health and wellbeing. In recent years especially, scientific research has focused on aspects related to the study of the mechanisms through which some nutrients act on improving the response of the organism and/or some organs to pathological processes. In this field, the study of functional foods and nutraceutical principles, both of animal and vegetable origin, is of considerable importance in order to provide the veterinarian an additional therapeutic tool in the clinical setting. The fields of study in which notable results are being achieved are those relating to the intestinal microbiota of the dog and cat and how, through diet, it is possible to positively influence the bacterial balance especially towards the metabolism in order to identify the metabolites involved in processes to improve the efficiency of the intestinal barrier. Furthermore, the intestinal microbiota is intimately linked to other organs such as the liver and the brain, intervening in modulating numerous metabolic, endocrine and nervous signals. Another very interesting field of application for veterinary clinical practice is the study of lipidomics, which allows, in a dynamic way, verifying the effects of the different lipidic contributions of the diet on the fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids in order to be able to evaluate the inflammatory state of the animal.

This Special Issue aims to increase the flow and exchange of information between various veterinary disciplines through the publication of a selection of research articles from leading laboratories in this field. It is hoped that this problem will further stimulate collaboration between researchers engaged in studying research aspects concerning the effects of diet on animal health.

Prof. Dr. Alessandro Gramenzi
Guest Editor

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. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2100 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

  • dog
  • cat
  • nutrition
  • pet food
  • nutraceuticals
  • functional foods
  • probiotics
  • prebiotics
  • postbiotics
  • lipid
  • protein
  • lipidomics
  • omega 3
  • omega 6
  • digestibility
  • bioavailability

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 3668 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Farming: Nanofiber from the Pupunha Heart of Palm Sheath (Bactris gasipaes)-Enhanced Diets for Growing Rabbits and Their Health Impacts
by Geovane Rosa de Oliveira, Carla de Andrade, Celina Tie Nishimori Duque, Antonio Diego Brandão Melo, Cristina Santos Sotomaior, Washington Luiz Esteves Magalhães, Saulo Henrique Weber, Fernando Bittencourt Luciano and Leandro Batista Costa
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(3), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12030263 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1821
Abstract
The use of nanofibers in farm animal diets can enhance nutrient absorption, minimize environmental problems, and generate a sustainable source of income. In this study, we investigated the effects of the partial inclusion of nanofibers produced from the pupunha heart of the palm [...] Read more.
The use of nanofibers in farm animal diets can enhance nutrient absorption, minimize environmental problems, and generate a sustainable source of income. In this study, we investigated the effects of the partial inclusion of nanofibers produced from the pupunha heart of the palm sheath (nanopupunha) in the diet of growing New Zealand White rabbits on zootechnical performance, organ morphometry, digestive content pH, intestinal histology, biochemical and immunological parameters, and cecum microbiota. Twenty-four male and female New Zealand White rabbits were distributed into the control group fed a basal diet with 14% crude fiber and treatment groups with the basal diet supplemented with 3.5% or 10.5% of nanopupunha, according to their initial weight. After euthanasia on day 42, we analyzed the pH of the stomach contents, jejunum, and cecum, and the relative weights of the digestive tract, liver, kidneys, and spleen. Duodenal and jejunal samples were collected for structural and ultrastructural analyses of the intestinal villi. Additionally, blood samples were collected to analyze blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and immunological analysis (IgG and IgM), and digesta samples from the cecum were collected to count enterobacteria and lactic acid bacteria. The inclusion of dietary nanopupunha did not affect the zootechnical performance of animals, but resulted in a linear decrease in the relative weight of the stomach and a linear increase in the relative weight of the spleen. No significant differences were observed in the pH of the digestive tract. Nanopupunha inclusion also resulted in a linear increase in the crypt depth of the duodenum, total mucosal thickness, and total cholesterol levels in growing rabbits. Including 10.5% of nanopupunha added to the diet showed the best results in terms of the intestinal health of the growing rabbits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet on Small Animal Health—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 1554 KiB  
Article
Homemade Diet as a Paramount for Dogs’ Health: A Descriptive Analysis
by Giulia Pignataro, Paolo Emidio Crisi, Elena Landolfi, Benedetta Belà, Isa Fusaro, Luana Clerico and Alessandro Gramenzi
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(9), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11090438 - 17 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4855
Abstract
Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. The literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet’s long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick [...] Read more.
Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. The literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet’s long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick dogs subjected to a customized dietary plan based on homemade food. After an initial visit, dog owners provided questionnaires with follow-up data on their perceptions of physical sign changes or symptom modifications. A total of 104 (62%) subjects maintained the homemade diet, while 63 reverted to their previous diet. The median follow-up was 14 months. Out of 31 healthy dogs that continued the nutritional plan, 70% exhibited improvements in their coat condition and 47% a decrease in evacuation frequency. Regarding weight loss goals, 67% of dogs achieved their target. The 67 pathological dogs that completed the follow-up were primarily affected by gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders. Dogs with chronic enteropathy improved their symptoms in 95% of the cases, subjects with dermatological pathologies in 83%, and patients presenting both disorders in 100%. These clinical results are promising. Personalized and well-balanced homemade diets noticeably enhanced the overall pet’s health, with an almost complete remission of symptoms in pathological dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet on Small Animal Health—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 681 KiB  
Review
Nutritional Factors Related to Canine Gallbladder Diseases—A Scoping Review
by Fabio Alves Teixeira, Kathleen Moira Aicher and Ricardo Duarte
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12010005 - 28 Dec 2024
Viewed by 4518
Abstract
Gallbladder mucocele, cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, and cholecystitis are significant contributors to morbidity and mortality in dogs. The exact etiology of these conditions remains poorly understood, though various factors, such as endocrinopathies, dyslipidemia, and impaired gallbladder motility, have been suggested as potential contributors. Surgical intervention [...] Read more.
Gallbladder mucocele, cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, and cholecystitis are significant contributors to morbidity and mortality in dogs. The exact etiology of these conditions remains poorly understood, though various factors, such as endocrinopathies, dyslipidemia, and impaired gallbladder motility, have been suggested as potential contributors. Surgical intervention has been described as the first choice of treatment when biliary rupture or obstruction is suspected; however, medical management may be an important part of therapeutic or preventative strategy. Reports of medical management typically involve the use of a choleretic used to stimulate the flow of bile into the duodenum or substances that act as a “hepatoprotective” agent such as S-adenosylmethionine. In people, some nutrients appear to modify bile flow and are used as agents in the prevention and treatment of these conditions in the gallbladder. This paper provides a review of the literature about possible nutritional factors involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of canine gallbladder mucocele and cholelithiasis. Opportunities for the prevention and treatment of common biliary diseases in dogs may include the reduction of dietary fat, control of hyperlipidemia with omega-3 and fiber supplementation, ensuring an adequate supply of amino acids such as methionine and tryptophan, and the evaluation of vitamins such as vitamin D. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet on Small Animal Health—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 1957 KiB  
Review
Vitamins, Minerals and Phytonutrients as Modulators of Canine Immune Function: A Literature Review
by Carolina Barroso, António J. M. Fonseca and Ana R. J. Cabrita
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(12), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11120655 - 16 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2601
Abstract
Trends in the pet food industry are driven by the humanization of pets, favoring the inclusion of functional ingredients or supplements that promote animal health. Several commercial diets claim to include supplements with benefits for dogs’ immune function, but in vivo evidence that [...] Read more.
Trends in the pet food industry are driven by the humanization of pets, favoring the inclusion of functional ingredients or supplements that promote animal health. Several commercial diets claim to include supplements with benefits for dogs’ immune function, but in vivo evidence that supports their efficacy remains limited. This literature review aimed to better understand the current knowledge on the effects of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients on dogs’ immune function. A total of 27 peer-reviewed articles were identified in PubMed and Web of Science databases. Although vitamin supplementation is often claimed to support immune function, only two studies promoting slight benefits of vitamins C and E were found. The limited research on minerals suggests that organic sources promote a better immune response. Studies evaluating the inclusion of different phytonutrients show that these compounds might exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite the increased popularity of commercial diets claimed to support the immune response of dogs, further research is needed in order to substantiate their effects. This knowledge will contribute to the development of effective diets to enhance immune health in dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet on Small Animal Health—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop