Search Results (165)

This study aimed to optimize the inoculation dosage and fermentation duration to enhance the protein content and reduce soluble oligosaccharides in soybean meal using Aspergillus oryzae and assessed its performance in dog food extrusion. A 3 × 5 factorial design was used to determine the optimal fermentation conditions. These conditions were applied to ferment soybean meal in bulk for nutritional analysis. Finally, the impact of fermentation on extrusion processing was assessed by formulating and extruding four diets: SBM (30% soybean meal), AMF (30% soybean meal with 1% Amaferm^®—A. oryzae biomass), FSBM (30% fermented soybean meal), and SPI (18% soy protein isolate). Diets were extruded with a single-screw extruder, and physical characteristics of kibbles, particle size distribution, and viscosity of raw mixes were analyzed. The optimal fermentation conditions were 1 × 10⁴ spore/g substrate for 36 h, which increased the crude protein content by 4.63% DM, methionine and cysteine total content by 0.15% DM, and eliminated sucrose, while significantly reducing stachyose, raffinose, and verbascose (95.22, 87.37, and 41.82%, respectively). The extrusion results showed that FSBM had intermediate specific mechanical energy (SME), in-barrel moisture requirements, and sectional expansion index (198.7 kJ/kg, 28.2%, and 1.80, respectively) compared with SBM (83.7 kJ/kg, 34.5%, and 1.30, respectively) and SPI (305.3 kJ/kg, 33.5%, and 2.55, respectively). The FSBM also exhibited intermediate particle size distribution and the least raw mix viscosity. These findings demonstrate that A. oryzae fermentation enhances the nutrient profile of soybean meal while improving extrusion efficiency and kibble quality, supporting its potential use as a sustainable pet food ingredient. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable pet-food solutions has driven interest in alternative protein sources, as researchers seek to avoid allergenic foods while maintaining optimal pet nutrition. This review explores recent scientific publications, patent trends, and market trends relating to various alternative protein sources, including plant-based, aquatic, insect-derived, and cell-based sources. Their nutritional composition, functional properties, and potential benefits for pet health were assessed. Plant-based proteins, such as soy, pea, and lentils, provide essential amino acids and functional properties suitable for meat analogues. Microalgae and seaweed offer rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. Insect-based proteins such as black-soldier-fly larvae and mealworms are highly digestible and rich in essential nutrients, with additional benefits for gut health. Emerging cell-based proteins present a novel, lab-grown alternative with promising sustainability and nutritional advantages. While these protein sources offer significant benefits, challenges related to digestibility, palatability, regulatory approval, and consumer acceptance must be addressed. The emphasis of the present research is on current developments for industry uses and future potential. The analysis sheds light on the contributions of alternative protein sources to the promotion of sustainable and nutrient meals for pets. Full article

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) meal is a promising sustainable protein for pet food, yet its effect on nutrient balance and granule texture is incompletely defined. Five dry dog food formulas containing 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, and 45% of T. molitor meal were extruded and analyzed for proximate composition, fatty-acid and amino-acid profiles, and compressive mechanical properties. Crude-protein concentration remained stable, whereas fat and ash increased (p < 0.01) and carbohydrates decreased as the inclusion level rose. Tenebrio molitor meal enriches granules in oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids, improving the ω-6:ω-3 ratio from 8.0 to 5.4. Essential amino acid levels were conserved, although lysine and methionine fell modestly (≤11%). Mechanical testing showed a linear decline in hardness (331 → 300 N) and stiffness (46 → 41 N mm⁻¹), indicating softer, more deformable granules at higher inclusion levels. The inclusion of up to 45% T. molitor meal can be incorporated without compromising protein quality while enhancing unsaturated fat content. Minor lysine/methionine dilution can be offset by targeted supplementation. These data support wider adoption of insect protein in hypoallergenic and eco-friendly canine diets. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of 3D printing-guided endodontics in the maxillary teeth of dogs. CT data from a Beagle dog were processed to create a 3D model of the maxilla, and virtual root canal pathways were established using SOLIDWORKS software (version 29.0.0.5028). Guided endodontic templates were 3D printed and tested in vitro on 20 maxillary teeth (excluding the third molars), with 36 root canals treated using both guided and conventional methods. Results indicated that 3D printing-guided endodontics provided accurate root canal pathways, with minimal deviations in length (average 3.08 ± 1.75%) and angular alignment (average 2.06° ± 0.5°) compared to conventional methods. This research represents a significant step forward in the application of 3D printing technology in veterinary endodontics, offering a promising alternative to traditional methods for treating complex dental conditions in dogs. Full article

In recent years, grain-free pet food has gained increasing attention due to its widespread promotion as a natural and hypoallergenic diet. This trend has prompted us to conduct an in-depth critical assessment of the nutritional implications of such diets. This review systematically analyzed the nutritional components of commercially available grain-free pet food, revealing significant variability in the nutritional composition of commercial pet diets. Moreover, grain-free formulations typically exhibit higher protein and fat levels. On the other hand, this review further explores the multifaceted health impacts of these diets on pets, including digestive function, cardiovascular health, allergic reactions, blood sugar regulation, mycotoxin safety, and palatability. This review points out that grain-free diets may offer potential benefits, such as improved blood sugar control, reduced mycotoxin exposure, and enhanced palatability; however, they also pose clear risks, particularly the potential association with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. Additionally, the presence or absence of grains in the diet does not mitigate the risk of allergies. A grain-free diet is only intended to help specific individuals (such as those who are sensitive to grains/gluten) avoid allergens. Ultimately, the review emphasizes that nutritional adequacy, balance, and meeting individualized needs are the cornerstones of pet health, aiming to provide valuable insights for pet caregivers, veterinarians, and researchers. Full article

The number of donkey-breeding farms is variable around the world despite the growing popularity of this species as working animals, companion pets, for show events, in asinotherapy for children and adults with physical and mental disorders, and as a source of high-quality nutritional products. Despite this, due to the low foaling rate, long foaling interval, and high neonatal mortality rate, the number of donkey foals every year has been decreasing. This is a major problem for breeds in danger of extinction, where each foal is highly valuable. Although there is extensive information on equine foals, data on donkey foals is scarce. Donkey foals are afflicted by the same disorders as equine foals, with sepsis, failure of transfer of passive immunity, dysmaturity, and umbilical disorders being the most common ones. The diagnosis and therapeutic approaches for these conditions are similar to equine foals, but inter-species differences should be taken into consideration. Therefore, there is an increasing need for studies on healthy and sick donkey neonates, because this information will not only increase our understanding of their physiology but it will also impact the prevention and treatment of conditions affecting these animals, therefore improving survival rates. Full article

Thirty-two healthy adult dogs (16 males and 16 females) were fed control kibble diets for one month, followed by six months (Weeks 0 to 25) of diets containing either 0, 4, 6, or 8% cultured protein derived from Methylococcus capsulatus (FeedKind Pet^®, FK), then they were fed control diets (0% FK) for a further two months (Weeks 25 to 34). The diets were isonitrogenous, isolipidic, and isocaloric and stage- and age-specific. The dogs were assessed for overall health, weight gain, and body condition score (BCS). Blood samples were collected 1 week prior to randomization, during acclimation, then in Weeks 5, 13, 25, 30, 32, and 34 for hematology, coagulation, and clinical chemistry; urine was collected according to the same time schedule for urinalysis. Feces were assessed for parasite load and presence of occult blood during Weeks 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, and 25. Fecal samples were collected during acclimation and Weeks 25 and 34 for fecal microbiome analysis and in Week 25 for apparent total gastrointestinal tract digestibility (ATTD). All dogs maintained a healthy weight and BCS throughout the study. Hematology parameters were within normal limits at the end of each phase of the study. With the exception of a decrease in serum phosphorus level and in urine pH in all groups at the end of the study, urine and serum chemistry results were within normal limits at the end of each phase. ATTD values for organic matter, protein, and energy exceeded 80%, whilst digestibility values for copper were around 20%. The fecal microbiome was dominated by Firmicutes. Alpha diversity increased during the safety phase before returning to baseline levels during the washout phase. The dominant genera in all groups were Megamonas, Peptoclostridium, Turicibacter, Catenibacterium, Fusobacterium, Romboutsia, and Blautia. The study has shown that the inclusion of cultured protein at up to 8% of the total diet of adult dogs can provide sufficient nutrition and is safe with no long-term effects on a range of health parameters. Full article

As pet owners become increasingly mindful of pet health and sustainability, labeling plays a crucial role in shaping informed purchasing decisions for pet food. This study evaluated the nutritional adequacy and pricing of plant-based, hybrid, and animal-based dog foods. Using the Mintel database, we analyzed product labels, ingredient compositions, and marketing claims for various dog food categories. The findings revealed notable differences in key nutrients, such as protein, fiber, fat, ash, and moisture content. Plant-based dog foods generally offer higher fiber and ash content but often fall short in protein and fat levels, particularly in snacks and treats, which may impact their suitability for meeting the dietary needs of canines. Hybrid dog foods, which blend plant and animal ingredients, show greater variability, with some achieving balanced protein and fat content, while fiber levels depend on the plant-based proportion. Animal-based foods tend to excel in protein and fat content, particularly in wet and dry formats, while being lower in fiber and ash content. A key concern is the reliance on additives, particularly in plant-based and hybrid options, which raises questions about the long-term health impacts on pets. Pricing trends indicate that plant-based dog foods are generally more expensive than hybrid and animal-based options, although the cost varies widely across all categories. Full article

Background: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria provide a standardized approach for assessing the nutritional status of patients and demonstrate strong predictive value for the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. However, these criteria do not incorporate indicators of adipose tissue metabolic activity, which may reflect pro-tumor microenvironmental factors. This study investigated the combined predictive value of malnutrition, defined by the GLIM criteria, and preoperative adipose tissue ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) uptake for recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with gastric cancer following radical surgery. Methods: A total of 105 patients were retrospectively enrolled and classified into malnourished and non-malnourished groups based on the GLIM criteria. Preoperative ¹⁸F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) was used to measure the mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). The predictive values of these indicators for RFS in patients with gastric cancer were assessed. Results: Multivariate survival analysis was used to identify GLIM-defined malnutrition (p = 0.020) and increased preoperative VAT SUVmean (p = 0.042) as independent risk factors for RFS. The combined analysis revealed that patients with both malnutrition and a high preoperative VAT SUVmean had the poorest RFS (HR = 18.41, p < 0.001). The predictive model integrating GLIM criteria and VAT SUVmean outperformed the GLIM criteria alone. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that combining malnutrition defined by the GLIM criteria with preoperative visceral adipose tissue ¹⁸F-FDG uptake optimizes recurrence risk stratification and exhibits superior prognostic predictive efficacy compared to using the GLIM criteria alone. This approach provides new insights into individualized prognostic assessment and intervention strategies. Full article

Background: Respiratory diseases are among the main causes of morbidity and mortality in captive reptiles. In Romania, pneumonia is a frequently observed illness affecting pet reptiles. Key factors contributing to the high incidence of pneumonia include inadequate animal husbandry, poor nutrition, and insufficient hygiene practices. Bacteria may act as primary pathogens or as facilitators of disease severity. Methods: This study investigates bacterial strains from multiple genera and species (Chryseobacterium (C.) indologenes, Staphylococcus (S.) epidermidis, Escherichia (E.) coli, and Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginoasa) from six ball pythons regarding their antibiotic susceptibility and the effect of essential oils. Bacteria were isolated from the lower respiratory tract, displaying clinical signs of pneumonia. All isolates were tested with essential oils (lemongrass, oregano, rosemary, and sage) and a grapefruit seed extract (GSE) at different dilutions. Results: The incidence of Chryseobacterium indologenes was highest (3 isolates/12 samples, 25%), followed by E. coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis (2/12 each, 16.6%), and Pseudomonas aeruginoasa (1/12, 8.3%). Resistance profiling to different antibiotic classes revealed that all isolates (eight) were resistant to multiple antibiotics tested by us. All isolates were resistant to β-lactams and fluoroquinolones. One strain of E. coli exhibited intermediate resistance to quinolone and penicillin. All strains were categorized as multidrug-resistant. GSE showed antibacterial activity against all isolates. Conclusions: Wanting to deepen our understanding of the microorganisms that can infect ball pythons and recognizing that all isolated bacteria have zoonotic potential, this paper highlights some common issues faced by exotic animal owners and suggests that treatments should also include the use of essential oils. Full article

Sustainability in food production is a pressing priority due to environmental and political crises, the need for long-term food security, and feeding the populace. Food producers need to increasingly adopt sustainable practices to reduce negative environmental impacts and food waste. The ocean is a source for sustainable food systems; deforestation, water scarcity, and greenhouse gas emissions burden traditional, terrestrial resources. Our oceans contain the largest unexploited resource in the world in the form of mesopelagic fish species, with an estimated biomass of 10 billion metric tons. This resource is largely untapped due in part to the difficulties in harvesting these species. To ensure sustainability of this resource, management of fish stocks and fish processing practices must be optimised. Generation of fish protein hydrolysates from by-catch/underutilised species creates high-value, functional ingredients while also reducing waste. Marine hydrolysates offer a renewable source of nutrition and align with the principles of the circular economy, where waste is minimised and resources are reused efficiently. Ocean-derived solutions demand fewer inputs, generate less pollution, and have a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional agriculture. This review collates clearly and succinctly the current and potential uses of FPHs for different market sectors and highlights the advantages of their use in terms of the scientifically validated health benefits for humans and animals and fish, and the protection and crop yield benefits that are documented to date from scientific studies. Full article

In small animal nutrition, the caloric content of a diet is expressed as metabolizable energy (ME). The gold standard method for determining this variable is through feeding trials with the target species. However, the high cost and intricacy of this assay lead to the use of indirect estimation methods. The aim of this study was to analyze the main equations employed for estimating ME and compare them with the results of in vivo tests. In total, 451 pet food products in Brazil were evaluated. The ME values were determined via the bromatological values available on labels. The data were analyzed using SAS, and Student’s t test was used with a significance of 5%. For all predictive equations, there was a non-conformity between their results and those obtained by in vivo methods. Thus, the prediction equations are only accurate when the exact values of food composition are used, which is hardly applicable since veterinarians and animal owners only have access to the information provided on the labels. Nonetheless, the Atwater system equation proved to be the most reliable for estimating ME, showing the smallest disparity among the evaluated methods. The overall differences between in vivo results and ME estimation with the Atwater system amounted to 3.59% for dry cat foods and −1.94% for dry dog foods. Moreover, although it was also the most accurate for wet foods, the differences were substantially greater (11.99% for cat foods and 8.25% for dog foods). These findings highlight the need for further research to refine ME estimation, which could contribute to improved pet food formulation and help reduce cases of malnutrition in dogs and cats. Full article

Feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS) is a common inflammatory and highly pruritic skin condition. It typically manifests according to one or more of four different clinical lesion patterns: miliary dermatitis, self-induced alopecia, head and neck pruritus, and eosinophilic granuloma complex. FASS is a chronic and relapsing condition that often persists for life. Effective management can be a significant challenge for both clinicians and owners. Here, we investigated whether diet could act as an adjunct to conventional medicated therapies to improve the management of FASS. We conducted a six-month randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study on client-owned FASS cats to test a novel pet food formulation. The main variables followed were the veterinarian (FeDESI) and the owner (VAScat) assessing symptom severity, in addition to medication requirements. Compared to the control diet, the test diet not only ameliorated symptoms but also significantly reduced the dependency on medication. The VAScat metric was improved after 3 months (p = 1.6 × 10⁻⁴) and 6 months (p = 5.7 × 10⁻⁵) in the test group only, and the cats’ medication requirement significantly declined exclusively in the test group from month 2 onwards. The interpretation of the FeDESI results was hampered by high levels of variation, particularly in the control group. Nonetheless, in the test group, clinical scores showed evidence of improvement after 3 months (p = 0.037) and 6 months (p = 0.02), and no such improvement was detected in the control group. Overall, our findings suggest that tailored nutrition can significantly aid in the management of feline atopic skin syndrome. Full article

The importance of lipid molecules present at the level of cell membranes is already well known. They can act as secondary messengers, participating in signal transduction processes that regulate various organ functions; furthermore, their nature significantly influences cellular properties and functions. Recent studies have seen how the lipid composition of cell membranes is connected to the animal lifespan and the onset of several pathological conditions. While numerous studies have been conducted aimed at characterizing the membrane lipidomic profile in the human field, in the animal field, especially in pets, the number of studies is very limited. In recent years, preliminary analyses have been conducted to provide initial information on the composition of membrane fatty acids in healthy pets and those with chronic enteropathy. The results of these studies are very interesting as they highlight differences in fatty acid composition between the two groups of animals. Obviously, a greater number of works is needed to obtain more reliable results and to analyze how the membrane lipid composition can vary in different breeds and sizes of dogs and cats in an attempt to understand the mechanisms underlying it. The present review is divided into three main parts: the first one examines the close influence of fatty acids on membrane properties/functions, the second one presents the main lipidomic analyses conducted so far on companion animals, and the third and final part summarizes the latest works on the link between membrane lipid profiles and animal lifespans, also focusing on dietary and non-dietary strategies able to influence it. Membrane lipidomics allows us to obtain a concrete overview of an animal’s metabolism and nutrition; furthermore, lipid alterations could be used as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pathologies. This represents an innovative tool in the veterinary field to monitor the metabolic/health status of animals. Full article

Dogs are cherished companions, and in today’s world, pets are increasingly regarded as family members. Pet owners are placing growing emphasis on their animals’ health, particularly for dogs. Probiotics, which are living bacteria that benefit the host when given in sufficient quantities, have drawn a lot of interest in the veterinary nutrition community due to their beneficial effects on companion animals, including dogs. This study emphasizes the advantages of adding probiotics to canine diets in order to enhance the health of the gut flora and the technologies used to incorporate probiotics into canine feed. It looks at the best ways to deal with common dog health problems, highlighting probiotics as a helpful substitute for antibiotics, which can have serious adverse effects, encourage bacterial resistance, and disturb the gut’s microbial ecology, which is necessary for digesting. Such disruptions are linked to chronic inflammatory enteropathy and obesity in dogs. This paper also examines biotechnological advancements in probiotic incorporation methods in dog feed, aiming to optimize their health benefits. Probiotic feed supplements may thus represent a promising approach to advancing canine health care, providing a natural adjunct to conventional treatments and preventive measures. Full article