A dose-response experiment evaluating the effects of oligofructose and inulin on nutrient digestibility, stool quality, and fecal protein catabolites in healthy adult dogs
Propst, E.L. et al.
2003
Journal of animal science

This dose-response experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of oligofructose and inulin in seven female ileal-cannulated healthy adult dogs. The methodology established that the dogs be provided a meat-based, kibbled food diet and assigned to treatments in a 7 x 7 Latin square design. Treatment varied in three concentration levels (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9% of the diet) of two fructans, oligofructose (OF), and insulin, as tested in comparison to a control group with 0% supplemental frucan levels.
The results found that the dogs fed the control had a higher percentage of fecal DM (36.6%) as compared to the OF diets (33.3, 32.8, and 31.7%, respectively). While both OF and inulin diets increased the ammonia concentrations in feces vs control, those fed with both fructans showed a higher fecal short chain fatty acid and isovalerate concentration when using the supplementation (P < 0.10 and P < 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, supplementation of both fructans has a positive impact in indexes known to be related with dog’s gut health without seriously compromising nutrient digestibility or stool quality, however, the best response was obtained with the 0,9% OF treatment as results showed no adverse effects on either nutrient intakes, ileal digestibles, or stool quality, all key metrics of the study. The 0.9% OF treatment also showed a lower level of fecal phenols and a raised fecal SCFA.