Beet pulp intake and hairball faecal excretion in mixed‐breed shorthaired cats

Abstract

SummaryHairball formation may induce vomiting and intestinal obstruction in predisposed cats. Some insoluble fibres as sugarcane fibre and cellulose can prevent hairball formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of beet pulp consumption, a moderate soluble and fermentable fibre source, on faecal trichobezoars excretion in adult shorthaired cats fed kibble diets. Eighteen mixed-breed shorthaired cats and three extruded diets were used as follows: a basal diet without added fibre source (PB0-8.8% dietary fibre); BP8-8% inclusion of beet pulp (17.5% of dietary fibre); BP16-16% inclusion of beet pulp (23.8% of dietary fibre). The cats were fed during 31 days and faeces quantitatively collected during three periods of 3 days each (from days 3-5; 15-17; 26-28). Gastrointestinal transit time was determined in the last 3 days of study (from days 29-31). The trichobezoars were separated from faeces, collected, dried and washed in ether for complete removal of all faecal material. The results were submitted to repeated-measure analysis of variance and means evaluated by polynomial contrast (p < 0.05). Beet pulp increased faecal production (p < 0.001) and reduced gastrointestinal transit time (p = 0.003). No alterations were found on trichobezoar faecal excretion, both as considered in number per cat per day of mg per cat per day (p > 0.05). Beet pulp intake did not reduce the number or the size of hairballs eliminated via faeces of shorthaired cats.

The effects of diets varying in fibre sources on nutrient utilization, stool quality and hairball management in cats

“…For example, Dann et al () reported a decrease in clinical signs (vomiting, retching and coughing) of hairballs when cats with a history of hairballs were supplemented with a 2 g gelatin capsule containing a blend of Psyllium husk and slippery elm (b.i.d) when compared to the control treatment with no added fibre. Conversely, Loureiro et al () reported no effects due to the beet pulp content (8% vs. 16%) of extruded cat foods in number of hairballs excreted on the faeces, although there was a tendency for total number of hairballs relative to mass of fresh faeces to increase. In addition, it is important to highlight that Loureiro et al () did not specify if the cats in this experiment were prone to hairballs (short‐haired cats).…”

“…Conversely, Loureiro et al () reported no effects due to the beet pulp content (8% vs. 16%) of extruded cat foods in number of hairballs excreted on the faeces, although there was a tendency for total number of hairballs relative to mass of fresh faeces to increase. In addition, it is important to highlight that Loureiro et al () did not specify if the cats in this experiment were prone to hairballs (short‐haired cats). Finally, Armbrust et al () reported no effect of fibre content in extruded cat food on transit time; however, the authors found that round kibbles increased passage rate compared with triangular kibbles.…”

“…In an attempt to increase the passage rate and stimulate gastric contraction, fibres have been added to cat foods to aid in hairball passage to the duodenum (Dann et al, ; Davenport, Sunvold, Reinhart, & Hayek, , Patent no. 7,425,343 B2; Loureiro et al, ). For example, Dann et al () reported a decrease in clinical signs (vomiting, retching and coughing) of hairballs when cats with a history of hairballs were supplemented with a 2 g gelatin capsule containing a blend of Psyllium husk and slippery elm (b.i.d) when compared to the control treatment with no added fibre.…”

“…In an attempt to increase the passage rate and stimulate gastric contraction, fibres have been added to cat foods to aid in hairball passage to the duodenum (Dann et al, 2004;Davenport, Sunvold, Reinhart, & Hayek, 2008, Patent no. 7,425,343 B2;Loureiro et al, 2017 TA B L E 8 Average body weight, food intake, defecation frequency, faecal score, wet faecal output, and faecal dry matter (mean ± standard error of the mean) of cats fed diets with different fibre content…”

“…Some authors have tested different fibre sources, either included in the diet or supplemented in the meal, to aid the passage of hairballs from the stomach to the intestine. The methodologies, fibre sources and results have varied greatly (Armbrust, Hoskinson, Lora-Michiels, & Milliken, 2003;Dann, Adler, Duffy, & Giffard, 2004;Loureiro et al, 2017;Weber, Sams, Feugier, Michel, & Biourge, 2015). Work reported by Lewis and Heaton (1999) showed that supplementation of plastic flakes could increase passage rate in human subjects; perhaps in a similar manner, the addition of an insoluble fibre to foods might also provide the stimulus necessary to move hairballs through to the intestine.…”