Effect of dietary fat source and exercise on odorant-detecting ability of canine athletes

Altom, Eric K.; Davenport, Gary M.; Myers, Lance; Cummins, K.A.

doi:10.1016/s0034-5288(03)00071-7

Cited by 23 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Immediately following extreme physical exercise, there is a reduction in the sniffing rate and increased panting rate which result in reduced olfaction performance ( 32 ). This may be explained by the fact that non-conditioned canines pant harder during intense exercise instead of breathing through their nose, which decreases the quantity of odorants passing over olfactory epithelium in the nasal cavity ( 77 ). It seems clear that physical conditioning (specifically as pertains to minimizing panting) may support improved olfaction in the detection dog.…”

Section: Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

When the Nose Doesn’t Know: Canine Olfactory Function Associated With Health, Management, and Potential Links to Microbiota

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The impact of health, management, and microbiota on olfactory function in canines has not been examined in review. The most important characteristic of the detection canine is its sense of smell. Olfactory receptors are primarily located on the ethmoturbinates of the nasal cavity. The vomeronasal organ is an additional site of odor detection that detects chemical signals that stimulate behavioral and/or physiological changes. Recent advances in the genetics of olfaction suggest that genetic changes, along with the unique anatomy and airflow of the canine nose, are responsible for the macrosmia of the species. Inflammation, alterations in blood flow and hydration, and systemic diseases alter olfaction and may impact working efficiency of detection canines. The scientific literature contains abundant information on the potential impact of pharmaceuticals on olfaction in humans, but only steroids, antibiotics, and anesthetic agents have been studied in the canine. Physical stressors including exercise, lack of conditioning, and high ambient temperature impact olfaction directly or indirectly in the canine. Dietary fat content, amount of food per meal, and timing of meals have been demonstrated to impact olfaction in mice and dogs. Gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota likely impacts olfaction via bidirectional communication between the GI tract and brain, and the microbiota is impacted by exercise, diet, and stress. The objective of this literature review is to discuss the specific effects of health, management, and microbiota shifts on olfactory performance in working canines.

show abstract

Section: Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

When the Nose Doesn’t Know: Canine Olfactory Function Associated With Health, Management, and Potential Links to Microbiota

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An interesting study examined performance of plantation hunting pointers on two dog foods with similar nutrient profiles, differing minimally in protein (24–26% ME) and more from fat (10% ME difference), which showed that finds per hour were significantly lower when dogs were on the lower fat diet suggesting that a change in commercial diet can influence detection ( 9 ). Further work examining fat intake and olfaction showed that polyunsaturated fatty acids improved or maintained the efficiency of olfaction in trained pointers, while dogs fed coconut oil showed a loss of olfactory acuity ( 10 ). These findings are similar to rodent studies which suggested that polyunsaturated fatty acids may affect olfaction positively by altering the olfactory bulb cellular constitution, thereby enhancing neuronal signaling ( 11 , 12 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Varying Concentrations of Dietary Protein and Fat on Blood Gas, Hematologic Serum Chemistry, and Body Temperature Before and After Exercise in Labrador Retrievers

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Optimal dietary protocols for the athletic canine are often defined by requirements for endurance athletes that do not always translate into optimal dietary interventions for all canine athletes. Prior research studying detection dogs suggests that dietary fat sources can influence olfaction; however, as fat is added to the diet the protein calories can be diminished potentially resulting in decreased red blood cell counts or albumin status. Optimal macronutrient profile for detection dogs may be different considering the unique work they engage in. To study a calorically low protein: high fat (18:57% ME), high protein: high fat (27:57% ME), and high protein: low fat (27:32% ME) approach to feeding, 17 dogs were provided various diets in a 3 × 3 cross over design. Dogs were exercised on a treadmill and blood was taken pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, 10- and 20-min post-exercise to assess complete blood count, serum chemistry, blood gases, and cortisol; as well as rectal and core body temperature. Exercise induced a decrease in serum phosphorus, potassium, and increases in non-esterified fatty acids and cortisol typical of moderate exercise bouts. A complete and balanced high protein: high-fat diet (27:57% ME) induced decreases in serum cortisol and alkaline phosphatase. Corn oil top dressed low protein: high-fat diet (18:57% ME) induced a slightly better thermal recovery than a complete and balanced high protein: high fat diet and a high protein: low fat (27%:32% ME) diet suggesting some mild advantages when using the low protein: high fat diet that warrant further investigation regarding optimal protein and fat calories and thermal recovery.

show abstract

“…The dietary interventions examined were designed to further define the role of polyunsaturated fat and decreased ME from protein its influence on olfaction as a follow-up to both Davenport and Altom's findings that olfaction may be influenced by dietary fat sources ( 4 , 5 ) . There was an increased probability of a dog finding a target on the CO diet relative to the high-fat, low-carbohydrate food diet at threshold.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Much of the previous research into feeding dogs of this capacity (low-level endurance) stem from ideas to promote stamina in sled dogs ( 3 ) . At present, there are two published studies showing differences on olfactory capabilities in hunting dogs when altering diets ( 4 , 5 ) . Davenport et al ( 4 ) suggested that bird find rates were superior when utilising a diet that may have had superior digestibility and slightly higher fat concentration, whereas a second study by Altom ( 5 ) suggested that fat sources might influence olfaction with medium and polyunsaturated TAG proving medium-chain TAG to be inferior to maize and animal-based fats.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of exercise and diet on olfactory capability in detection dogs

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A previous work suggests that dietary fat may influence canine olfaction. The present study evaluated whether olfactory performance could be influenced by forms of dietary fat and exercise. Seventeen certified detection dogs were fed three different diets (high fat, low fat or high polyunsaturated fat) for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, olfactory testing was performed using a scent wheel in an olfaction laboratory using three explosive materials. The dogs completed eight to twelve scent trials before and after a 30 min treadmill exercise on five consecutive days. A mixed-effect logistic regression model was used to examine how diet, pre- or post-exercise, trial number, odourant, mass of target and target position influenced the probability of dogs alerting on the target odour. There were no significant changes in the dog's ability to find a target odour at threshold amounts. Dogs were 1·42 (1·08, 1·87; 95 % CI) times as likely to find a target on the high polyunsaturated fat diet relative to the high-fat diet (P = 0·009). The low-fat diet was not significantly different from either the high-fat diet or the high polyunsaturated fat diet (P = 0·12). Dogs were 1·49 (1·26, 1·76; 95 % CI) times as likely to find a target prior to exercise relative to after exercise (P < 0·001). Dogs on the high PUFA diet utilising maize oil showed mild improvement in olfaction. The exact reasons are unknown; however, the higher relative amount of linoleic acid in the diet may play a role in olfactory sensation which warrants further examination of optimal diets for detection dogs.

show abstract

Effect of dietary fat source and exercise on odorant-detecting ability of canine athletes

Cited by 23 publications

References 17 publications

When the Nose Doesn’t Know: Canine Olfactory Function Associated With Health, Management, and Potential Links to Microbiota

When the Nose Doesn’t Know: Canine Olfactory Function Associated With Health, Management, and Potential Links to Microbiota

The Effects of Varying Concentrations of Dietary Protein and Fat on Blood Gas, Hematologic Serum Chemistry, and Body Temperature Before and After Exercise in Labrador Retrievers

The effects of exercise and diet on olfactory capability in detection dogs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About