The effect of oligofructose on urea metabolism and faecal odour components in cats

Abstract

The effect on urea metabolism by the supplementation of oligofructose to a reduced protein diet was evaluated in cats by the use of labelled urea. The effect on faecal odour was also evaluated. Four cats were tested in a crossover study with two treatments: control and fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS). The FOS was supplemented at 3.11% on dry matter (DM) basis to a reduced protein diet (28.9% DM). After an adaptation period of 3 weeks, faeces and urine were collected during a 5-day collection period. Fresh faecal samples were collected for determination of odour components. On the first day of the collection period, labelled urea was injected subcutaneously. Urine production was estimated by potassium excretion. The fresh faecal samples were incubated in an air-closed recipient with two solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) fibres to bind the produced sulphur (S)-containing components. The reduced protein diet decreased plasma urea concentration but FOS supplementation had no effect. The tendency for a higher faecal output by FOS supplementation was the consequence of both an increased moisture content and faecal DM production. Supplementation of FOS showed tendencies to increase total faecal nitrogen (N) excretion and faecal (15)N excretion and tended to decrease urinary (15)N excretion. Twenty-seven different odour components were detected but were not affected by FOS supplementation.

Apparent total tract macronutrient and energy digestibility of 1- to- 3-day-old whole chicks, adult ground chicken, and extruded and canned chicken-based diets in African wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica)

“…Additionally, the inclusion of fermentable fibers increases the energy available in the large bowel for microbial growth (i.e., the production of nitrogenous substances). The impact of fermentable fibers on bacterial synthesis in cats has not been extensively evaluated; however, inclusion of fermentable fiber has been linked to decreased urinary N excretion and increased fecal N excretion in cats and dogs [Howard et al, ; Hesta et al, ; Verbrugghe et al, ]. These data indicate that decreased CP digestibility of beet pulp‐containing diets could be due to increased bacterial protein production in the large bowel and resultant underestimation of apparent CP digestibility.…”

Alternative Dietary Fiber Sources in Companion Animal Nutrition

“…By providing energy, fermentable fibers encourage microbial growth and, thus, contribute to the production of nitrogenous constituents. The impact of fermentable fibers on fecal microbial N in dogs and cats has not been extensively evaluated; however, decreases in urinary N linked to the inclusion of dietary fiber and increased fecal N excretion have been reported for both dogs and cats [26,27,28]. …”

Effects of inulin supplementation on selected faecal characteristics and health of neonatal Saanen kids sucking milk from their dams

“…Prebiotics have been used in nutrition research with canines (Verlinden et al, 2006;Apanavicius et al, 2007), felines (Hesta et al, 2005), poultry (Xu et al, 2003), swine (Yasuda et al, 2007), horses (Bailey et al, 2007), young ruminants (Kaufhold et al, 2000;Heinrichs et al, 2003) and adult ruminants (Franklin et al, 2005). Although some prebiotics such as scFOS, OF, inulin, mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) and galactooligosaccharides have been supplemented to cows (Mwenya et al, 2005), calves (Masanetz et al, 2011) and lambs (Thayne, 2007) and some information is available on the effects of feeding prebiotics in selected species mentioned above (Swanson et al, 2002a), there is no information on the effects of supplemental inulin in kids.…”