Fermentable soluble fibres spare amino acids in healthy dogs fed a low-protein diet

BMC Veterinary Research

Table 2 Faecal characteristics and SCFA and NH₃ excretion in dogs fed the SF and IF diet

	SF Diet		IF Diet		P-value
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Group	Diet
Total faecal production (g FM/day)	81	8	61	17	NS	0.02
Faecal consistency (1–7)^a	2	0.5	2	0.2	NS	NS
Faecal pH	5.7	0.2	6.5	0.6	NS	<0.01
Faecal DM (%)	32.8	1.8	43.2	4.5	NS	<0.01
Acetic acid (mmol/day)	8.12	1.07	4.99	1.94	NS	<0.01
Propionic acid (mmol/day)	4.90	1.00	2.58	1.11	NS	<0.01
Butyric acid (mmol/day)	1.14	0.62	0.90	0.47	NS	NS
Isobutyric acid (mmol/day)	0.10	0.02	0.10	0.05	0.03	NS
Isovaleric acid (mmol/day)	0.35	0.13	0.35	0.16	NS	NS
Valeric acid (mmol/day)	0.03	0.03	0.03	0.01	NS	NS
Total SCFA (mmol/day)^b	14.6	2.0	8.96	3.5	NS	0.02
Faecal NH₃ (mg/day)	30.7	9.0	31.8	9.0	NS	NS

FM, fresh matter; NS, not significant
^aPurina faecal scoring system (1: very hard and dry; 2: firm, but not hard; 3: log-like; 4: very moist; 5: very moist but has distinct shape; 6: has texture, but no defined shape; 7: watery, no texture, flat)
^bTotal SCFA = acetic + propionic + butyric + isobutyric + isovaleric + valeric acids

ISSN: 1746-6148