BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM

A new study published in the Journal of Animal Science, studied the digestibility of grain free foods using pulses for dogs. Previously it was postulated that diets heavy in pulse ingredients are not well digested and could possibility be the link to diet associated cardiomyopathy in dogs. 

BSM Partners in collaboration with the University of Illinois conducted the study over 180-day period. The study included four different diet groups: two grain free with pulse ingredients with a low protein and high protein option and two diets with grains and no pulse ingredients with a low and high protein option. The diets were formulated to meet AAFCO standards for adult dogs and contained comparable ingredients to common dog foods on the market. The dogs in the study were beagles and mixed-breed hounds. 

Researchers evaluated the fecal quality, metabolites and microbiome in the dogs over the course of the study. Fecal samples were collected on days 0, 30, 90 and 180. High pulse inclusion with low animal protein created shifts in the fecal microbiota and metabolites with increased concentrations of short-chain fatty acids compared to grain inclusive diets. All diets appeared highly digestible regardless of protein or carbohydrate source and all of the study participants remained healthy throughout the study.  The researchers did find differences between beagles and mixed-breed hounds in fermentative end products and fecal microbiota. 

The full study can be found at https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/doi/10.1093/jas/skad268/7239847?login=false.