We are excited to announce a new publication! Brooklynn Liversidge and colleagues recently published their new article “The Fecal Metabolomic Signature of Plant-Based (Vegan) Diet Compared to an Animal-Based Diet in Healthy Adult Client-Owned Dogs” In the Journal of Animal Science. Read on for a short summary of their research and findings below.
Objective
This study evaluated the fecal metabolic signature of a plant-based (vegan) diet compared to a typical animal-based diet in healthy adult dogs.
Fecal metabolomic signatures refer to the unique patterns of metabolites found in the poop. These metabolites are small molecules produced by the body’s metabolic processes and can provide valuable information about the digestive health, gut microbiome activity, and overall metabolic state of an individual or animal. By analyzing poop samples, we can identify specific metabolites that indicate how the body is processing nutrients, the presence of certain gut bacteria, and potential health issues. This analysis helps in understanding the impact of different diets, diseases, and treatments on gut health and metabolism.
Methods
This study was conducted as part of a larger previously published study in client-owned healthy adult dogs [1].
A total of 61 healthy adult dogs participated in this trial. For four weeks before the start of the study, all dogs ate the same, animal-based, dog food. After this period, dogs were split into two groups: one group continued eating animal-based dog food, and the other group was switched to a plant-based (vegan) diet for 12 weeks.
The plant-based food was made to be as similar as possible in nutrient content to the meat-based food – despite the different ingredients. Both the dog owners and researchers didn’t know which food each dog was eating until after the study and all data were analyzed.
During the study, we collected poop samples from the dogs at the beginning and end of the 12-week period. These samples were analyzed using a technique called quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to measure fecal metabolites.
Findings
Dogs fed the plant-based diet showed significant changes in their fecal metabolic profile compared to those consuming the animal-based diet. At the end of the study, dogs in the plant-based group had higher levels of metabolites linked to carbohydrate fermentation, including short-chain fatty acids like acetic and propanoic acid. Additionally, they had increased sugar-related metabolites, suggesting difference in carbohydrate digestion and gut microbial activity. These findings are likely due to different fibre types in both diets.
Conclusion
These findings indicated that dogs eating the plant-based diet had different poop profiles compared to dogs consuming an animal-based diet, even though the nutrient profiles were similar. Given the growing popularity of plant-based diets for dogs more research is needed to understand how different plant-based diets affect dog health.
Summary of Findings
This study adds to the growing research on plant-based diets for dogs, demonstrating that the fecal metabolic signature of healthy adult dogs fed an entirely plant-based diet was distinct from dogs consuming a traditional animal-based diet. Specifically, the results showed that dogs consuming the plant-based diet showed higher concentrations of short-chain fatty acid and sugar metabolites, suggesting difference in carbohydrate digestion when compared to the dogs fed the animal-based diet.
Key Take-Aways
- Dogs fed a plant-based diet had distinct changes in their fecal metabolites compared to those fed an animal-based diet
- The plant-based diet showed increased metabolites associated with carbohydrate fermentation
- Despite similar nutrient profiles, the two diets let to distinct fecal metabolomic changes
- More research with plant-based diets of varying nutrient profiles is needed to gain a better understanding of their effect on long-term health
Interested in similar research? Here are some highlights of other studies conducted by our team and blogs on related topics”
- New publication: Comparison of the fecal microbiota of adult healthy dogs fed a plant-based (vegan) or an animal-based diet
- Can my cat eat a plant-based diet?
- Probiotics 101: Exploring Their Use in Companion Animals
- It’s What Inside That Counts: Bacterial fecal microbiota is only minimally affected by a standardized weight loss plan in obese cats
Written by Brooklynn Liversidge, BScH, MSc, PhD Student
Reviewed by Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe, DVM, PhD, Dip ECVCN, Associate Professor and Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Endowed Chair in Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition