Etudes des fibres alimentaires chez le chien : présentation des résultats de sept essais expérimentaux

The present paper presents the results and conclusions of 7 trials made in healthy (6 studies) and obese (1 study) dogs to experiment the effects of dietary fibre on faeces characteristics, nutrients digestibility, water consumption and plasma metabolites. Several incorporation rates of different fibre sources (cellulose, guar gum, inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), pectins, beet fibre, beet pulp and chicory pulp) were studied. Furthermore, a blend of cellulose and guar gum was formulated to imitate the ratio of soluble-to-insoluble fibre of beet fibre to study the influence of the fibre solubility. Drinking water consumption was increased by beet fibre and inulin in the diet. With the exception of cellulose for dry matter (DM) concentration, the different fibres induced similar effects on faeces: increased daily excretion, decreased DM concentration and increased excretion of DM. Nutrient digestibility coefficients were diversely affected by fibre consumption and, excepted for the ether extract, decreased in nutrients digestibility were in relation with added total or insoluble fibre in the diet. Important metabolic effects were observed but were not in relation with the solubility of the fibre. Decreased pre- and/or postprandial plasmatic concentrations of glucose (with FOS), insulin (with guar gum), urea, cholesterol (with guar gum) and triglycerides (with FOS) suggest that most of the studied fibres should be used as an aid for dogs suffering from obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipaemia, chronic renal insufficiency or constipation.