Human-grade (HG) pet foods are commercially available, but they have not been well studied. Our objective was to determine the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of HG pet foods and evaluate their effects on fecal characteristics, microbiota, and metabolites, serum metabolites, and hematology of dogs. Twelve dogs (mean age = 5.5 ± 1.0; BW = 11.6 ± 1.6 kg) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design (n = 12/treatment). The diets included 1) Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe (extruded; Blue Buffalo); 2) Roasted Meals Tender Chicken Recipe (fresh; Freshpet); 3) Beef and Russet Potato Recipe (HG beef; JustFoodForDogs); and 4) Chicken and White Rice Recipe (HG chicken; JustFoodForDogs). Each period consisted of 28 d, with a 6-d diet transition phase, 16 d of consuming 100% of the diet, a 5-d phase for fecal collection, and 1 d for blood collection. All data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS 9.4. Dogs fed the extruded diet required a higher (P < 0.05) daily food intake (dry matter basis, DMB) to maintain BW. The ATTD of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), energy, and acid-hydrolyzed fat (AHF) were greater (P < 0.05) in dogs fed the HG diets than those fed the fresh diet, and greater (P < 0.05) in dogs fed the fresh diet than those fed the extruded diet. Crude protein ATTD was lower (P < 0.05) for dogs fed the extruded diet than those fed all other diets. Dogs fed the extruded diet had greater (P < 0.05) fecal output (as-is; DMB) than dogs fed fresh (1.5–1.7 times greater) or HG foods (2.0–2.9 times greater). There were no differences in fecal pH, scores, and metabolites, but microbiota were affected by diet. Dogs fed HG beef had higher (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and lower (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Firmicutes than dogs fed the fresh or HG chicken diets. The Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes phyla were unchanged (P > 0.05), but diet modified the relative abundance of nearly 20 bacterial genera. Similar to previous reports, these data demonstrate that the fecal microbiota of dogs fed HG or fresh diets is markedly different than those consuming extruded diets, likely due to ingredient, nutrient, and processing differences. Serum metabolites and hematology were not greatly affected by diet. In conclusion, the HG pet foods tested resulted in significantly reduced fecal output, were highly digestible, maintained fecal characteristics, serum chemistry, and hematology, and modified the fecal microbiota of dogs.

中文翻译：

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喂食人类级食物的狗的营养消化率和粪便特征、微生物群和代谢物

人类级 (HG) 宠物食品是市售的，但尚未得到很好的研究。我们的目标是确定 HG 宠物食品的表观全肠道消化率 (ATTD)，并评估它们对狗的粪便特征、微生物群和代谢物、血清代谢物和血液学的影响。12 只狗（平均年龄 = 5.5 ± 1.0；BW = 11.6 ± 1.6 kg）用于重复的 4 × 4 拉丁方设计（n = 12/治疗）。饮食包括 1）鸡肉和糙米食谱（挤压；蓝水牛）；2）烤饭嫩鸡食谱（新鲜；Freshpet）；3）牛肉和赤褐色土豆食谱（HG牛肉；JustFoodForDogs）；4) 鸡肉和白米饭食谱（HG 鸡肉；JustFoodForDogs）。每个时期由 28 天组成，其中有 6 天的饮食过渡阶段，16 天的消耗 100% 饮食，5 天的粪便收集阶段，1 d 采血。使用 SAS 9.4 的混合模型程序分析所有数据。喂食膨化饮食的狗需要更高的 (P < 0.05) 每日食物摄入量（基于干物质，DMB）来维持体重。喂食 HG 日粮的狗的干物质 (DM)、有机物 (OM)、能量和酸水解脂肪 (AHF) 的 ATTD 比喂食新鲜日粮的狗更高 (P < 0.05)，并且更高 (P < 0.05) 喂食新鲜食物的狗比喂食挤压食物的狗。饲喂膨化饮食的狗的粗蛋白 ATTD 低于饲喂所有其他饮食的狗（P < 0.05）。与喂食新鲜食物（1.5-1.7 倍）或 HG 食物（2.0-2.9 倍）的狗相比，喂食膨化饮食的狗的粪便输出量（原样；DMB）更高（P < 0.05）。粪便 pH 值、评分和代谢物没有差异，但微生物群受到饮食的影响。与喂食新鲜或 HG 鸡肉的狗相比，喂食 HG 牛肉的狗的拟杆菌门相对丰度较高（P < 0.05），而厚壁菌门的相对丰度较低（P < 0.05）。Actinobacteria、Fusobacteria、Proteobacteria 和 Spirochaetes phyla 没有变化（P > 0.05），但饮食改变了近 20 个细菌属的相对丰度。与之前的报告类似，这些数据表明，喂食 HG 或新鲜饮食的狗的粪便微生物群与食用膨化饮食的狗明显不同，这可能是由于成分、营养和加工过程的差异。血清代谢物和血液学受饮食影响不大。总之，测试的 HG 宠物食品导致粪便排出量显着减少，消化率高，保持粪便特性，