RESUMO: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a digestibilidade e os efeitos imunomoduladores de dietas suplementadas com luteína em cães. Dezesseis cães adultos foram distribuídos em dois grupos (controle e teste), em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os cães foram alimentados durante 120 dias com dietas iso-nutritivas, diferindo apenasna inclusão de 45g de luteína/kg na dieta do grupo teste. As amostras de sangue foram colhidas no início e no final do período experimental para avaliar o total de linfócitos, o índice de proliferação de linfócitos e a contagem de linfócitos CD4 + e CD8 +. Para avaliar a digestibilidade aparente da dieta, os cães foram alojados em gaiolas metabólicas por dez dias (cinco dias de adaptação e cinco para coleta total de fezes). Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente não foram diferentes entre cães do grupo controle e os alimentados com luteína. A suplementação dietética com luteína não influenciou a contagem de linfócitos totais ou o índice de proliferação de linfócitos, mas resultou em número de linfócitos CD4 + e CD8 + mais elevadas. A suplementação de luteína não afeta a digestibilidade da dieta ou o índice de proliferação de linfócitos em cães. No entanto, aumenta as concentrações dos subtipos CD4 + e CD8 + de linfócitos T.

ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the digestibility and the immunomodulatory effects of diets supplemented with lutein in dogs. Sixteen adult dogs were distributed in two groups (control and test) in a completely randomized design. Dogs were fed for 120 days with iso-nutritive diets, which only difference was the inclusion of 45g lutein/kg in the diet fed to the test group. Blood samples were collected in the beginning and at the end of the experimental period to evaluate total lymphocyte, lymphocyte proliferation index, and CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte counts. In order to evaluate apparent diet digestibility, dogs were housed in metabolic cages for ten days (five days of adaptation and five for faeces total collection). Coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility were not different between dogs in the control and the lutein-fed groups. Lutein dietary supplementation did not influence total lymphocyte or lymphocyte proliferation index, but resulted in higher CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte numbers. Lutein supplementation did not affect diet digestibility or lymphocyte proliferation index in dogs. However, it increases the concentrations of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte subtypes.

The objective of the present study was to compare the apparent digestibility coefficients of a commercial dog food, fecal consistency and behavior of dogs housed in kennels and metabolic cages. Six adult Beagle dogs were distributed in cross-over experimental design, with six replicates per treatment. Dogs were housed in two environments: metabolic cages and in masonry kennels with solarium. Dogs were fed for a five-day adaptation period, and the five following days were used for total feces collection. Dogs behavior was recorded during a 48-h period, with 10-min intervals. Apparent digestibility coefficients were not different between treatments. However, dogs housed in metabolic cages produced lower weight and more consistent feces as compared with dogs housed in kennels. Dogs spent most of the time sleeping in both housing systems; however, dogs housed in the metabolic cages slept more than those in kennels. Stress-related behaviors (barking, whimpering, stereotypies, etc) were observed for no longer than 15 minutes per day, and were not different between dogs in kennels or in cages. There is no difference in food digestibility evaluated in dogs housed in metabolic cages or kennels; however, dogs kept in metabolic cages eliminate drier feces and spend more time inactive than those kept in kennels.