Dietary supplementation with soluble corn fiber improved fecal score, microbiota, and SCFAs in dogs

Abstract

Introduction: Soluble corn fiber, a safe dietary fiber with prebiotic properties, has been put to several applications in human daily life. However, studies on its use in pet food are scarce. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of SCF on microbial diversity, SCFAs and fecal quality in canines.

Methods: Twenty adult dogs were divided into four groups, including the control group (CON) and three groups fed diet supplemented with 0.1% (SCF1), 0.5% (SCF2), or 1% (SCF3) SCF for 21 days.

Results: Fecal scores of the group fed 1% SCF were the closest to the ideal state. α-diversity analysis showed the Chao1 index in the SCF2 and SCF3 groups was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the CON group, indicating an increase in colony abundance. β-diversity analysis showed no significant structural difference among groups (p > 0.05). Microbial diversity analysis showed the addition of SCF to the diets increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidota and Blautia and decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes, [Ruminococcus]_gnavus_group, and Prevotellaceae_Ga6A1_group; 1% SCF the relative abundance of Prevotella and Blautia (p < 0.05), and the content of acetic acid, valeric acid, and isobutyric acid (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased the content of butyric acid (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with SCF improves the fecal condition, modulates microbiota composition, enhances the levels of acetic acid, valeric acid, and isobutyric acid, and decreases the level of butyric acid in dogs, with optimal effects observed for 1% supplementation.

Keywords: dogs; microbial diversity; pet food; short-chain fatty acids; soluble corn fiber.

Figure 1

Effect of soluble corn fiber on canine fecal scores.

Figure 2

Phylum level analysis of flora. (A) Taxonomic bar plot at the phylum level, (B) The relative abundance of Bacteroidota, (C) The relative abundance of Firmicutes.

Figure 3

Genus level analysis of flora. (A) Taxonomic bar plot at the genus level, (B) The relative abundance of Blautia, (C) The relative abundance of Prevotella, (D) The relative abundance of Bacteroides, (E) The relative abundance of [Ruminococcus]_gnavus_group, (F) The relative abundance of Prevotellaceae_Ga6A1_group.

Figure 4

Effect of soluble corn fiber on canine fecal short-chain fatty acid content. (A) Acetic acid concentration, (B) Butyric acid concentration, (C) Isobutyric acid concentration, (D) Valeric acid concentration. Different small letters in the same column indicated significant differences between groups (p < 0.05).