Effect of various diets on faecal analysis in normal dogs

Faecal analysis for undigested/unabsorbed food particles and protease activity was performed on multiple samples obtained from four normal dogs each fed four different diets. All four diets, irrespective of the dog, produced a consistent faecal appearance and microscopic findings for undigested/unabsorbed food particles. Cooked and raw minced meat diets produced similar results: stools, which were small, green-brown, firm and glutinous, had little starch, occasional undigested short muscle fibres and moderate amounts of soap. Stools from the dogs on Pal were large, red-brown, solid to semi-solid, and moist; they contained little starch, occasional short undigested muscle fibres and little fat. The Loyal diet produced large, light yellow, dry, friable stools which had variable but usually low starch, no muscle fibres and no fat. Faecal protease activity for the different diets was analysed statistically. Differences in faecal protease activity due to different diets were evident but complicated by differences due to individual dogs.