Composição nutricional e avaliação de diferentes métodos de determinação de gordura em alimentos úmidos para cães e gatos

As a consequence of the increasing number of dog and cat owners, the pet food industry is expanding the range of pet food products in the market. In order to obtain more necessary information about the wet food segment for dogs and cats, the aim of this study was to determine the nutritional composition, to evaluate the information declared on the labels, and to compare the composition with the FEDIAF recommendations for protein and fat. Furthermore, three different methodologies of fat analysis were compared: crude fat (CFa), crude fat after acid hydrolysis (CFAH), and fat content obtained with Ankom XT15 (ANKOM) to determine the most adequate method for fat determination in wet foods. Twenty-five wet food products were evaluated, 13 wet foods for dogs and 12 for cats. Centesimal composition analyses obtained in this study were compared with guaranteed analysis declared on the label and with FEDIAF minimum recommended requirements for each species. The results of the nutritional composition and the values described on the label and the evaluation of the three fat determination methods were compared using the mixed model test with repeated measurements in the same samples, respectively (p < 0.05) in the SAS program, evaluation of protein adequacy and fat content were analyzed by mathematical calculations of difference and proportion. No difference was observed between nutritional composition of wet foods and the values declared on the labels for the majority of the diets analyzed, and there was a predominance of products that exceeded FEDIAF minimum recommendations of protein and fat for both species. No difference was observed between the three methods of fat content evaluation (p = 0.68). It was concluded that wet foods evaluated in this study match the label information and FEDIAF nutrient requirement recommendations, considering recommended calorie intake. All three fat determination methodologies evaluated were similar, justifying the choice of the easiest or cheapest method.Devido ao aumento do número de cães e gatos domiciliados, a indústria de alimentos para animais de estimação tem expandido a gama de produtos existentes no mercado de pet food. Para obter informações mais relevantes sobre o segmento de alimentos úmidos para cães e gatos, este trabalho determinou a composição nutricional, avaliou as informações declaradas nos rótulos e comparou a composição com as recomendações da Fediaf de proteína e gordura. Também foram comparadas três metodologias diferentes de análise de gordura: extrato etéreo (CFa), extrato etéreo após hidrólise ácida (CFAH) e teor de gordura obtido no analisador Ankom XT15 (ANKOM) para determinar o método mais adequado de avaliação de gordura em alimentos úmidos. Foram avaliadas 25 marcas de alimentos úmidos, 13 para cães e 12 para gatos. As análises de composição centesimal obtidas neste estudo foram comparadas com a informação nutricional declarada nos rótulos e com as necessidades mínimas recomendadas pela Fediaf para cada espécie. Os resultados da composição nutricional, os valores descritos no rótulo e a avaliação dos três métodos para determinação da gordura foram comparados com o emprego do teste t e modelo misto com medidas repetidas nas mesmas amostras, respectivamente (p < 0,05) no programa SAS. Já a avaliação da adequação nutricional de proteína e do teor de gordura foram analisados por cálculos matemáticos de diferença e proporção. Para a maioria dos alimentos avaliados não foi observada diferença entre a composição nutricional dos alimentos úmidos e os valores declarados em rótulo, e houve predominância de produtos que excederam as recomendações mínimas de proteína e gordura da Fediaf para ambas as espécies. Quanto às metodologias de extração de gordura, não foi observada diferença entre os três métodos avaliados (p = 0,68). Concluiu-se que os alimentos úmidos avaliados atendem às informações declaradas pelos fabricantes e também às recomendações nutricionais da Fediaf com base na ingestão energética recomendada. Em relação às metodologias avaliadas para determinação de gordura nestes alimentos, a similaridade entre tais resultados justifica o uso da técnica de maior facilidade ou de menor custo

Concentrations of macro and micro minerals and heavy metals in home-prepared diets for adult dogs and cats

Cada vez mais os proprietários de cães e gatos procuram dietas caseiras, porém muitos desconhecem a necessidade de formulação por um profissional capacitado. Assim, podem utilizar receitas de fontes como internet, fornecendo dietas inadequadas e que podem resultar em riscos à saúde do animal. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a composição de minerais de alimentos caseiros e compará-las com as recomendações do National Research Council (NRC, 2006) e da Fédération Européenne de lIndustrie des Aliments pour Animaux Familiers (FEDIAF, 2018), além de avaliar as concentrações de metais pesados nestes mesmos alimentos. Foram avaliados 100 alimentos caseiros para animais adultos saudáveis, 75 para cães e 25 para gatos, produzidos de acordo com receitas obtidas de websites. Análises bromatológicas foram realizadas por métodos convencionais e, análises de minerais e metais pesados foram realizadas por espectrometria de emissão ótica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-OES). Os resultados obtidos foram analisados no programa estatístico SAS pelo emprego de testes paramétricos e não paramétricos (P<0,05). Das 100 dietas avaliadas, nenhuma atingiu os valores recomendados de todos os nutrientes e, mais de 84,0% das dietas apresentaram três ou mais nutrientes abaixo da recomendação. Os nutrientes com maior incidência de valores abaixo da recomendação foram: selênio, cálcio e potássio nos alimentos para cães; e selênio, ferro e zinco nos alimentos para gatos. Quanto às concentrações de metais pesados, os teores de chumbo, cobalto, mercúrio, urânio e vanádio estavam acima dos níveis máximos tolerados (NMT) para cães e gatos. Estes resultados apontam a necessidade de formulação de dietas por profissional treinado para evitar riscos à saúde dos animais por desequilíbrios nutricionais.Owners of dogs and cats increasingly seek home-prepared diets, however many of them dont acknowledge the need of formulation by a trained professional. Therefore, owners may end up using diets from sources such as internet, providing diets often imbalanced and that may cause health risks for the animal. The aim of this study was to evaluate mineral composition of home-prepared diets and to compare it to recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC, 2006) and Fédération Européenne de lIndustrie des Aliments pour Animaux Familiers (FEDIAF, 2018), and also evaluate concentrations of heavy metals on these diets. For the present study, 100 recipes for healthy adult animals, 75 for dogs and 25 for cats, were prepared according to recipes obtained from websites and were evaluated. Bromatological analyses were performed according to conventional methods and mineral and heavy metal analyses were performed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results were analyzed by SAS software with parametric and non-parametric tests (P<0.05). Of the 100 recipes evaluated, none met recommended levels for all nutrients and more than 84.0% of diets presented three or more nutrients below recommendation. Nutrients with higher incidence of levels below recommendation were: selenium, calcium and potassium in recipes for dogs; and selenium, iron and zinc in recipes for cats. As for heavy metal concentrations, levels of lead, cobalt, mercury, uranium and vanadium were above maximum tolerable levels (MTL) for dogs and cats. These results point to the need of diet formulation by a trained professional to avoid health risks to animals caused by nutritional imbalances

Fatty acid profile in homemade diets for dogs and cats and nutritional levels of commercial cooked diets for cats

Muitos tutores de cães e gatos optam por alimentos não convencionais provenientes de receitas de fontes como websites ou mesmo produtos comerciais, o que pode resultar no fornecimento de dietas inadequadas para cães e gatos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as composições de lipídeos de receitas de alimentos caseiros de websites e de macronutrientes, minerais e metais tóxicos de alimentos caseiros comerciais para gatos adultos e compará-las às recomendações nutricionais do NRC e da FEDIAF, e aos níveis máximos tolerados (NMT) do U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Foram avaliados 100 alimentos preparados a partir de receitas de alimentos caseiros veiculados em websites para animais adultos saudáveis (75 para cães e 25 para gatos) e nove alimentos cozidos comerciais para gatos adultos. O perfil lipídico das receitas de alimentos foi realizado por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massa (GC-MS) e as composições de minerais e metais tóxicos dos alimentos comerciais foram analisadas por espectrometria de emissão ótica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-OES). Dentre os alimentos de websites, 61,3% para cães e 36,0% para gatos apresentaram menos ácido linoleico do que o recomendado pela FEDIAF, e 93,3% dos alimentos para cães e 60,0% dos alimentos para gatos apresentaram menos EPA+DHA do que as recomendações do NRC. Dos nove alimentos comerciais para gatos analisados, quatro apresentaram pelo menos uma deficiência e dois apresentaram três ou mais deficiências quando os resultados foram comparados às recomendações do NRC. Quando comparados à FEDIAF, apenas um alimento supriu todas as necessidades. Alumínio e chumbo foram observados acima do NMT em duas e sete dietas, respectivamente. A formulação de alimentos alternativos para pets deve ser criteriosa para garantir uma dieta adequada, havendo necessidade de um melhor entendimento e seleção de ingredientes para evitar deficiências e a contaminação por metais tóxicos.Many owners of dogs and cats choose unconventional foods from recipes of sources such as websites or even commercial products, which may result in the intake of inadequate diets for dogs and cats. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the lipid composition of recipes of homemade diets from websites and the macronutrient, minerals and toxic metal compositions of commercial diets for cats and compare them to the nutritional recommendations of NRC and FEDIAF and to the maximum tolerated levels (MTL) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 2011). One hundred homemade diets prepared from recipes displayed on websites for healthy adult animals (75 for dogs and 25 for cats) and nine commercial diets for adult cats and were evaluated. The lipid profile of diet recipes was performed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the mineral and toxic metal of the commercial diets were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Among the website diets, 61,3% for dogs and 36,0% for cats had less linoleic acid than recommended by FEDIAF, and 93,3% of diets for dogs and 60,0% of diets for cats had less EPA+DHA than NRC recommendations. Of the nine commercial diets for cats analyzed, four presented at least one deficiency and two presented three or more deficiencies when the results were compared to the NRC recommendations. When compared to FEDIAF, only one of the diets supplied all the requirements. Aluminum and lead were observed above de MTL in two and seven recipes, respectively. The formulation of alternative diets for pets should be rigorous to ensure a proper diet, with a need to a better understanding and selection of ingredients to avoid deficiencies and toxic metal contamination is necessary

Concentrations of macro and micro minerals and heavy metals in home-prepared diets for adult dogs and cats

Cada vez mais os proprietários de cães e gatos procuram dietas caseiras, porém muitos desconhecem a necessidade de formulação por um profissional capacitado. Assim, podem utilizar receitas de fontes como internet, fornecendo dietas inadequadas e que podem resultar em riscos à saúde do animal. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a composição de minerais de alimentos caseiros e compará-las com as recomendações do National Research Council (NRC, 2006) e da Fédération Européenne de lIndustrie des Aliments pour Animaux Familiers (FEDIAF, 2018), além de avaliar as concentrações de metais pesados nestes mesmos alimentos. Foram avaliados 100 alimentos caseiros para animais adultos saudáveis, 75 para cães e 25 para gatos, produzidos de acordo com receitas obtidas de websites. Análises bromatológicas foram realizadas por métodos convencionais e, análises de minerais e metais pesados foram realizadas por espectrometria de emissão ótica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-OES). Os resultados obtidos foram analisados no programa estatístico SAS pelo emprego de testes paramétricos e não paramétricos (P<0,05). Das 100 dietas avaliadas, nenhuma atingiu os valores recomendados de todos os nutrientes e, mais de 84,0% das dietas apresentaram três ou mais nutrientes abaixo da recomendação. Os nutrientes com maior incidência de valores abaixo da recomendação foram: selênio, cálcio e potássio nos alimentos para cães; e selênio, ferro e zinco nos alimentos para gatos. Quanto às concentrações de metais pesados, os teores de chumbo, cobalto, mercúrio, urânio e vanádio estavam acima dos níveis máximos tolerados (NMT) para cães e gatos. Estes resultados apontam a necessidade de formulação de dietas por profissional treinado para evitar riscos à saúde dos animais por desequilíbrios nutricionais.Owners of dogs and cats increasingly seek home-prepared diets, however many of them dont acknowledge the need of formulation by a trained professional. Therefore, owners may end up using diets from sources such as internet, providing diets often imbalanced and that may cause health risks for the animal. The aim of this study was to evaluate mineral composition of home-prepared diets and to compare it to recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC, 2006) and Fédération Européenne de lIndustrie des Aliments pour Animaux Familiers (FEDIAF, 2018), and also evaluate concentrations of heavy metals on these diets. For the present study, 100 recipes for healthy adult animals, 75 for dogs and 25 for cats, were prepared according to recipes obtained from websites and were evaluated. Bromatological analyses were performed according to conventional methods and mineral and heavy metal analyses were performed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results were analyzed by SAS software with parametric and non-parametric tests (P<0.05). Of the 100 recipes evaluated, none met recommended levels for all nutrients and more than 84.0% of diets presented three or more nutrients below recommendation. Nutrients with higher incidence of levels below recommendation were: selenium, calcium and potassium in recipes for dogs; and selenium, iron and zinc in recipes for cats. As for heavy metal concentrations, levels of lead, cobalt, mercury, uranium and vanadium were above maximum tolerable levels (MTL) for dogs and cats. These results point to the need of diet formulation by a trained professional to avoid health risks to animals caused by nutritional imbalances

Correction: Theory of Planned Behavior applied to the choice of food with preservatives by owners and for their dogs.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294044.]

Theory of Planned Behavior applied to the choice of food with preservatives by owners and for their dogs.

Many pet owners make food choices for their pets that are similar to those they make for themselves, and food characteristics such as the presence of preservatives can influence this decision. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is a tool used to predict intentions and behavior and can be an important indicator for the pet food industry. The aim of this study was to investigate pet owner behavior regarding food with or without preservatives, based on the behavior prediction of TPB. A questionnaire was distributed with questions related to direct (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) and indirect (behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and intentions) measures for the analysis of TPB. For the statistical analysis the structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The correlation between owner behavior and the behavior imposed on their dog's diet was evaluated by paired T test or paired Wilcoxon test according to variables' adherence or not to normality, respectively. A total of 1,021 answers were evaluated after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The results indicated that TPB was effective in predicting the intentions (r2 = 0.58 for dogs and r2 = 0.59 for owners) and behavior (r2 = 0.58 for dogs and r2 = 0.57 for owners) regarding the intake of diets without preservatives. It was observed that owners are more concerned with the diet of their dogs than their own and they believe that the intake of preservatives can be prejudicial to the health of their dogs (p<0.001). However, owners trust more in pet food manufacturers than human food manufacturers (p<0.001). Therefore, it can be concluded that TPB can be an important tool to understand consumer behavior towards their dog food, and that the industry should intensify its approach on safety of preservatives in pet food, since many owners still believe they can be prejudicial to dogs

Model fit.

Many pet owners make food choices for their pets that are similar to those they make for themselves, and food characteristics such as the presence of preservatives can influence this decision. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is a tool used to predict intentions and behavior and can be an important indicator for the pet food industry. The aim of this study was to investigate pet owner behavior regarding food with or without preservatives, based on the behavior prediction of TPB. A questionnaire was distributed with questions related to direct (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) and indirect (behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and intentions) measures for the analysis of TPB. For the statistical analysis the structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The correlation between owner behavior and the behavior imposed on their dog’s diet was evaluated by paired T test or paired Wilcoxon test according to variables’ adherence or not to normality, respectively. A total of 1,021 answers were evaluated after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The results indicated that TPB was effective in predicting the intentions (r2 = 0.58 for dogs and r2 = 0.59 for owners) and behavior (r2 = 0.58 for dogs and r2 = 0.57 for owners) regarding the intake of diets without preservatives. It was observed that owners are more concerned with the diet of their dogs than their own and they believe that the intake of preservatives can be prejudicial to the health of their dogs (p</div

Fig 1 -

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with the results of behavior toward consumption and purchase of food without preservatives for dogs (A) and owners (B). Values on arrows represent standardized regression coefficients.</p

Results of questions from section two regarding source of information on pet food and type of food provided.

Results of questions from section two regarding source of information on pet food and type of food provided.</p

Results from section one regarding information about the dog owners.

Results from section one regarding information about the dog owners.</p