This document discusses innovation in Royal Canin and how they develop new products. It summarizes two new studies: one on hyperuricosuria in dogs from scientific research, and another on weaning diarrhea in puppies from observational data collected by veterinarians. The second study developed a new fecal scoring system for puppies that takes into account age and breed size to better evaluate intestinal health issues. A follow up study then evaluated the effects of a psyllium-enriched diet on chronic constipation in cats and found it significantly improved fecal quality and consistency over a two month period.

1. Science and Observation!
Does innovation belong to a small team of strange scientists who work in
a dark office where nobody can have access except them? Not in Royal
Canin! This is not our way of thinking. Actually, it is in the blood of all
the people of the company and in yours as well! Thanks to the network
built by the people of Royal Canin included your sales representative,
we catch everyday numerous feedback from our partners. Our daily
contacts are the main source of information which help us to develop
breakthroughs in dog and cat nutrition.
This new issue of News From Royal Canin Research perfectly illustrates
our sources of innovation: Science and Observation. You will find some
scientific discoveries linked purely with the world of Science as the
article on hyperuricosuria in dogs. Another linked with Observation with
first results coming from the amazing job done by Aurélien Grellet and
the team at UMES (Breeding and Sport Medicine Unit – Vet University
of Maisons-Alfort) on weaning diarrhoea in puppies.
Marie-Anne Hours (Scientific Support Manager - R&D) & Gregory Casseleux (Scientific Communication
Manager - Europe)
#2 - October 2011
Intro
El estreñimiento felino se puede controlar a través de
una dieta rica en psyllium
La eficacia de Royal Canin Veterinary Diet
Fibre Response Feline para controlar el
estreñimiento felino recurrente, la pérdida de
función intestinal y megacolon, se evaluó en 40
gatos de clientes en clínicas a través de Canadá.
Intestinal
El estreñimiento puede definirse como infrecuencia, dificultad o
ausencia de defecación asociada con la retención fecal en el
colón y recto. El tratamiento dietético de estreñimiento, pérdida
de función intestinal y megacolon en los gatos se basa en una
dieta alta en fibra (total de la dieta fibra > 20% sobre base fresca)
o en altamente digestible (dieta baja en fibra con suplementos de
diferentes fuentes de fibra soluble) que incluye psyllium o
calabaza enlatada.
Freiche VG , Houston D, Weese H, Evason M, Deswarte G, Ettinger G, Soulard Y, Biourge V, German
AJ. Uncontrolled study assessing the impact of a psyllium-enriched extruded dry diet on faecal consistency
in cats with constipation. J of Feline Medicine & Surgery 2011, in press
©ROYALCANINSAS2011.AllRightsReserved-Credits:F.Duhayer,Y.Lanceau,J.M.Labat
Faecal score in puppies depends on age and breedIntestinal
In puppies, age and body size are physiological factors susceptible
to affect quality of stools. Significantly higher faecal moisture,
without effect on faecal score, was described in puppies after the
weaning period compared to adult dogs1
and a lower faecal quality
before the weaning period was observed in toy breed dogs.
Large breeds, such as German Shepherd or Great Danes have
higher faecal moisture, an increased frequency of soft stools and
an increased number of defecations compared to small breeds.
Gastrointestinal viruses and parasites will also have an impact on
puppy faeces quality. The effect of pathogens (canine parvovirus,
canine coronavirus, intestinal parasites) can be masked or possibly
overestimated if the physiological factors influencing faeces quality
are not evaluated simultaneously.
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of faeces quality
on puppies’ average daily gain. Quality of stools was assessed in
177 small and large growing dogs aged from 5 to 8 weeks through
a 13 points faecal scale. A poor faecal score was defined as the
highest faecal score associated with a significant reduction in
average daily gain.
As expected, faecal score of small breed puppies increased with
age whereas no effect was observed in large breed puppies.
During the weaning period (6-8 weeks), small breeds had higher
faecal score than large breeds.
Grellet A, Feugier A, Grandjean D. Development of a new faecal scoring system in puppies. Proc of the 21th
ECVIM-CA Congress. Sevilla, September 2011:p234-235.
1: Weber M, Martin L, Biourge V, et al. Influence of age and body size on the digestibility of a dry expanded
diet in dogs. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2003;87:21-31.
This faecal scoring system could be a new indicator to
compare the effect of intestinal pathogens on faecal quality,
whatever the age and breed size of puppies.
A poor faecal score for a Westie can be normal
for a Labrador. A new scoring system allows
to assess puppy faecal scores while taking into
account the age and breed size.
Determination of a poor faecal score,
depending on the breed size and the age of the dog
4-5 weeks 6-8 weeks
Small breed puppies
(adult body weight < 25 kg)
≤ 6 ≤ 7
Large breed puppies
(adult body weight > 25 kg)
≤ 5 ≤ 5
For large breed dogs a faecal score ≤ 5 was defined as poor.
A faecal score ≤ 6 and ≤ 7 was defined as poor in small breed
puppies at respectively 4 to 5 and 6 to 8 weeks of age. This study
shows for the first time an objective definition of a poor faecal
score based on an impairment of the average daily gain.
T0 Tras 2 meses
Promedio fecal* (rango) 1.23 (0.68-1.78) 2.6 (2.05-3.15)
Media de puntaje fecal* 1 3
Las propiedades físicas y químicas de la fibra dietética varían de
manera importante. Los niveles altos de fibras insolubles, como
celulosa, no son tan eficientes para el estreñimiento felino
crónico y exacerban los signos clínicos.
40 gatos castrados, con antecedentes de estreñimiento crónico,
pérdida de la función intestinal o megacolon completaron la
prueba. Los casos habían tenido muchas dietas y tratamientos,
como la lactulosa (77.5 % ) y cisaprida (63 %). Todos los gatos
se sometieron a un examen clínico completo y no presentaron
colon impactado antes del inicio de la prueba.
La dieta consistió en la ingesta moderada de fibra, rica en
psyllium ( Royal Canin Fibre Response Feline). La calidad fecal y
peso se registraron al inicio, mitad y final de los 2 meses de
estudio. La calidad fecal se evaluó con una escala de 5 puntos: 1
representa heces secas y duras; 5 representa heces líquidas*.
La edad media fue de 8.38 +/- 4.3 años. Todos los gatos
mostraron una mejoría en las puntuaciones fecales: El promedio
de puntuación fecal al inicio de la prueba fue de 1.23 +/- 0.55
(con media de 1); y la puntuación fecal al final de la prueba fue
de 2.6 +/- 0.55 (con media de 3). El peso se mantuvo estable, y
ningún gato mostró episodios de estreñimiento durante el
estudio. Al final de la prueba,14 gatos dejaron de tomar lactulosa
y 11 de ingerir cisaprida. Además, 4 y 3 de los gatos restantes
redujeron la dosis de lactulosa y cisaprida.
La dieta deshidratada rica en psyllium empleada en este
estudio clínico demostró ser eficaz en el control de
estreñimiento, pérdida de función intestinal y, megacolon.
También se observó que disminuyó la necesidad de
medicamentos, cirugía y eutanasia.
Efecto de la dieta Fibre Response en calidad fecal
*:*Esta escala fecal está inviertida de la que se utiliza generalmente en el Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo
Royal Canin. Puntuación 1 significa el estreñimiento; 5 significa diarrhea líquida.
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