Studies on dog saliva. IV. The effect of carbohydrate diet on the activity of some hydrolytic enzymes

Macronutrient Proportions and Fat Type Impact Ketogenicity and Shape the Circulating Lipidome in Dogs

Many physiological processes including ketogenesis are similar in dogs and humans, but there is little information available on the effect of carbohydrate restriction in dogs. Here, the ketogenicity and serum metabolic profiles of dogs were assessed after they had consumed high carbohydrate (HiCHO); high protein, low carbohydrate (PROT_LoCHO); or high fat, low carbohydrate (FAT_LoCHO) foods. Thirty-six dogs were fed HiCHO for 4 weeks, then randomized to PROT_LoCHO or FAT_LoCHO for 5 weeks. Dogs then crossed over to the other food for an additional 5 weeks. Generally, reduction of dietary carbohydrate by replacement with either protein or fat increased the energy required to maintain body weight, and fat had a greater effect. Postabsorptive energy availability derived mainly from glucose and triglycerides with HiCHO, from gluconeogenic amino acids and fatty acids with PROT_LoCHO, and from fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate with FAT_LoCHO. This study demonstrated that the reduction of carbohydrate in canine foods is potentially beneficial to dogs based on improvements in metabolism and supports the use of low-carbohydrate foods as safe and effective for healthy adult dogs.

Alpha-amylase gene transcription in tissues of normal dog

We studied the distribution of alpha-amylase mRNA in normal dog tissues by northern blotting (NB) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with human pancreatic (AMY2) and salivary (AMY1) alpha-amylase cDNA-specific primers. Analysis of poly(A+) RNA from various normal tissues by NB indicated the presence of detectable levels of alpha-amylase mRNA transcripts only in pancreas. Dot-blot analysis of DNA amplified with primers common to both (human) isoamylase mRNAs showed presence of alpha-amylase gene transcripts not only in pancreas but also in liver, small intestine, large intestine and fallopian tube. Traces of amylase gene transcripts were also observed in ovary, uterus and lung. Interestingly, amylase transcripts were not detectable in the parotid gland by NB or RT-PCR. We have also localized alpha-amylase mRNA transcripts to dog pancreas by in situ transcription and in situ hybridization. Our results suggest that there is high degree of homology between the alpha-amylase mRNA sequences in dog and human at least in the exon 3-4 regions of the human gene.