Assessment Through a Pet Owner Survey of the Gastrointestinal Tolerance of a New High Protein-Low Carbohydrate Diet Range in Growing Dogs

The digestive tolerance of three commercial diets (Baby Dog Small & Toy, Baby Dog Large & Medium, and Junior Dog Special Large) issued from a new high proteinlow carbohydrate diet range, Veterinary HPMTM, was assessed in growing dogs through an online survey administered to 129 pet owners over a 28-day testing period, and was compared to that of the dogs’ usual diets. Multiple-choice questionnaires had to be filled out at the beginning of the study, at the end of a 4-day diet transition, and after 7, 14, and 28 days. About 30% of the enrolled dogs had previously shown a digestive sensitivity with their usual food, mainly manifested as diarrhoea. In the present study, more than 94% of the pet owners were satisfied with the way the transition to the tested diets had taken place. Volume, consistency, and odour of the stools showed little change when switching diets, and were not significantly different between the different time points for each tested diet. The percentage of dogs with flatulence on days 7, 14, and 28 (except for one diet) significantly decreased compared to day 0. In conclusion, the three tested Veterinary HPMTM diets enabled a safe diet transition from numerous kinds of canine foods. The tested diets have all shown a high digestive tolerance in various-sized puppies and growing dogs of different breeds.