http://lattes.cnpq.br/5048244246995606; DIAS, Diane Cristina de Araújo.
Resumo:
Although there are several types of dog specific rations, the dry ration is the most popular.
These rations present lower nutritional quality which may injure the urinary system due to
a decrease in urinary volume and an increase in pH, inducing the formation of crystals and
uroliths. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of diet based on
commercial ration on electrolytic, renal and urinary parameters in dogs. Six healthy dogs,
three males and three females of different ages and without defined breed, were housed in
individual kennels located at the UFCG veterinary hospital, Campus de Patos, Paraíba,
Brazil. The animals were submitted to two food regimes with 15 day interval between
them: in the treatment group (GAL Group) the animals received the ad libitum for 15 days;
and in the control group (GAC group) they were submitted to controlled feeding with the
amount recommended by the manufacturer, during the same period of time. Blood and
urine were collected after each experimental protocol to measure the biochemical
variables: urea, serum creatinine, urinary creatinine, urinary GGT and microalbuminuria
and the electrolytic sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium and phosphorus dosages. In
addition, urinalysis and sedimentation were performed, evaluating pH, proteins, glucose,
ketone bodies, density, nitrite, blood / hemoglobin, bilirubin, urobilinogen and leukocytes.
All laboratory analyzes were performed immediately after the animals arrived at the
Veterinary Hospital (basal - T0) and after 15 days (LAG) on experimental protocol (T15).
The same evaluations were performed in the control group (GAC) after 15 days of the
control protocol (T30). Statistical analysis was performed using the Bioestat 5.0 program.
To evaluate if there were significant differences between moments, two-way analysis of
variance and the Tukey test or the Friedman test were used. All tests were performed at the
5% level of significance (p <0.05). There was no significant difference between moments
for the electrolytic parameters and only the calcium values were higher than reference
standard for species throughout the experimental period. Regarding urinary variables, there
was statistical difference only in serum creatinine at T30, although the reference values
were within the normal range. As for urinalysis, only pH showed a significant change over
time, being higher than reference standard for the species, with struvite crystals appearing
and bacteria increased in the urine. It was concluded that the dry ration used in this study
predisposes to important alterations in urinalysis, without, however, inducing renal lesions,
regardless of dietary management. It is suggested that more comprehensive studies be
carried out to evaluate the components of the diet in question.