76 Investigating the effects of increased soluble fiber and incremental exercise on the voluntary physical activity and behaviour of sled dogs

Abstract

Abstract Optimization of the insoluble:soluble fibers in the diets of dogs can improve gastrointestinal health by increasing commensal bacterial growth. A growing body of research suggests that improved gut health can influence behavior via the gut-brain axis. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of an increased soluble fiber diet on the behavior and voluntary activity of actively training, client-owned Siberian huskies. Fourteen dogs were blocked for age, BW and sex and randomly allocated to either the control or treatment groups. The control group was fed a dry extruded diet that contained an insoluble:soluble fiber ratio of 4:1, and the treatment group was fed a dry extruded diet that contained an insoluble:soluble fiber ratio of 3:1. All dogs underwent eight weeks of incremental conditioning where they trained four days a week. Once a week, a 5-minute video recording was taken immediately pre- and post-exercise to evaluate behaviors. Activity monitors were used to record voluntary activity on two rest days and one active day during weeks -1, 1, 4, 5, and 7. All behavioral and physical activity count data were analyzed using a repeated measures mixed model to test for differences between dietary treatments and week. No differences were observed between treatment or control dogs for any behavior or voluntary physical activity levels (P > 0.05); however, all dogs experienced an exercise-induced reduction in locomotive behaviors prior to exercise throughout the 8-week conditioning period (P < 0.05). Additionally, all dogs were more active during the second consecutive day of rest relative to the first (P < 0.05). These data suggest that while increased soluble fiber in the diets of sled dogs may not affect their behavior, the exercise-related reduction in activity observed begins to recover within one rest day.