Fatores Que Regulam o Consumo e a Preferência Alimentar em Cães

Abstract

Food intake is ruled by intrinsic and extrinsic factors to the animal, with complex interaction between them. Although dogs are able to ingest the required amount to satisfy their daily energy demand, when offered a highly palatable food, the regulation capacity is affected due to this interaction. The most widely accepted theories related to the regulation of food intake in dogs are the chemical theory (level of energy and nutrients in the body) and physical theory (gastric distension), which act as the food eaten. It is extremely important to be aware of such factors to ensure the adequate food intake by the animals, preserving and maintaining health. Testing of food intake and preference are commonly performed in experiments with dogs trying to evaluate the factors that affect the food preference of the animals, in particular as regards the addition of flavors. However, tests of food intake and preferences have no scientific basis. Thus, due to the lack of information and adoption of questionable procedures, it is necessary to standardize them. Therefore, this review aims to address the factors that regulate food intake and preference, as well as the importance of knowing them to ensure healthy nutrition for dogs.