Lipid Metabolism of Puppies as Affected by Kind and Amount of Fat and of Dietary Carbohydrate

Abstract

Feeding 37 young growing puppies diets similar in composition to those fed infants demonstrated that sucrose, Dextri-Maltose, and corn syrup are equally suitable as types of dietary carbohydrate. No significant differences were observed in rate of growth or response of blood sugar levels or serum levels of protein and total fatty acids between groups of animals fed these sugars as the major source of carbohydrate. Cholesterol levels were lowest when sucrose was fed in diets containing corn or hydrogenated coconut oil. Lactose was not acceptable as the sole source of carbohydrate for the young puppy. This may be attributed to a deficiency of the enzyme lactase in the intestinal mucosa of the puppy. Rate of growth and serum levels of unsaturated fatty acids in these animals differed from those fed sucrose, Dextri-Maltose, or corn syrup when the diet was low in linoleic acid. Differences in serum unsaturated fatty acids between puppies fed lactose and those fed sucrose, Dextri-Maltose, or corn syrup were very slight when corn oil diets were fed. It is concluded that during the period of rapid growth dietary fat affects the level and composition of serum lipids to a greater extent than does dietary carbohydrate.