PSVI-23 Evaluation of graded levels of Bacillus coagulans (GBI-30, 6086) on apparent nutrient digestibility, stool quality, and intestinal health indicators in healthy adult dogs

Abstract

Abstract Functional pet foods, such as those containing probiotics, are considered a key growth driver in the $37 billion market of dog and cat foods in the United States. Of particular interest to pet food applications is the patented bacterial strain Bacillus coagulans (GBI-30, 6086), a commercially available spore-forming non-toxigenic microorganism with high resiliency to stresses associated with commercial manufacturing. The objectives of this research were to examine the effect of Bacillus coagulans on stool quality, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal health markers in healthy dogs. High-protein, grain-free extruded diets containing graded levels of probiotic applied through extrusion or as a topical coating were fed to ten adult Beagle dogs of similar age. The study was designed as 5 x 5 replicated Latin square with 16-d adaptation followed by 5-d total fecal collection for each period. The five dietary treatments were formulated to deliver a dose of 0-, 6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-log10 colony-forming units (CFU) per dog per day. Data were analyzed using a mixed model through SAS (version 9.3, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC) with treatment and period as fixed effects and dog as random effect. Apparent digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, crude fat, and gross energy were greatest for dogs fed the 9-log10 dose treatment (85.8, 83.6, 91.7, 84.0%, respectively), with increases (P < 0.05) observed in gross energy and organic matter digestibility compared to the negative control. Crude protein digestibility tended (P < 0.10) to increase as probiotic dose increased. No significant differences were observed in food intake, stool quality, fecal pH, fecal ammonia, or fecal short chain fatty acids. These results suggest that Bacillus coagulans has a favorable impact on nutrient digestibility and no apparent adverse effects when added to extruded diets at a daily intake level of up to 9-log10 CFU in healthy adult dogs.