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Table 1 Background diet in home environment of the 28 Labrador Retriever dogs included in the study

From: Plasma metabolomics reveals lower carnitine concentrations in overweight Labrador Retriever dogs

 

Lean dogs

Overweight dogs

n = 12

n = 16

BCS (4–5)

BCS (6–8)

Frequency of scraps, treats and chewsa

6 (4.5–7)

6 (3.5–7)

Pooled scores, median (interquartile range)

  

Daily energy intake from commercial dietb

2:10

2:14

n 75  % :n 100  %

  

Wet or dry commercial dietc

1:11

0:16

nwet:ndry

  

Main protein source in commercial dietd

8:1:1:1:1:0

10:4:1:0:0:1

nC:nBP:nB:nCT:nS:nWD

  

Calorie restricted commercial diete

2:10

5:11

nyes:nno

  

Main macronutrient source of total MEf

3:9

4:12

nF:nNFE

  

l-carnitine additivesg

3:9

2:14

nyes:nno

  
  1. Summary of the background diet received by dogs in their home environment. Body condition score (BCS) was clinically evaluated by the same veterinarian (JS). P < 0.05 was considered significant in all analyses. NS, non-significant
  2. aThe frequencies with which dogs were given table scraps and rewarded with training treats and dog chews during 2 weeks preceding the study were evaluated from daily food diaries provided by the dog owners. Scraps, treats and chews were scored separately as follows: 0 (never), 1 (once per 2 weeks), 2 (1–3 times per week), 3 (daily). Scores for scraps, treats and chews were then pooled for each dog and the medians and (interquartile ranges) for lean and overweight groups were calculated. The difference in total scores between body condition groups was analysed by The Mann–Whitney U test (NS)
  3. bThe proportion (%) of total daily energy intake coming from a complete commercial diet in home environment was estimated by the dog owner. Group differences analysed by Fisher´s exact test (NS)
  4. cNumber of dogs fed wet or dry complete commercial diet in the home environment. All dry diets were heat treated while the wet diet received by one dog was a frozen raw formula. Group differences analysed by Fisher´s exact test (NS)
  5. dNumber of dogs fed a main protein source (in complete commercial diet) from: C Chicken, BP Beef and Pork, B Beef, CT Chicken and Turkey, S Salmon, WD Wisent and Deer. Group differences analysed by Chi square test for trend (NS)
  6. eNumber of dogs fed a calorie-restricted complete commercial diet in home environment (indicated as a Light diet according to the manufacturer). Group differences analysed by Fisher´s exact test (NS)
  7. fMetabolisable energy (ME) mainly from: F Fat (about 40% of total ME), NFE Nitrogen free extract (about 40–65% of total ME). No dog had proteins as the main macronutrient source of total ME. Group differences analysed by Fisher´s exact test (NS)
  8. gNumber of dogs fed a complete commercial diet containing l-carnitine supplementation (according to the manufacturer) in home environment. Group differences analysed by Fisher´s exact test (NS)
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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147