Fiber in Animal Nutrition

Fiber in Dog and Cat Food 66 offered the same wet food without cellulose and then ingested almost 50% extra dry matter (Prola et al., 2006), indicating that cellulose diet did not induce satiety. 5.5 Functional Health Effects 5.5.1 Dental disease Dental plaque consisting of proteins and bacteria is the first phase of periodontal di- sease in dogs and cats. Thus, prevention lies in fighting plaque. Dental hygiene is achieved by regular tooth brushing and periodical, professional dental cleansing. Additionally, textured food kibbles or treats can be used for effective mechanical cleansing. These kibbles and treats must promote chewing, resist crumbling and maintain contact with the tooth surface, thus leading to effective mechanical cleansing. The desired texture is obtained by a high level of a cellulose pre- paration forming a network. Cellulose-enhanced dental foods reduce dental plaque, calculus and gingivitis more effectively than typical dry dog and cat foods. Curative effects of textured foods have been shown in animals with existing symptoms and preventive effects in animals that had their teeth scaled and polished (Logan et al., 2003; Theyse et al., 2003). The efficacy of textured dental foods may approach 50% for both clean and dirty teeth. The incorporation of cellulose into an ex- truded chew treat for dogs has been shown to increase elasticity, chewing time and reduce the severity of periodontal disease (Beynen, 2011; Beynen et al., 2010). The test snack was made by adding 4% of cellulose (Arbocel BWW40) to the grain-based con- trol formula. Arbocel BWW40 is powdered cellulose in the form of fibrillated fibers with fiber length of 200 μ m and diameter of 20 μ m. The pure cellulose fibers form an insoluble fiber network with high water- binding capacity. When compared with the control, the test treat was more elastic as the force needed for bending and pulling until fragmentation was increased (Beynen, 2011). The higher elasti- city of the cellulose-enhanced treat probably caused the observed, elongated chewing time in dogs. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the test versus control treat reduced signs of periodontal disease in dogs (Beynen et al., 2010). Bjone et al. (2007) have reported similar effects for a fiber-enhanced chew, but the inclusion level and type of fiber are not disclosed. 5.5.2 Feline hairballs The hairball signs of vomiting, retching and coughing in cats present an unpleasant nui- sance for many owners. Research data show an anti-hairball effect of dietary cellulose. This effect is probably greater for fibrillated cellulose that facilitates the formation of an insoluble fiber network, thus preventing agglomeration of single strands of hair in the stomach. The loose hairs transferred into the duodenum are propelled into the feces. When the cat’s grooming behavior and ingestion of fur is unchanged, more fecal hair excretion infers less hairball formation in the stomach. Hoffman and Tetrick (2003) reported that a high-fiber diet reduced the number of hairballs and vomiting frequency in cats, but experimental details are not given. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Beynen et al., 2011), cats with symptoms of hairballs consumed a complete dry food without or with 4% (w/w) cellulose (Arbocel BWW40) for 4 weeks. Cellulose was added to the control diet at the expense of an identical amount of corn. The cellulose-enhanced © ERLING Verlag