Evaluación químico-nutricional de alimentos secos comerciales en Chile para perros adultos en mantención

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate, via chemical analysis, the nutritional quality of dry dogfoods commercially available in Chile for dogs in the stage of maintenance. For each of 33 brands of dogfood, samples were combined from three different batches and analyzed for dry matter (DM), gross energy, crude fiber, total ash, crude protein, essential amino acids, crude fat, linoleic acid and minerals. The metabolizable energy (ME) content was estimated from the results of the chemical composition using Modified Atwater Factors. The nutrient contents of the seven dogfoods that contained more than 4000 kcal/kg DM of ME were corrected for the high energy content of those foods. The results of the chemical analyses were compared with the values recommended by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). All of the dogfoods except one contained sufficient protein, and all of them except one contained sufficient amount of all of the essential amino acids. All of the foods contained sufficient crude fat, and all except one contained sufficient linoleic acid. All of the dogfoods evaluated contained adequate levels of phosphorus, sodium, chloride, iron, copper and manganese, but the situation was rather different for the other minerals. Two dogfoods contained inadequate levels of calcium (one too little the other too much), with an incorrect calcium to phosphorus ratio in seven dogfoods. A total of 13, seven, 12 and one dogfood contained insufficient potassium, zinc, iodine and selenium, respectively. Overall, only four of the 33 dogfoods evaluated contained adequate levels of protein, essential amino acids, fat (including linoleic acid) and minerals. Since five of the dogfoods that were not found to contain adequate levels of these nutrients have passed the AAFCO Feeding Protocols to establish adequate nutrition, in total only nine of the 33 dogfoods (27%) should provide adequate nutrition for dogs in maintenance.