Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis reduce faecal protein catabolites concentration and odor in dogs
Abstract Background: Direct-fed microbials (DFM), as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, may improve gut functionality of the host by favoring non-pathogenic bacteria and reducing the formation of putrefactive compounds. The aim of this study was to assess the nutrients digestibility, faecal characteristics and products of intestinal fermentation in dogs fed diets with Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis. Sixteen adult beagle dogs randomly distributed were used. Every eight dogs were fed with the control diet or the diet to which 62.5 g DFM (B. subtilis and B. licheniformis)/ton were added. Diets were provided during a twenty days adaptation period, followed by five days of total faecal collection. Nutrients digestibility and metabolizable energy of the diets, and faecal characteristics and products of dogs’ intestinal fermentation were assessed. Results: There were no differences in nutrients digestibility (P >0.05). The DFM supplementation, however, improved the faecal score and resulted in less fetid faeces (P <0.001). The DFM inclusion reduced (P <0.05) the biogenic amines concentration: putrescine, spermidine and cadaverine, and the concentration of phenols and quinoline. Conclusions: The use of B. subtillis and B. licheniformis as DFM reduce the concentration of nitrogen fermentation products in the faeces and faecal odor, but the digestibility of nutrients is not altered in dogs.