Scientists predicted that dogs with higher antioxidant levels would have a greater effect on blood chemistry.
The antioxidants in dog food play a dual role, preserving food and benefiting animal health. The relationship between ingredients and the changes in antioxidant levels in dogs may be complex. Researchers in Colombia found that dog food with different levels of antioxidant did not have the same effect on blood chemistry as the scientists predicted.
Antioxidants in dog food
Fats, oils, and other lipids in dog foods can turn rancid or go bad, leading to unwanted changes in color, flavor, and odor. The shelf life of dog food is reduced and pets may reject it. Antioxidants, whether synthetic or natural, can prevent spoilage.
Antioxidants in dog food can also counteract certain oxygen molecules (called reactive oxygen species) and free radicals that are present in the body of dogs. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants. In dogs, oxidative stresses can change the structure of proteins, DNA and other molecules. This leads to cell degeneration, which is associated with diabetes, osteoarthritis and kidney disease.
Experimentation on the kibble formulation in relation to oxidative stress and dogs
The Journal of Vetirinary Medicine and Science notes that few studies have been conducted on the effects of diet variations on dogs’ levels of oxidative stresses.
Scientists conducted an experiment with six Beagles to explore the relationship between dog food ingredients, oxidative stress and the dogs. The dogs ate four different dry food formulations for five weeks each, and then switched to the others. The antioxidant profiles of the formulations were different. Researchers tested each dog’s blood every week for total phenolics, total antioxidant capacity and reactive oxygen species.
The scientists observed that although kibble affected the oxidative/antioxidant profile of blood plasma in dogs, the specific antioxidant levels of the dog food did not appear directly related to those changes. The antioxidant profile in the blood of dogs was influenced by both the nutritional profile of their diet and eating the food. The dogs themselves seemed to have the greatest effect. The scientists concluded that the biological process relating dog food formulation to oxidative/antioxidant equilibrium in dogs remains unclear.