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Ultrasonographic and radiographic evaluations of the effects of supplementation with two types of probiotics on the gut of puppies

The effects of supplementation with types of probiotics for beagle puppies that received high and low quality diets on the findings of imaging techniques were evaluaded. Eighteen animals were distributed in three randomized treatments: 1, control (diet), 2, diet with a probiotic (Bifidobacterium), and 3, diet with another probiotic (Lactobacillus). The experiment was divided into two phases each characterized by a change of diet. By ultrasonography, the thickness of the gastrointestinal wall was evaluated as well the presence of gas in the bowel and thickening of the wall by radiography. There was an increase in the thickness of the intestinal wall (P <0.05) in animals treated with probiotic, groups 1 and 2, ((5,74mm and 6,01mm, respectively) compared to the control group (5,03mm). The use of probiotics did not influence the production of intestinal gas. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed among treatments for scores of intestinal gas. The quantitative analysis allowed the determination of a score of intestinal gas, noninvasively, using the software Image J ®. It was concluded that the imaging technique supports the recommendation of this method as an auxiliary tool in nutritional assessment of diets for dogs.

dog; ultrasonography; radiography; probiotics


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