Review scope

This summary is based on the published abstract. We have not appraised the full methods, tables or supplementary material. Details absent from the abstract remain unverified.

Question and design

12 healthy adult dogs in a replicated four-treatment Latin square. Lower- and higher-protein foods, each with or without FOS. Comparator: Corresponding unsupplemented foods; 28-day periods with washouts.

What was measured?

Faecal fermentation, microbes and apparent digestibility.

Main findings

Higher protein and FOS each increased faecal ammonia. FOS increased apparent digestibility of several minerals; protein level modified some FOS effects, including bifidobacteria and protein digestibility.

Study strengths

Factorial comparison tests whether the background food changes the response.

Limitations

Faecal measurements are surrogate outcomes. Small healthy population; no disease-treatment endpoint.

Researchers’ conclusion

The authors reported diet-dependent microbial effects and improved digestibility of several minerals with FOS.

Evidence.pet interpretation

The presence of FOS on a label does not guarantee the same outcome in every formulation.

Funding and conflicts

PubMed records no competing interests. Funding and full declarations were not appraised.

Source and review date

Pinna C et al. Influence of dietary protein and fructooligosaccharides on fecal fermentative end-products, fecal bacterial populations and apparent total tract digestibility in dogs. BMC Veterinary Research. 2018;14:106.

Read the primary source · DOI record

STU-030. Reviewed 25 September 2026. Next review 25 December 2026.