Effect of hulled Cannabis sativa L. seeds in a home-made diet for adult dogs

Abstract

Homemade diets integrated with functional ingredients may help to ensure that companion animals have a good life quality given the rise in their average lifespan. This study investigates the effects of a complete and well-balanced homemade diet supplemented with hulled hemp seeds. Twelve adult dogs divided into two groups: CTRL, fed the basal diet and HEMP, fed the diet integrated hulled Cannabis sativa L. seeds (4 g/100g of ration) were enrolled in the trial. The following samples were collected: (a) individual faecal samples to assess the diet digestibility through an indirect method of acid-insoluble ash; b) blood samples to evaluate the oxidative state through an OXI adsorbent test; and c) rectal swabs for intestinal microbiota analysis (alpha- and beta-diversity and taxonomy). The results reveal that with respect to the commercial diet used in this study, our homemade diet increased the total and protein digestibility (total: 53.97 ± 2.54% and 58.20 ± 2.58%; p < .030; protein: 70.54 ± 2.01% and 82.78 ± 5.35%; p < .001). The change in diet positively altered the microbiota structure and increased beta-diversity index significantly (p < .010). The hemp seeds significantly (p < .001) reduced the oxidative stress in the serum. This study highlights how hemp increases the body’s defences and that a homemade diet promotes diversity in the gut microbial population.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The homemade diet increased digestibility and microbiota diversity.

• Hulled hemp seeds in dog diets increase the body’s defences

Keywords:

• Hemp seeds
• Cannabis sativa L
• microbiota
• dog
• homemade diet

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank HEMPET S.r.l. who provided hulled seeds of Cannabis sativa L.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Animal Welfare Organisation of the University of Milan (OPBA authorisation no. 142_2021). This study follows the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no potential conflict of interest.

Data availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.