PSXI-12 - Determination of Protein Requirements for Labrador Retriever Pups (> 14 wk-9 Mo) Using the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation (IAAO) Technique

Abstract: Providing protein to growing puppies in accurate amounts ensures that animals have enough energy and nutrients for depositing muscle, growing bones, and maintaining joint health. Inclusion amounts must be provided at correct doses, considering a diet with excess protein can lead to harmful outcomes such as hyperkalemia or acidosis. To determine the protein requirements in growing Labrador Retrievers, the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique was utilized in six puppies ( >14 wk-9 mo). Dogs were supplied with constant dietary Phe across diets. The control diet was fed for two days, followed by a day in which the test diet was fed, a tracer amino acid was supplied, and breath samples were collected. On test day, a priming dose of L-[1-¹³C]phenylalanine (Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.) based on the body weight of the subject was supplied, followed by [1-¹³C]Phe doses every 30 minutes, spanning a four-hour period. A respiration mask was placed on each subject every 30 minutes (Oxymax, Columbus Instruments), ¹³CO₂ was collected, and enrichment was determined by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). IRMS results were converted to atom percent excess (APE) and analyzed using a segmented model of best fit (JMP Pro 16). The outcome of this experiment determines that if essential amino acids and non-essential amino acid nitrogen requirements are met, Labrador Retriever puppies will have mean and population safe requirements (mean±2SD) of 47.5 ± 1.325 g/1,000 kcal.