Guoyao Wu

4.1 IntroductionThe metabolism of most nutrients in domestic dogs and cats is similar to that in other mammals (Baker and Czarnecki-Maulden 1991). Thus, the qualitative dietary requirements of dogs and cats for most nutrients [e.g., amino acids (AAs) that are not formed de novo in animal cells] are similar to those for omnivores (e.g., humans and pigs). However, dogs and cats have a relatively sho ...

1. IntroductionThe small intestine is a highly differentiated and complex organ with many nutritional, physiological, and immunological functions [1–8]. First, the small intestine is responsible for the terminal digestion and absorption of dietary nutrients and is, therefore, essential to health, growth, development, reproduction, and sustaining life in organisms. Second, the neonatal small ...

IntroductionThe domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and the domestic cat (Felis catus) have been human companions for at least 12,000 and 9000years, respectively [1, 2]. These animals contribute to the mental health and well-being of children, adolescents, and adults, and have become increasingly popular in many countries and worldwide over the past decades (Table  1). For example, the numbers of ...

Q: Can you tell us how you arrived at the proposed optimal ratios and amounts of true digestible AAs in diets that you have developed in your research?A: Results of studies by my group have established the concept that animals have dietary requirements for not only so-called “nutritionally essential” amino acids (EAAs) but also so-called “nutritionally nonessential” amino a ...