Tryptophan requirements in small, medium, and large breed adult dogs using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique1.

Tryptophan (Trp) is an indispensable amino acid (AA) for dogs of all life stages; however, although Trp requirements for growing dogs are derived from 3 dose-response studies, there are no empirical data on Trp requirements for adult dogs at maintenance. The study objective was to determine Trp requirements of adult dogs of 3 different breeds using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique. Four spayed or neutered Miniature Dachshunds (5.28 ± 0.29 kg BW), 4 spayed Beagles (9.32 ± 0.41 kg BW), and 5 neutered Labrador Retrievers (30.51 ± 2.09 kg BW) were used. After a 14-d adaptation to a Trp-adequate basal diet (Trp = 0.482% dry matter), all dogs were fed a mildly Trp-deficient diet for 2 d (Trp = 0.092% dry matter) before being randomly allocated to receiving 1 of 7 concentrations of Trp supplementation (final Trp content in experimental diets was 0.092, 0.126, 0.148, 0.182, 0.216, 0.249, and 0.283% dry matter) and all dogs received all Trp treatments. After 2-d adaptation to the experimental diets, dogs underwent individual IAAO studies. Total feed was divided in 13 equal meals; at the sixth meal, dogs were fed a bolus of L-[1-13C]-Phenylalanine (Phe) (9.40 mg/kg BW), and thereafter, L-[1-13C]-Phe was supplied (2.4 mg/kg BW) with every meal. Total production of 13CO2 during isotopic steady state was determined by enrichment of 13CO2 in breath samples and total production of CO2 measured using indirect calorimetry. The maintenance requirement for Trp and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined using a 2-phase linear regression model. Mean Trp requirements were estimated at 0.154, 0.218, and 0.157% (dry-matter) for Dachshunds, Beagles, and Labradors, respectively. The upper 95% CI were 0.187, 0.269, and 0.204% (dry-matter) for Dachshunds, Beagles, and Labradors. In conclusion, estimated Trp requirements are higher for Beagles compared with Labradors or Dachshunds, and all estimated requirements are higher than those currently recommended by the NRC and AAFCO.