Date of Award
5-1-2026
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Agricultural Sciences
First Advisor
Perry, Erin
Abstract
Dietary composition and ingredient exposure play critical roles in modulating gastrointestinal function, inflammatory status, and physiological resilience in dogs across life stages. Working dogs are frequently subjected to abrupt dietary changes under operational stress, increasing risk for gastrointestinal disturbance, while senior dogs experience age-related alterations in immune regulation, dermal integrity, mobility, and cognition. Nutritional strategies that enhance gastrointestinal stability and support healthy aging are therefore of growing interest. The objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the impact of dietary ingredient variation and processing on biomarkers of gastrointestinal health, inflammation, and functional outcomes in working and senior dog populations. These findings demonstrate that strategic dietary ingredient variation and minimally processed feeding approaches can be implemented without adverse gastrointestinal or systemic effects in working and senior dogs. Furthermore, targeted dietary modulation may support adaptive gastrointestinal responses in working dogs and influence inflammatory and cognitive markers in aging dogs. This work contributes to the development of evidence-based nutritional strategies aimed at optimizing health, resilience, and functional longevity in dog populations.
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