Use of the breath hydrogen test to assess the effect of age on orocecal transit time and carbohydrate assimilation in cats.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of age on orocecal transit time (OCTT) in cats, using the breath hydrogen test, and to assess potential differences in nutrient absorption.

ANIMALS

27 healthy cats.

PROCEDURE

Cats were allocated to the following 3 groups on the basis of age: group A (9 kittens, 5 to 7 months old), group B (9 young adults, 3 to 5 years old), and group C (9 older cats, 12 to 15 years old). Cats were fed a standard canned diet for 2 weeks prior to measurement of OCTT. Exhaled hydrogen concentration (parts per minute [ppm x min]) was monitored for 8 hours after feeding 60 g of the canned diet.

RESULTS

Mean OCTT in group-A cats was 203 minutes (range, 90 to 345 minutes), which was significantly different from that in group-B (317 minutes; range, 180 to 435 minutes) and group-C (309 minutes; range, 225 to 375 minutes) cats. Median area under the breath hydrogen excretion time curve (ppm x min) for the 8-hour monitoring period, first 45 minutes, and 105 minutes after OCTT for the 3 groups was not significantly different among groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Kittens had significantly faster OCTT than did adult cats.