Owner impressions of three premium diets fed to healthy adult dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine owner impressions of 3 premium canine diets when factors such as price and retail source were removed; to compare body condition scores (BCSs) assigned by owners versus a veterinarian; and to determine consistency of owner impressions of diets when owners were not informed that they were feeding the same diet during 2 consecutive periods.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
44 healthy adult dogs.


METHODS
During the initial 12 months of the study, dogs were each fed 3 premium diets for 4 months in random order. After feeding each diet for 1 and 4 months, owners completed questionnaires regarding palatability of the diet; the dog's attitude, energy level, fecal consistency, frequency of defecation, hair coat quality, and BCS; and whether they would feed the diet if available commercially. During the last 4 months of the study, owners fed the same diet they had been feeding during the previous 4 months.


RESULTS
Scores for most variables did not differ among diets. However, mean BCS assigned by owners was significantly lower than mean BCS assigned by an investigator, with a moderate correlation between scores. When asked at the end of the third and fourth study periods whether they would consider feeding the diet long-term, 12 of the 44 (27%) owners gave inconsistent responses.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that when unaware of retail price and source, owners have similar impressions of 3 premium diets fed to healthy adult dogs, suggesting that factors other than the diets themselves may affect owner impressions. Owners also underestimate their dog's BCS.
Sanderson
Sherry L
SL
From the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Finco
Delmar R
DR
Pogrelis
Asa D
AD
Stacy
Lisa M
LM
Unger
Carrie E
CE
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000523:psychology