Specially trained dogs have long been used to sniff out drugs, dangerous chemicals and explosives. But now researchers have discovered a way to enhance a detection dog's schnoz: change its diet.
很早以前,人们就利用受过特殊训练的狗来嗅探毒品,危险的化学品和炸药。但如今研究人员发现了一种使侦缉犬的鼻子更灵敏的方法:改变其饮食。
For 18 months researchers rotated 17 trained detection dogs through three different diets: high protein, regular adult dog food, and regular adult dog food with corn oil. When the dogs feasted on the food with the high fat content, the regular dog food with corn oil, they performed better in exercise and detection tests. The dogs performed just as well on the high protein diet as on their standard fare, apparently a function of the amount of fat in the food rather than anything related to the protein content.
18个月以来,研究人员让17只侦缉犬轮流吃三种不同的食物:高蛋白、普通成犬粮和拌有玉米油的成犬粮。饱食过高蛋白食物、拌有玉米油的普通成犬粮后,侦缉犬在运动和嗅探考试中表现更好。饱食过高蛋白食物的与饱食过标准餐的侦缉犬表现一样。很明显是食物中一定含量的油脂发挥了作用,而食物中的蛋白质则用处不大。
What's fat's magic? The researchers say that dogs fed high fat diets are less fatigued after exercise, which reduces panting and sensitizes sniffing.
那脂肪施展了什么魔法?研究人员说道,以高脂肪食物为食的侦缉犬在运动后不会那么疲劳,这样会减少喘气,使嗅探更敏感。
The research was funded by the Department of Justice and presented at the recent Companion Animal Nutrition Summit in Atlanta.
这项研究由司法部提供研究资金,并于近期在奥特兰大举办的宠物营养峰会上提出。
The findings could change how detection dogs are fed to turn the merely star smellers into super sniffers.
这项发现可能会改变侦缉犬的饮食,将普通犬变成超级嗅探器。
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