17: Nutritional Disorders

SECTION 17 Nutritional Disorders



Section Editor: Joseph W. Bartges, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal), DACVN



Feeding Trials for Possible Food Allergy

Homemade Diets

Obesity in Cats

Obesity in Dogs

Overnutrition of Large-Breed Dogs

Taurine Deficiency


Feeding Trials for Possible Food Allergy


Joseph W. Bartges, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal), DACVN Donna M. Raditic, DVM, CVA



BASIC INFORMATION



Description


A food allergy is a reaction to food by the body’s immune system. Food allergy is different from food intolerance (such as lactose intolerance) or other adverse reactions to food (such as dietary imbalances, toxicity, or irritation from ingested foreign bodies) that do not involve the immune system.



Causes


In most situations, protein in the food causes the immune reaction. Often the protein source is from animals (such as meat, eggs, or dairy products), but occasionally a carbohydrate source can also be involved. Common foods that induce allergies in dogs include beef, chicken, dairy products, wheat gluten, corn, and soy protein. In cats, common foods that induce allergies include beef, fish, wheat gluten, corn, and dairy products. Dogs and cats can be allergic to more than one food ingredient in a diet.



imageClinical Signs


Itchiness, licking, and chewing of the paws, flank, groin, neck, and ears are common signs. Cats often scratch their faces and ears. The itching occurs during all seasons of the year. Some dogs may have recurrent ear inflammation or infections. Gastrointestinal signs such as chronic vomiting, diarrhea, belching, and frequent bowel movements may also occur. It is common for both skin signs and gastrointestinal problems to be present in the same animal, and these problems tend to persist or recur.



imageDiagnostic Tests


No single, specific test exists that can diagnose a food allergy. Although allergen blood testing is available, these tests are not very accurate and are not a predictably reliable way to diagnose a food allergy or to determine the ingredients to which your dog or cat may be allergic. It is important to provide your veterinarian with a thorough and complete history of all foods and treats your dog or cat eats, including table scraps, chew toys, and medications that are chewable or contain flavorings.



TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP




imageTreatment Options


A dietary food trial may be used to diagnose a food allergy. A food trial involves feeding an elimination diet for 2 to 4 months. The ideal elimination diet includes a new, highly digestible protein source, moderate protein content, and no food additives. Elimination diets include a homemade diet, a commercial diet containing a novel (never fed before) protein and/or carbohydrate source, or a commercial diet composed of hydrolyzed (broken into fragments) protein.


Homemade diets can be formulated by a veterinary nutritionist and are usually composed of a single protein, carbohydrate, and fat source. During the initial food trial phase, the diet does not have to be complete and balanced; however, if your dog or cat responds to this diet, it will need to be balanced if it is given for longer than 2 to 4 months.


Diets with unusual sources of protein and carbohydrate (duck and potato, white fish and rice, venison and potato, rabbit and green peas) can be obtained commercially that are complete, balanced, and designed to be fed long term.


Hydrolyzed protein diets contain proteins that are broken down into pieces that are too small to stimulate the immune system. These diets typically contain a single carbohydrate and fat source and are formulated to be complete and balanced for adult dogs and cats.


During the food trial, no other foods or treats can be fed, including table scraps. Medications that contain flavoring should be changed or discontinued. Your pet must be watched closely to make sure it does not get into the garbage, eat things outside, or obtain food from children in the house, neighbors, or friends. Although an elimination diet must be fed for at least 2 to 4 months, many clinical signs improve in about 6 weeks. Depending on the severity of the clinical signs, medications may initially be needed to decrease itching and inflammation or to treat any secondary bacterial skin infections.



imageFollow-up Care


For dogs and cats that respond to the initial elimination diet, the diet can be continued if it is complete and balanced and formulated to meet the requirements of an adult dog or cat. If a homemade diet has been given, then further consultation with a veterinary nutritionist may be needed to ensure that the diet is balanced and can be used long term. Eventually, many medications given to relieve signs of the allergy can be discontinued.



Prognosis


Prognosis for treating a food allergy is good as long as the dog or cat is not re-exposed to the food ingredient or ingredients that trigger the immune response.



SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:



Homemade Diets


Joseph W. Bartges, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal), DACVN Donna M. Raditic, DVM, CVA



BASIC INFORMATION



Description


Homemade diets are diets made for individual pets by pet owners. Recipes for these diets can be found in textbooks, in magazine articles, and on the Internet, or they can be acquired from a veterinary nutritionist (a specialist certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition). Most published recipes are unbalanced and/or incomplete, and consultation with a veterinary nutritionist is encouraged to evaluate the recipe or to formulate a homemade diet based on your and the pet’s preferences.



image Types of Diets


Homemade diets fall into two basic categories:


• Homemade diet combined with commercially available pet food

• Complete homemade diet, which can be further divided into diets made with raw ingredients, cooked ingredients, or a combination of the two


Rationale for Homemade Diets

There are several reasons to consider feeding a homemade diet:


• Food trial or long-term management of potential adverse food reactions

• Requirement for a special food to manage a disease or combination of diseases that cannot be achieved with commercially available therapeutic diets

• Personal preference by an owner because of negative information about commercial pet foods (erroneous information in most cases); the belief that home cooked foods are better (more natural) than commercial foods; the feeling of a stronger bond between the owner and pet by cooking for the pet; or the belief that home cooking is cheaper (not true in most cases).


image Creating Homemade Diets


Several services are available to help owners with formulating and balancing a homemade diet. These resources include the following:


• Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Boston MA: telephone consultations through (617) 588-7282

• BalanceIt.com

• Petdiets.com

• University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Nutrition Support Service: telephone consultations through (530) 752-1393

• University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Nutrition: email consultations through datzc@missouri.edu

• University of Tennessee Veterinary Nutrition Service: email consultations through utvns@utk.edu

• Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Nutrition Service: referrals made through (540) 231-7666

When making a homemade diet, do not deviate from the recipe provided to you, because this could make the diet unbalanced or incomplete. Veterinary nutritionists can formulate several versions of a homemade diet to provide variety for the pet. Personal hygiene is important when mixing or feeding these diets, especially when feeding raw ingredients. A separate set of food preparation equipment (bowls, mixing spoons, measuring cups, knives) should be used for preparing homemade diets for pets. Prepare the diet in a special area, away from where human food is prepared.



TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP




imageFollow-up Care


Dogs and cats that are fed a homemade diet are evaluated periodically by a physical examination and laboratory tests. Bowel movements should be reasonably formed, and animals should maintain body weight and body condition while on the diet. If any problems or abnormalities develop, consultation with a veterinary nutritionist is worthwhile to evaluate or re-evaluate a homemade diet. If necessary, a sample of the homemade diet can be sent to a food analysis laboratory to determine amounts of nutrients in the diet.



SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

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Sep 11, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on 17: Nutritional Disorders

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