Companion Animal 1 Flashcards
1
Q
What type of diet are commercial pet foods
A
Pet foods: total mixed ration (energy/protein/essential fatty acids/mineral/vit)
* Consumed to meet caloric requirements + nutrients provided in proportion
2
Q
What are 3 types of energy source
A
- Via. Carbohydrates (3.5 kcal/g), protein (3.5 kcal/g), fat (8.5 kcal/g)
3
Q
What determines food intake
A
- Caloric density determines food intake
- Requirement varies with life stage/activity/environment/dz
4
Q
What are essential amino acids
A
- Required for essential amino acids (cant be synthesized)
5
Q
What factors impact protein quality
A
- Protein quality depends on EAA amount/caloric content/digestibility
6
Q
What type of protein is higher quality (animal or plant) and why?
A
- Animal protein = higher quality due to higher EAA content
7
Q
What factor influences total protein content
A
- Total protein content: depends on amount needed to provide EAAs adequately
8
Q
Explain the relationship between caloric content and EAA metabolism
A
- EAA’s are primarily used to make proteins – therefore higher calorie foods (meeting energy requirement easier) result in more efficient EAA use
o Excess EAA used for energy
9
Q
Compare the protein requirement between cats and dogs
A
cat > dogs
10
Q
What are the 2 main functions of fat in a diet
A
- Concentrated energy + palatability
11
Q
What are essential fatty acids + examples? How much do you need?
A
- Essential fatty acids (not synthesized) – linoleic acid + linolenic acid + arachidonic acid (cats) – required at 2% DM
11
Q
How are vitamins added to diets
A
- Fat (A/D/E/K) and water (B) soluble in premix – no requirement for vitC
- Add excess – account for loss in processing/storage (vit A/B destroyed by heat, vit E via lipid peroxidation)
12
Q
How are minerals added to diets
A
- Part of purified premix (not contained in protein/fat sources)
12
Q
What should be considered when thinking about minerals in the diet
A
- Must meet absolute requirements + maintain ratios (Ca:P)
- Should consider nutrient interactions (excess Ca reduces Zn absorption)
13
Q
What are the functions of food additives? Give examples
A
- Gives color/flavour/texture/stability/resistance to spoilage
- Ex. antioxidant, antimicrobial preservatives/humectants (compounds that draw water into the product – prevent separation of gravies)/flavours/emulsifying agents/stabilizer/thickener/colourinig agents
- Some functions or nutritionally important and some are only marketing tools to humans
14
Q
What are the nutritional features of dry food
A
- 90% DM – past was higher veggie protein/low fat but now high animal protein and fat
- Low in As-fed calories due to air bubbles forming in extrusion process
15
Q
What are the nutritional features of canned food
A
- Higher water content can dilute calories/nutrient – as fed
16
Q
Compare nutritional content of canned to dry food
A
- More energy DM due to higher fat + lower carbohydrates vs dryW
17
Q
What institutions regulate pet foods in NA
A
Regulating Agencies (USA)
* FDA
* USDA
* NRC
* AAFCO: Association of American Feed Control Officials
18
Q
What is the AAFCO? What does it do?
A
- AAFCO: Association of American Feed Control Officials
o Nongovernmental organization
o Guidelines for labelling and nutritional requirements
o Each state has separate regulations based on AAFCO guidelines (voluntary compliance)
o Most Canadian pet foods are American-based and follow AAFCO
o Set nutrient profiles and standardize feeding trial protocols
Growth/reproduction/gestation/lactation/maintenance
19
Q
What are the labelling requirements set by AAFCO
A
o Labelling requirement:
Product name
Net weight
Name/address/website of manufacturer
Guaranteed analysis
Ingredients (by weight)
Words “dog or cat food”
Caloric content per unit of measurement
Statement of nutritional adequacy or purposes
Directions for feeding
20
Q
What are the limitations of the ‘guaranteed analysis’ on a pet food label
A
(CP/CFat/Cfibre/moisture – list within a range, will put the numbers that look the nicest for the consumer = cannot rely on guaranteed analysis as evidence of quality or comparison between products)
21
Q
What is NOT included as a pet food label requirement by AAFCO (4 things)
A
o Not label requirements
Digestibility
o Biologic value of protein (can estimate by the type of protein included)
Quality
Contamination
22
Q
What is a concern with the directions for feeding on a pet food bag provided by the manufacturer
A
will recommend feeding the higher amount of food to avoid animals losing weight while eating their food
23
What are 2 ways nutritional content is verified
o Computer analysis:
o Standardized AAFCO feeding trials
24
How does computer analysis verify the nutritional content of pet food?What is a limitation of this
o Computer analysis: identify each nutrient requirement
Identify formulation errors
Assume ingredients used are nutritionally the same as in database
Confirm via chemical analysis
25
How does Standardized AAFCO feeding trials verify the nutritional content of pet food
Uses the type of animal, number of animals, duration of feeding time
The factors they use depend on the label they want to use (ex. maintenance adult vs puppy food)
Defined clinical results: food intake/ body weight/stool quality/some BW parameter (not many)
Criteria for pass/fail
Confirm via chemical analysis
26
How to identify if computer and chemical analysis of pet food has been done?
_____ is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient
Profiles for all life stages
27
How to verify if a pet food has been verified by standardized AAFCO feeding trials
Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that ____ provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages
butt not advertised due to consumer perception
28
What are some benefits of using feeding trials vs chemical analysis alone when verifying pet food nutrition content
Benefits; verify palatability, digestibility and bioavailability, nutrient interaction, toxins/contaminants
but not perfect - product may vary slightly from what they used to trial
29
What is the 'Family Product' rule in pet food labelling? When can it be used?
‘Family product’: allow manufacturers to claim the product has passed the feeding trials when it actually hasn’t
* Can occur with similar foods
* Must still laboratory test
* Can’t claim between life stages (ex. both foods must be labelled for the same life stage)
30
What does ‘Intermittent or Supplemental feeding only” mean? What foods fall in this category?
‘Intermittent or Supplemental feeding only” = not nutritionally balanced/complete/tested = some canned food/treats
31
Why are grain free foods controversial? What ingredients are they referring to?
* Controversial
o May be in response to 2007 recall – wheat gluten contaminated with melamine = renal fail/death
o Quality/digestibility concerns
o HS/allergy
corn and wheat gluten
32
What are the features of corn as an ingredient? Nutrients?
* Readily utilized by dogs
* Incomplete amino acid: lysine/methionine/tryptophan missing– offset with legume (soy)
* Low documented HS/allergy
33
What are the features of wheat as an ingredient? Nutrients?
Wheat
* Readily utilized by dogs: lysine, methionine, threonine missing
* High protein (gluten)
* Common cause of dog HS/allergy – gluten
34
How to assess quality of grain free food
* Assess quality as usual (complete/balanced/AAFCO/PE of patient/stool/quality of packaging)
35
What are the 3 methods of feeding raw diets?
commercially available
1. Total mixed ration: sole source of nutrition, many AAFCO profile (fresh/frozen/freeze dried)
2. Combination ration: supplement mix + raw meat
non commercial
3. Homemade: variable content
36
What are the disadvantages of grain free diets
o High in fat and protein – predispose to obesity + protein expensive (as energy source and financial)
o Contraindicated for hepatic/renal insufficiency, fat intolerance/pancreatitis
o Dilated cardiomyopathy: associated with peas/lentils/potatoes and golden retrievers
+/- taurine deficiency (inconsistent findings) but switching to conventional diet +/- taurine supplement resolved function
37
What are the disadvantages of raw diets?
* GI foreign bodies and perforation
* Gastroenteritis (bacteria or high fat)
* Sepsis
* Iatrogenic hyperthyroidism – manufacturer using neck trimmings with thyroid included (over supplementation with thyroid hormone)
* Nutritional imbalance (high risk with homemade, AAFCO guidelines not developed for raw food) – but it is very possible to make a complete and balanced diet
* Bacterial contamination: Salmonella/E. coli/Listeria/Staph/toxoplasma
o Documented in dogs and cats on raw but poorly defined risks
o Require animal to eat infectious dose of an organism
o But pet food borne infection = not just raw food (also regular pet food – more common because they are more produced)
38
What should you advise clients who are feeding raw food
* Client education: safe food handling/avoid poultry-based product/avoid feeding if pets are on immunosuppressants
o informed consent release for medical record
39
How to assess a raw food diet
* Assess quality as usual complete/balanced
AAFCO (but AAFCO is not designed to assess raw)
PE of patient
stool
quality of packaging
40
Why should you avoid feeding raw chicken, compared to beef/pork?
Campylobacter risk is high
41
Define maintenance energy requirement
* Maintenance energy requirement: Maintain basal metabolic rate/normal body temperature in neutral environment/recovery from normal activity
o Allows for ingestion/digestion/assimilate food
42
What are the features of maintenance energy calculations? What does it give you?
* Many equations: most with exponential function
o Non-linear equation to estimate energy requirement
o The only linear equation was developed in lab beagles (all the same)
o Give you the kcal of energy required per day (ME/day)
43
Define metabolizable energy
* Metabolizable energy: gross energy that accounts for loss in feces in urine
44
How to use the values you get from maintenance equations and tables
* Equations/tables give rough estimate of individual requirements – make initial food intake – require monitoring
45
What are some general guidelines for feeding an adult dog
* 1-2x per day
* Treats <10% calories/day discourage vitamin/mineral
* Many types of diets: lite/maintenance/stress/performance
46
How to decide between canned or dry food for adult dogs
* Can vs dry: will meet nutritional requirements
o Convenience/cost/prevention (dental dz associated with cans)/preference
47
What changes influence feeding a geriatric dog? And how to feed accordingly
* Lower energy requirement (depends on +/- neuter, activity level, muscle mass loss)
* Geriatric conditions/dz can influence food intake (OA/CKD/dental dz)
* Require 50% more protein to maintain muscle mass
48
What nutrients are commonly added to senior dog foods? Why? Is it beneficial?
* Nutrients advertised but require more research – all claims have little research
o Fibre – support intestinal disorders/diabetes/obesity
o Antioxidants – A,E,Se for immune response/neoplasia/CNS function
o Glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate – DJD management
49
Should you change a geriatric dogs diet to a senior diet if they are doing well on current food? Why?
No
* More research needed for senior diets – complete and balanced = no one ration can cover all ages
50
What are some physiologic features of cats that influence what we have to feed them? Requirements?
* Obligate carnivores require
o protein = 30% diet
o dietary taurine/arginine
o animal fats (for arachidonic acid)
* reduced ability to make vitD
* can’t convert carotene to vitA or tryptophan to niacin (B vit)
51
What are the calorie requirements for an adult cat?
* energy requirement: poorly defined (50-80 kcal ME/kg/d)
o should feed to maintain optimal body condition
* Feeding recommendations: meal or free feed – don’t use vit/mineral supplements
52
What are the nutrient requirements for geriatric cats? How to feed?
Geriatric Cats
* Decreased energy needs (probably) but protein requirements = unchanged
o Unknown vit/min needs
o Controversial fibre intake
* No reason to alter diet if working well
* Don’t restrict protein or add supplements
* Consider geriatric diseases
53
What are 3 main nutrients of concern when feeding puppies or kittens
Feeding Babies: Main nutrients: energy, protein, Ca/P
54
What are some guidelines for instructing owners to feed their pet
Owner Instruction
* Clear and specific
* Identify brand name, dry/wet, flavour, exact measurement
* Give several choices and written instruction
* Update medical record
55
What are the nutritional requirements of puppies and how to feed them
* Fast growth: 50/60% full weight at 5-6 mo
* Require energy dense/digestible/complete and balanced
* Reputable manufacturer
* Dry food (wet if small breed or picky eater)
* Monitor BCS and adjust amount accordingly – want optimal/slightly thin
* *never supplement with vit/min
56
What MSK dz are associated with nutrition for puppies
* MSK Dz: dangerous to overfeed – NO ad lib feeding
o Hip dysplasia/metaphyseal osteopathy/osteochondritis dissecans
o Large breed: avoid excessive intake (prevent too fast growth) + moderate Ca/P (high Ca = bone pathology like OCD/poor conformation)
Hills L Puppy = 1% Ca vs (regular puppy food 1.5% Ca)
57
What are the nutritional requirements of orphaned puppies and kittens? How to feed?
* Neonatal = very high nutritional requirements – weight doubles in 8-12d
* Calculate protein and energy requirements to ensure adequate feeding
* Provide colostrum + commercial milk replacer
o Be consistent with diet (inconsistent = diarrhea)
o Meet energy and protein needs
* Every 4 hours via bottle or OG tube + weight daily
58
What is a good timeline for feed schedule for orphaned puppies/kittens?
* 2 weeks = introduce high quality commercial food
* 3 weeks = formula and gruel
* 4-5 weeks = wean
59
What 3 factors should be considered in a nutritional assessment
1. Food/food factors
2. Animal/animal factors
3. Feed management/owner
60
What pertinent history information should be collected in a nutritional assessment? Based on the 3 main factors
* Food factors: diet? (type/flavour/form/amount/treats/supplement/med)
* Animal factors: signalment (define physiologic status – growing/adult, breed related issues: Arctic breeds = Zn dermatosis, Irish setters = gluten sensitivity, Bedlington terrier = hepatic Cu storage dz)
o Environmental or activity changes (temp/indoor/outdoor)
o Dietary sensitivity or aversions (food item/circumstance/frequency of occurrence)
* Owner factors: how often/food prep/who feeds/location of feeding/other pets/other food
61
What PE signs should be evaluated in a nutritional assessment
* BCS: should be done every appt + weight (same scale/appropriate sized scale/enter in medical record)
* Observe clinical signs of obesity or malnutrition
62
What are 4 common nutritional deficiencies in cats and dogs
o Protein-energy malnutrition – most common with illness
Non-specific signs: weight loss/wasting/pallor/chronic infection/poor hair coat
o Taurine deficiency: cats
o Vit K deficiency: coagulopathy
o Thiamine deficiency: cats – brainstem necrosis
63
What are common lab findings that indicate nutritional deficiency
* Hematology: anemia due to deficiencies via
o Fe/Cu and folate/vit B12
* Biochem: obesity (hyperglycemia/hyperlipidemia/glucose intolerance)
* Protein-energy malnutrition
o Anemia/lymphopenia
o Creatinine/albumin/BUN changes
64
How is the nutritional assessment implemented for healthy animals
Healthy Animals
* Clear and specific recommendations (exact measurements + written instructions)
* Complete and balanced
* Update medical record
65
How is the nutritional assessment implemented for sick animals
Sick Animals
* Complete assessment
* Complete and balanced +/- specialized diet or supplements
* Precise instructions: brand name, amount, frequency, written instructions
* Update medical record
66
How should you monitor pets after nutritional assessment
Monitor Response
* Palatability
* Any dietary intolerance noted
* Body weight
* Underlying dz progress (if sick)
67
In what animals does malnutrition typically occur
* Malnutrition rare in healthy cat/dog (obesity more common)
o In sick: different nutrient requirements/abnormal pattern of metabolism/reduced intake
68
What are the main consequences of protein-energy malnutrition
Consequences:
* anemia/hypoproteinemia
* delayed wound healing
* reduced immune function
* GI, resp, cardio compromise
* death
69
What are 2 adaptations that canines have developed to deal with starvation
Starvation (healthy animals)
* Adaptions to survive food deprivation
o Acute: maintain blood glucose (use hepatic glycogen and amino acids)
o Chronic: fat fuels (preserve lean body mass)
70
What is the significance of lean body mass
* Lean body mass = all of it has a critical function/life
71
What is complicated/stressed starvation? What triggers it
Disease prevents normal adaptations to starvation: complicated/stressed starvation
* trauma/surgery/sepsis/neoplasia
* can’t switch to using fat for fuel
* catabolize lean body mass: skeletal muscle, serum protein, enzyme
72
Why does disease predispose to protein energy malnutrition
* higher demand for amino acids during illness
o needed for: acute phase reactants, WBC, Ig, clotting factor, wound healing
o amino acids support gluconeogenesis
o inadequate adipose stores – need glucose and amino acids (can’t make glucose from fat)
73
What are the physiologic changes that occur in protein energy malnutrition
Physiology
* increase in metabolic rate: due to spinal pathway/endogenous cytokines
* altered hormones: epinephrine/cortisol/glucagon/insulin – determine metabolic rat and how/if they can metabolize calorie sources
74
What animal is predisposed to protein energy malnutrition and why
Cats:
* predisposed
* not good at conserving lean body mass
* high basal requirement: constant gluconeogenesis and hepatic transaminase urea cycle activity
75
What is the first step and details of a nutritional assessment for patients with protein-energy metabolism
1. Hx: understand why patient is critically ill (sx/infection/neoplasia/burns), +/-reduced food intake
76
What is the second step and details of a nutritional assessment for patients with protein-energy metabolism
2. PE: BCS/weight may not change (adipose tissue may obscure assessment)
a. Non-specific: muscle wasting/pallor/poor coat/hepato or splenomegaly/chronic infection/peripheral edema/lymphadenopathy – may have some or none of these
77
What is the third step and details of a nutritional assessment for patients with protein-energy metabolism
3. Lab: CBC/Chem panel = insensitive
a. Usually: normocytic/normochromic/nonregenerative anemia (anemia of chronic dz) + lymphopenia
b. Biochem:
i. low creatinine (muscle wasting, creatinine proportional to lean body mass)
ii. hypoalbuminemia (not a sensitive marker for malnutrition due to longer half life – 8d – instead use insulin-like growth factor and transferrin because shorter half life
78
What are the 5 steps of initiating nutritional support to a critically ill patient
Initiating Nutritional Support
1. Determine fluid requirement
2. Determine energy requirement
3. Select calorie source
4. Micronutrient requirements
5. Select route of admin
79
How to determine the fluid requirement for a critically ill patient
a. Daily fluid requirement: 60ml/kg (adjust for v/d/renal dysfunction)
80
What 2 things should you consider when administering fluids to a critically ill patient
Correct deficits before assisted feeding
measure intake vs requirement
81
What method used to administer fluid requirements to a critically ill patient
b. Via: voluntary, tube, parenteral
82
How to determine the energy requirement for a critically ill patient
a. Use resting energy requirement (maintenance requirement = overestimate)
because it...
i. Maintain basal metabolic rate
ii. Maintain body temperature (in thermoneutral environ)
iii. No increment for food consumption – measured based on post-absorptive state
b. Calculate based on weight: current weight after rehydrating (be conservative to avoid re-feeding syndrome)
83
What factors to consider when choosing a calorie source for a critically ill patient
a. Depends on factors: species/palatable/digestible/cost/available/dz
84
What are the 3 calorie sources available for a critically ill patient and what are their features
b. Protein: essential, underlying dz will impact requirement (cats 25-45% have higher requirement vs. dog 30-50%)
c. Carbohydrate: not required by dog or cat
i. Can be used if must restrict fat or protein
ii. Dz may prevent metabolism (hyperglycemia/glucose intolerance/insulin resistance)
d. Fat: caloric density and palatability – underlying dz will impact
i. Dog (20-60%), cat (35-50%) requirements
85
How to choose a calorie type for a critically ill patient
e. Selecting food: list rations with desired nutrients (brand name + many choices)
i. First consider ideal calorie distribution
ii. Commercial product = easy/cheap/consistent
86
What to consider when assessing micronutrient supplementation for a critically ill patient
a. Species variation (cats: taurine/protein, vitB)
b. disease can change requirement (immune response – protein/Zn/vitA/arginine, tissue synthesis/repair – protein/vitB/glutamine
87
How to provide micronutrient supplementation for a critically ill patient
c. commercial recovery diets supplemented already: glutamine/vitB
d. supplement if specifically required (specific deficiency noted)
88
What are 3 common routes of nutrient administration in critically ill patients
a. Voluntary intake
b. Enteral/tube feeding
c. Parenteral/IV feeding
89
How to facilitate voluntary eating in critically ill patients
i. Hand feed/small quantity/highly palatable and aromatic food/warm food to body temp/calorie dense
iii. Pharmacological appetite stimulation: antidepressants (mirtazapine/diazepam) or cyproheptadine (periactin)
1. Use with caution because very few studies that confirm clinical efficacy – measure actual food intake
a. May delay use of feeding tube (time spent waiting for drug to work when it doesn’t)
90
What is an important thing to do when choosing to use voluntary feeding for critically ill patients
a. Voluntary intake: measure intake over time (ensure requirements are met)
91
What are the pros and cons of enteral feeding
b. Enteral/tube feeding
i. Pro: more physiologic, prevent villous atrophy, prevent bacterial translocation, less complex, cheap, few complications
ii. Con: long periods of transition, contraindicated by non-functional GI tract
92
What are the types of enteral feeding tubes and their general features
iii. Types:
nasoesophageal (easy to place but temporary and small)
esophagostomy + pharyngostomy (wider in diameter – can use chunky food)
gastrostomy (long term)
jejunostomy (Surgically placed via
gastrostomy but small tube and in-clinic only)
93
What types of rations are used for enteral feeding and which are compatible with the type of tube
1. Blended commercial pet food
2. Commercial paste-food (for tube feeding – pharyngostomy/esophagostomy/gastrostomy)
3. Commercial liquid food (for nasoesophageal/jejunostomy)
94
How do you initiate enteral feeding and what does sit require?
v. How: initial bolus + feeding every 2 hours (goal is 4-6 feeding daily)
1. Small volume/dilute
2. Jejunostomy tubes require CRI
3. Close initial supervision – watch for re-feeding syndrome
95
What are the pros and cons of parenteral feeding
i. Pro: bypass GIT+ allow bowel rest, low risk aspiration, +/- anesthesia, reduced risk of bleeding
- May be good for animals with severe coagulopathy (only making a small hole)
ii. Con: villous atrophy, bacterial translocation, complications (sepsis/hyperglycemia/hyperlipidemia), require specialized equipment/care, more expensive
96
What factors impact the choice of enteral feeding tubes
1. Depends on gastrointestinal dysfunction location
2. Expected length of time required
3. Patient conformation and concurrent disease
4. Type of ration
5. Clinical status (stability for general anesthesia, +/- coagulopathy, neurological status)
97
How does critical care diets compare to maintenance diets, nutritionally
4. Higher protein, fat and minimal carbs than a maintenance diet
98
What is the most common malnutrition affecting dogs and cats
obesity
99
What are the predisposing factors to obesity
Predisposing factors: neutering, purebreds (Labs, shelties, beagles), behavioural (competition, engorgement) – more likely if owner is obese too
100
What are the consequences of obesity in dogs and cats
Consequences:
* MSK problems
* Immunosuppression
* Glucose intolerance/insulin resistance (link to diabetes in cats)
* Predispose cats to hepatic lipidosis
* Challenge drug dosing (esp. if have narrow therapeutic index b/c use lean body mass)
* Increase sx/anesthesia risk
* Neoplasia risk
* Shorten lifespan of dogs
101
What is a major complication when trying to manage obesity
Management complication: owners (may not recognize the problem/may be responsible) – must convince them of the benefits of weight loss
102
What are the 6 steps of creating and implementing weight loss programs
* Use a team approach: veterinarian/tech + reception/owner
1. Patient assessment
2. Determine energy intake for weight loss
3. Choose a weight loss ration
4. Institute weight loss program
5. Monitor
6. Transition to maintenance diet
103
What are the important steps of a patient assessment when creating a weight loss program
1. Patient assessment: body weight + BCS demonstrate to owner
a. Nutritional assessment
a. Rule out medical causes: medication (corticosteroid/anticonvulsants)/hypothyroidism/hyperadrenoocorticism)
i. Use hx, PE, diagnostics
104
How to determine the energy intake for weight loss program
2. Determine energy intake for weight loss: make estimate for ideal body weight and multiply by 0.6 or 0.8 (reduce) for weight loss
a. Use a more conservative adjustment for cats (never lower than 0.8)
105
What are the 2 factors that can be variable in weight loss diets
protein content
fibre type and quality
106
How does protein content vary in weight management diets
a. Protein content: avoid loss of lean body mass (important for life functions)= need lots of protein
i. Must optimize adipose tissue and minimize lean body mass
107
How does fibre type and quantity vary in weight management dietss
b. Fiber type/quantity:
i. Insoluble vs soluble fibre: traditionally insoluble fibre (reduced calories but increase satiety)
ii. High vs low
1. Cons of high fibre: more frequent/bigger poops, abdominal distension, farting more, poor coat quality, compromised nutrient absorption
2. Low fibre: better poops/coat/BCS, low fat and calorie still
108
What is the nutrient make up of weight management foods (generally) vs maintenance
c. Overall (on a %calorie basis): more protein, less fat, varied fibre amounts depending on strategy of diet = low calorie
109
What are the general steps when implementing a weight loss plan
4. Institute weight loss program
a. Written explicit feeding and exercise (frequency/duration – dog) instructions
b. Don’t feed pet in kitchen at human meal time
c. Include and deduct calories from treats in daily calorie intake
110
What are the important notes when monitoring pets on weight loss program
a. Recheck body weight/BCS +/- blood work (cats)
b. Adjust food intake – weight loss should be ~1% body weight per week (dog)
c. Safe weight loss is gradual (week-month)
d. Owner recording exercise and food intake is useful
e. If no weight loss: review amount being fed/who is feeding/exercise schedule
i. Identify problems and try to correct
f. Hospitalization is last resort – but lacks owner involvement resulting in reduced long term success
111
What does transitioning to a maintenance diet in weight loss program include
6. Transition to maintenance diet
a. Choose less calorie dense maintenance product – give owner specific instructions
b. Re-check frequently
