Influence of Nutrition on Skeletal Status (dogs and cats)

Question 1

Overnutrition: when does it occur and what are the 2 main outcomes

Answer 1

Growing large breed pups
Skeletal diseases (osteochondrosis)
Hypertrophic and hyperplastic obesity (cellularity)

Question 2

How to prevent the development of osteochondrosis in the growing puppies

Answer 2

Rationing of feed

Only give 90% whether that be prescription or self calculation

Question 3

Occurrence of hypertrophic and hyperplastic obesity

Answer 3

An incr in the NUMBER of fat cells only incr during late fetal development and the growth phase, therefore after puberty only the SIZE and not the number of fat cells incr. Therefore careful nutrition can help prevent obesity in later life

Question 4

Skeletal diseases caused by nutritional origin (7)

Answer 4

1. Ca def- rubber jaw disease
2. Vit D def
3. Vit E/ Se def
4. vit A hypervitaminosis
5. Thiamine def in kittens
6. Opisthotonus- star gazing
7. Pyridoxine (B6) def
8. Calcium overdose

Question 5

Ca def- rubber jaw disease: cause and clinical signs

Answer 5

Imbalanced diet “fresh meat syndrome” 1:20 in meats, 1:9 in cereals
Incr in P intake– hypocalcaemia– PTH stim the PTH gland- nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism

Question 6

Ca def- rubber jaw disease: clinical signs, treatment and prevention

Answer 6

Lameness, reluctance to walk, widespread bone pain, and decr bone density in X-ray and DEXA
Treatment: analgesics
Prevention: Limestone, Ca lactate, Ca hypophosphoricum

Question 7

Vit D def: cause and pathogenesis

Answer 7

Diet def in Ca and vit D: rickets (young) osteomalacia (growing)
Failed mineralisation of newly formed bone
In young: Failed formation of cartilaginous matrix in the epiphyseal growth plates

Question 8

Vit D def: Clinical signs and treatment

Answer 8

Lameness, lordosis, abnormal teeth eruption, deformation of bones
Correct the diet!!!

Question 9

Vit E/Se def: cause and pathogenesis

Answer 9

Yellow fat disease, pansteatitis 
Cause by high PUFA's and obv the low vit E
Deposition of ceroid in adipose 
Fat cell necrosis
Both of these leading to inflamm!

Question 10

Vit E/Se def: clincal signs and treatment

Answer 10

Anorexia, depression, general tenderness, lumps in the SC fat that may also be painful to palpate
Dietary correction, 20 IU of vit E BID, corticosteroids

Question 11

Vit A hypervitaminosis: Cause and clinical signs

Answer 11

When cats are fed large amoutn of LIVER

Poor coat, lethargy, poor appetite, not moving, lame, pain when palpating the neck, joint stiffness

Question 12

Vit A hypervitaminosis: skeletal changes and treatment

Answer 12

Exostosis of cervical and thoracic vertebrae and FL’x

Dietary correction, lipotrophic Met and choline

Question 13

Thiamine def in kittens, how do they get it?

Answer 13

Raw fish
Day old chicken (containing thiaminase?)
Overcooked meat
Canned food

Question 14

Stage 1 of Thiamine def in kittens

Answer 14

Induction!
Anorexia
Vomitting
Slight ataxia

Question 15

Stage 2 of thiamine def in kittens

Answer 15

NS!!
Abnormal posture 
ataxia
ventral flexion of head 
convulsions

Question 16

Stage 3 of Thiamine def in kittens and the treatment in general

Answer 16

Terminal
Grow weaker and weaker until death
Treatment: inj or dietary correction

Question 17

Pyridoxine (B6) def in dogs

Answer 17

Decr of oncotic pressure of the blood

Question 18

What does calcium overdose lead to?

Answer 18

Hip dysplasia