Natural Remedies, Grain Free, Ect. Flashcards

1
Q

What are the associations surrounding CBD? Is there any published data? Any known risks?

A
  • Hundreds of chemical compounds: Cannabinoids, Terpenoids, Flavanoids
  • Growing use for a variety of conditions- cancer, joint disease, epilepsy, pain
  • Very little published data- several clinical trials are underway
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2
Q

What are the associations surrounding Garlic in pet food? Is there any published data? Any known risks?

A
  • For fleas & parasites
  • No published information on efficacy
  • Potential to induce Heinze-body anemia
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3
Q

What are the associations surrounding Ginger in pet food? Is there any published data? Any known risks?

A
  • For stomach pain, anti emetic
  • No published data on efficacy for pain
  • Few studies suggest anti-emetic effect 25 mg/kg PO (Sharmaa et al 1997)
  • Strong flavor
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4
Q

What are the associations surrounding coconut oil in pet food? Is there any published data? Any known risks?

A
  • Supposedly a source of medium chain triglycerides and other beneficial, oxidation resistant, fatty acids
    • Only 15-20% of the FA are MCTs in coconut oil
    • No proven benefits in pets (Fagua et al. 2015)
    • MCTs may be substrates for ketone bodies and may provide an energy source for CNS (Pan et al. 2010)
    • Potential risks for high fat diets
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5
Q

What are the associations surrounding Turmeric in pet food? Is there any published data? Any known risks?

A
  • Curcuminoids are phytochemicals with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti neoplastic
  • Few studies in companion animals, none conclusive (Comblain et al. 2017)
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6
Q

What are the associations surrounding apple cider vinegar in pet food? Is there any published data? Any known risks?

A
  • Used to treat a variety of skin issues, UTI, digestion, clean teeth
  • May have some antifungal activity, used in dogs with yeast otitis
  • Risks for skin burns, teeth erosion
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7
Q

What are the associations surrounding Omega 3 fatty acids: Marine sourced in pet food? Is there any published data? Any known risks?

A

Studies known in these areas that prove benefit:
• Anti-inflammatory effect ( more than those found from palm seed oil ect)
• Dermatological disease (Scott et al.1997)
• Cardiovascular disease (Rush et al. 2000; Laurent et al. 2008)
• Osteoarthritis (Barrouin-Melo et al 2016; Roush et al 2010 )
• Renal disease (Brown et al. 1998; Brown et al. 2000;…)
• Hyperlipidemia (Bauer 1995)
• ect
- important to know quality you are receiving, cold extraction is most preferred.
- Takes time to work

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8
Q

What are the associations surrounding grain free diets? Is there any published data? Any known risks?

A

• No evidence of harmful effect for grain inclusive
• Grains contribute vitamins, minerals, amino
acids, essential fatty acids, and fiber
• Highly digestible (>90%)
• Allergies relatively uncommon
FDA warning: potential connection between diet and cases of DCM as result of taurine deficiency.

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9
Q

Grain Free and DCM? Is it real? Should we be concerned?

A

From January 1, 2014 to November 30, 2018, 300 cases of DCM were reported to the FDA
• November 30, 2018 to April 30, 2019 236 additional cases reported
• The FDA reported that 90% of the diets named in the reports that had received
were grain-free, though 10% do contain grains
- The FDA states that nearly all of the grain-free products had adequate levels of
methionine-cystine (above the Association of American Feed Control Officials
(AAFCO) minimum nutritional requirement of 0.65%) and that they are still
gathering information to understand “if (and how) taurine metabolism may have a role in these reports

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10
Q

What is taurine?

A

Free amino acid present in several tissues in high concentration : Heart and retina

Taurine is conjugated into bile acids, similar to glycine. Dogs and cats use taurine rather than glycine, whereas other mammals may use either.

Dogs can make taurine from methionine or cysteine

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11
Q

Is there a breed association with DCM from grain free diets? What about the diets themselves?

A
  • Golden Retriever’s, mixed breeds, labradors, great dane and pitbulls had the highest # of DCM reported but it was found in both large and small breeds.
  • Association with Dry food being primary formulation fed for large number of cases.
  • Variety of companies and manufacturers were implicated.
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12
Q

How could ingredients be implicated in issues with Grain free diets and DCM?

A
  • Dogs can produce taurine from methionine and cysteine
  • If a company calculated the protein % as total, rather than animal protein this could mean that much protein is vegetable protein
  • Legumes are high in protein, but relatively low in methionine and cysteine
  • In addition- legumes have several antinutritive compounds:
  • Phytates
  • Glycoproteins
  • Phytosterols
  • Phenols
  • These reduce digestibility, but are usually destroyed in cooking
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13
Q

How can fiber be a potential cause for issues relating to grain free diets and DCM?

A

• Taurine is conjugated to bile acids in
dogs and cats • Indigestible protein and fiber may alter
bacterial flora • Result in production of cardiac toxins
(as in people/rodents) or depletion of
taurine

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14
Q

Are all dogs low in taurine that reported DCM from a grain free diet? Were there ingredients that were implicated?

A

No

Some ingredients implicated: potatoes, sweet potatoes, legumes

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15
Q

What should we do in regards to patients on a grain free diet?

A
  • Recommend diet change for dogs on a GF diet
  • Measure plasma or whole blood taurine levels
  • Supplement? Only if low.
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16
Q

What are the reasons insect protein is being utilized in some pet foods/ human food?

A
  • The risk for insufficient global protein supply drives many companies to search for alternative protein sources in pet food
  • Some alternative proteins considered include fungal protein, bacterial protein, and insect protein
17
Q

What are common insect proteins used in petfood currently?

A

The common insect proteins used in petfood presently include black soldier fly larva and crickets

18
Q

What are the main take homes about fad diets, marketing, and impacts of particular ingredients?

A

• There are many fads in pet food that are not science based
• Despite this, many advocates are extremely passionate about them
• While arguments are rarely conducive, but providing as much information
can be important
• More research is required to understand the impact of various ingredients,
nutrients, and processing on the health of dogs and cats

19
Q

What are the issues with insect protein diet studies at this point?

A

They are relatively short term ( only 28 days)

20
Q

What are the most common allergens in adverse food responses?

A
  • Beef
  • Chicken
  • Corn
  • Wheat
  • Cow’s milk
  • Soy
  • Eggs
  • Fish
21
Q

Are the allergens more likely to cause an adverse response in an animal that ingests them?

A
  • Any antigen may cause an adverse response in
    predisposed dogs - There is no elevated antigenicity in certain food
    ingredients • IgE/IgM/IgA tests in blood or saliva, and
    intradermal tests are inaccurate
22
Q

What are GMOs? What are the concerns with GMOs in pet food? What is the reality?

A

• Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are
thought to have been modified in ways where
their benefits are for production, which comes at
the expense of nutritive value • No substantial nutritional difference between
GMO and non-GMO

23
Q

Can carbohydrates in diets be detrimental?

A

Both dogs and cats digest and absorb carbohydrates (Kienzle
et al. 1994; Morris et al. 1977)
• Cats are in constant gluconeogenesis
• Cats have lower glucokinase activity and are slower in
clearing glucose (hexokinase has lower vmax)
• However they are certainly able to digest, absorb, and
utilize carbohydrates
• No proven role for excess carbohydrates in inducing diabetes& cancer

24
Q

As carnivores do cats need fiber? What purpose does fiber serve?

A

yes they do
• Fiber:
• Prebiotic
• Promotes satiety
• Protection
• Regulates GI transit • Indigestible tissues such as collagen, hair that
behave similar to fiber in the gut

25
Q

Is there an issue with feeding byproducts?

A

• Byproducts: certain parts of carcass that doesn’t meet human standards.
◦ Nothing wrong with some of these byproducts. Just not the typical.

26
Q

What is problematic for dogs with liver failure?

A

Purines

27
Q

What is the interest in raw diet?

A

People thing dogs are mini wolves, they are not. They also are concerned for the loss of enzymes during cooking. Some vets support it which is wild.

28
Q

What has been proven about enzymes in dog food and the need for supplementation?

A

◦ EPI -> only time enzyme supplement is needed.

29
Q

What is controversial about assessing a pet who is on a raw diet?

A
  • Pet owner opinion doesn’t mean the dog is healthy
  • Dogs sometimes will present with intestinal / hepatic mysterious diseases that could be caused by raw diets.
30
Q

Is feeding raw diet a zoonotic risk?

A
  • Can shed salmonella in feces for up to 2 weeks.
  • Can easily give it to owners. Problematic for older/ immunocompromised owners, ect.
  • FDA does not advocate for raw meat, poultry, or seafood diet. High pressure is better, kills majority of organisms, but still has risk, make specific recommendations.
  • No specific benefits of raw diet, and and proven risks.
31
Q

What occurred in dogs who ate raw turkey necks?

A

• Associated dogs who ate raw turkey necks, developed acute polyradioculoneutitis in dogs.

32
Q

What other conditions can occur due to raw diets? Who is most at risk?

A
  • Risk for toxo, brucella- both may cause severe adverse effects
  • Puppies more sensitive
  • Treat with Abs only if clinical disease is present. However may increase shedding of salmonella.
33
Q

What is the concern with processed food in the general population?

A

• Malliard Rxn products: Mutagenic activity and heterocyclic amine carcinogens in commercial pet foods.
Found to be extremely minimal and non harmful

34
Q

Is there benefit to vegan / vegetarian pet food diets?

A
  • No published benefits
  • no abnormalities seen when dogs were on vegetarian diets in bloodwork
  • Sled dogs fed this diet were fine
  • Study by PETA - > 80 % reported in good health (take with grain of salt)
  • Vegans are only one feeding vegan dog food.
35
Q

Can vegan/ vegetarian diets be done successfully?

A

Dogs - Can be done, commercially done and home cooked. Vegan much more difficult, recommend diets that has undergone feeding trials. Need to account tof digestibility and bioavailability.
- Example Purina HA - Growth
Cats - Can be done- in THEORY as long as you can synthetically produce essential nutrients. More essential nutrients required are from meats. No commercial diets currently. Possible serious deficiencies Taurine, B1, Methionine

36
Q

What is the ratio of Ca++:P that can cause kidney failure in cats? What is the issue with cat food regarding this?

A

0.6
• currently no limitations of phosphorus that can be put in cat food. Need to establish maximum

37
Q

What is the issues with home cooked diets? Why do owners opt in?

A

• Many owners and vets prefer to feed pet home prepared diets.
◦ Distrust in pet food companies
◦ Family members-> anthropomorphism
◦ Decreased cost
• The reality
◦ Nutritional imbalance more common
◦ Usually more expensive, and more time consuming.

38
Q

What are common deficiencies seen in regards to pet foods?

A
  • Zinc
  • Vitamin D
  • Chlorine
  • Copper
  • EPA + DHA
  • Vitamin E
  • Calcium
39
Q

Why are so many recipes not balanced?

A
  • Alot of emphasis on palatability/ presentation
  • Lack of supp use.
  • Miss-use of supp
  • Use of ingredients with hight or low caloric density.
  • Use ingredients high in very specific nutrients ( i.e vitamin D or Omega 3- FA)
  • Lack expertise/ knowledge
  • Don’t use appropriate software/ nutritional data