Nutrition assessment

Question 1

what is a nutritional assessment?

Answer 1

part of patient assessment
involves questionnaire with owner and clinical examination
focuses on malnutrition

Question 2

indicators of nutrition?

Answer 2

unexplained weight loss 
- of >5% of bodyweight
muscle wastage
poor coat condition 
poor wound healing 
dehydration 
frequent illness

Question 3

risk factors of malnutrition?

Answer 3

anorexia noted for .3 days
underlying disease (eg GI or dental)
age
unconventional diet

Question 4

dysphagia vs inapptenance?

Answer 4

dysphagia

• difficulty eating but want to
• eg broken jaw or dental disease

inappetence

• don’t want to eat
• eg stress, pain, sickness

Question 5

body condition scoring?

Answer 5

assesses fat loss/gain

weight patient
observe patient
compare against charts

Question 6

muscle condition score?

Answer 6

assess muscle loss/gain
can be obese and still have low muscle condition

main muscle sites

• temporal bone
• scapulae
• ribs
• lumbar vertebrae
• pelvic bones

Question 7

causes for muscle loss?

Answer 7

carhexia

• associated with disease causing wastage
• eg lameness

sarcopenia

• associated with old age causing wastage
• eg less movement

Question 8

extended nutrition evaluation?

Answer 8

investigation

• notice factors and indicators
• do bloods to see if malnourished or reason why

then make recommendations based on reason why

• eg if normal starvation and assisted feeding required then hospitalisation
• eg if stress starvation then go home