Nutritional Imbalances in Companion Animals Flashcards
Why is obesity a problem in companion animals?
- risk factor for various diseases
- exacerbates existing conditions (orthopaedic, brachycephalic, urethral obstruction, CNS, metabolic)
What is obesity generally defined as quntittively?
~20-25% above ideal BW (in people)
Are critical BMIs known in animals?
No not like humans
What are the clinical implications of obestiy?
- anaesthetic risk (monitoring and airway problems mainly)
- complicates Tx of diseases
Give 3 diseases associated with obestiy in cats
- Hepatic lipidosis (due to anorexia)
- DM
- urethral obstruction
Give 2 disorders associated with obesity in dogs
- Pancreatitis
2. DODs (osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia)
Give 3 broad categories of disease worseneed by obesity
> repiratory
- ^ upper ariway resisntace, v functional residual lung capactiy (FRC)
neuro
- physiotherapy more difficult
orthopaedic
- stress on arthritic joints, v mobbility, ^ post-op complications eg. ligament rupture
Do most clients recognise their pets as obese?
No - 40% do NOT (apparently)
> claiming ignorance so they dont feel guilty??
Give 6 contirbuting factors to obesity
- 1* underlying cause
- Excessive intake
- lack of excercise
- Metablic status (eg. neutered) always talk to client about change of feeding regime post-op!
- Genetics
- Life style
What defines an “active pet” according to feed companies?
> 20hrs week excercise
How does aging affect weight gain?
- energy requirement proportional to lean body mass, which v with age
- if diet not adjusted accordingly -> weight gain
- senior diets = ^ quality protein, v calories
What assessment of obesity should be implemented more often?
BCS
- should be incorporated into every PE
- teach to owners so know what to look out for
What are the pros and cons of weight loss clinics?
Pros - multiple visits, builds client bond, motivation for weight loss when in a group
Cons - vets should get more involved with it
Give 5 tips for designing a successful weight loss programme
- meal fed rather than ad lilb
- measure meals
- diet history from WHOLE FMAILY
- logbook for a week
- add extra excercise (cannot calculate calories so just ^)
How can resting energy requrements be calculated?
70(BW)^0.75 or 30(BW) + 70
Are long term or short term goals better for weight loss?
long eg. 8kg in 2 years
When should resting energy requirements (RER) and maintainence energy requirments (MER) be fed?
Resting for weight loss, maintainence for a non-overweight animal
When should weight loss programmes not be started?
when animal is sick
Why are prescription weight loss diets good?
- feed bulk so animal feels full
- feeding less of normal diet may -> deficiency in other nutirents
What target weight loss rate should be aimed for?
1%-2% BW per week (eg. 20kg dog <0.4kg/week)
- reassess at 2 week intervals
How may weight loss diets be formulated?
- ^ firbre
- v fat
- recently ^ protein (little evidence for this?? supposedly natural but lifestyle changed more than diet!)
Why may high protein diets not be good?
- very palatable -> weight gain
- liver, kidneys may be affected by ^ protein
How should excercise regimes be forumated?
Based on CURRENT excercise
How may cats be excercised?
- 10 mins intense play
- hide meals in strenuous activity toys
Which nutritional imbalances are also seen in companion aniamls?
> Ca, Ph, Vit D (esp growing animals)
- Nutritional 2* hyperparathyrodism occours with Ca deficient / excessive Ph diets [esp raw meat diets] -> ^PTH chronically
- Clinical signs = severe osteopenia (rubberjaw) hypocalcaemia -> Fx, mm fasiculation, seizures
