XI. Nutritional Problems

A. Obesity

1. Most common nutritional disorder

a. 10 to 15% overweight

2. More common in female than males, except prevalent in neutered animals

a. Domestic shorthair cats are more obese than others

3. General health and longevity is impaired

a. Locomotion problems

b. Respiratory difficulty

c. Cardiovascular disease

d. Hypertension

e. Reduced hepatic function

f. Reduced heat tolerance

g. Increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial disease

h. Irritability

i. Dystocia

j. Dermatoses

k. Constipation and flatulence

l. Bone & joint problems

m. Diabetes mellitus

4. Causes

a. Over-feeding and(or) access to very palatable and high energy diets

i Treat them like people

ii Feeding several times per day (regardless of their needs)

iii Interpreting hunger and eating as a sign of health

iv Guilty feelings (left alone all day)

v Ignoring calories from snacks, treats, table scarps, etc.

b. Inactivity

c. Animals fed together consume more than single animals (competition)

d. Pets are often rewarded for eating (by treats)

i Pets then are trained that eating pleases the owner

ii The cycle continues

5. Methods to manage obesity

a. Surgery – no value

b. Pharmacological – no value

c. Psychological – teach all people the need for weight loss

d. Exercise – increases energy expenditure, and also reduced appetite (??)

e. Diet

i Decrease commercial diet to 50% of maintenance of the obese weight

ii Feed 60% for dogs and 66% for cats of the recommended amount for the optimum weight

iii Feed a nutritionally complete reducing diet

(i) High fiber, low calorie

iv Feed at least 3 times per day, with the amount fed restricted to the feeding times

v Keep palatable water available at all times

vi Exclude snacks, treats, table scraps, etc.

vii Avoid fasting or starvation for quick weight reduction

6. When optimum weight is achieved

a. Continue on reducing diet (free choice) OR Place on maintenance diet

b. Monitor weight monthly

c. Reduce amount of diet fed in 10% increments if weight gain is detected

B. Malnutrition in the Cat - from continuous feeding of dog food

1. Cat's requirements are different

a. higher protein requirement

b. need arginine

c. need taurine

d. need preformed vit. A

e. need niacin (not rely on conversion from tryptophan – can not)

f. need arachidonic acid

C. Acute Gastric Dilatation – Volvulus (GDV) in DOGS

1. Sudden, dramatic, and often fatal

2. Primarily affects large, deep-chested breeds (German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Great Dane, St. Bernard)

3. About 60,000 cases each year, with 20% mortality

4. All ages are affected, but primarily older dogs

5. Etiology

a. Gastric dilatation (rapid distention of the stomach with food, fluid or gas)

i Swallowed air

ii Fermentation

iii Combination of the above two

b. may progress to volvulus (twisting of the intestine to cause obstruction) Steadmans 1570 – picture

c. distention of the stomach causes it rotate left or right (usually left – clockwise)

6. Cause – Much debate and unknown causes, but some factors include:

a. dry cereal based odg food

b. stress

c. overeating and(or) drinking

d. intragastric fermentation

e. previous gastric “trauma”

f. postparandial exercise and excitement

7. The distended stomach:

a. occludes (blocks) venous return from the rear of the animal

b. as a result hypovolemic (reduced blood volume) and cardiogenic (reduced cardiac output) shock causes death

8. Treatment

a. Gastric intubation (stomach tube)

b. vigorous fluid therapy

c. i.v. cimetidine (10 mg/kg qid or tid) and lidocaine (1 mg/kg)

d. gastrostomy (opening into the stomach)

D. Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS) {idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease (LUTD)}

1. Symptoms – clinical signs

a. Urolithiasis (calculi in urinary tract)

b. Frequent (attempts) urination

c. Urogenital pain

2. Etiology

a. Increase urinary pH (alkaline) causes struvite to precipitate out of solution

b. Struvite is the major mineral component in most calculi found in FUS

i Oxalates, (Ca, and others)

c. The calculi formation continues until excessive “crystals” form that partially or totally block the urogenital tract

d. The calculi are most commonly struvite (Mg), but can also be Ca, P, and other minerals

e. Reduced urine volume can concentrate the calculi, compounding the problem

3. Treatment

a. Obstructed cases

i Relieve the obstruction – ANESTHESIA

ii Flushing the urethra with catheter and syringe

iii Ultrasonography

iv Catherization of urethra

b. Mild cases, copious fluid therapy and urine acidifiers

i Fluids to “flush” the calculi

ii Acidifiers to reduce urine pH

(i) Ammonia Chloride (1000 mg/d or 1.5% diet can be toxic)

(ii) Methionine

4. Prevention

a. Feed low ash diets

b. Feed low Mg diets

c. Cats predisposed to problems (neutered males) feed urine acidifiers, or diets containing acidifiers.