Many clients whose pets are being treated for cancer are interested in potential benefits from nutritional modifications. Some owners blame a diet for causing the cancer while others want to home-cook so they can feel like they are actively contributing to their pet's care. Still another group has done "research" online and in various books and would like to modify or supplement their pet's diet in the hope that these changes will help cure their pet.
Stress Starvation: lack or absence of calories and protein (absolute or relative) compounded by physiologic stress associated with illness or injury.
Struvite and calcium oxalate are by far the most common types of uroliths in cats and dogs. Less commonly seen are urate and cysteine, although the prevalence within specific breeds may be high.
There remains much confusion when it comes to feeding growing puppies. Many traditional recommendations of breeders and veterinarians, such as switching growing large breed dogs to adult food or not using growth diets at all, are no longer appropriate and may be harmful.
Nutrition is often overlooked in patients that present for wellness visits and is often a low priority when it comes to the management of ill patients. However, it is important to collect a thorough nutrition history for all new and continuing patients, sick and well, and update this history regularly.
Intensive milk or milk replacer programs, also known as accelerated growth programs, enhanced growth programs, or perhaps most properly biologically appropriate feeding programs have had a great influence on bottle calf nutrition programs on U.S. dairies in the past 10 years.
Pet food labels serve as marketing devices, as legal documents, and sources of limited nutritional information. Unfortunately, these purposes are often at odds as the current regulatory environment reflects the evolution of companion pet diets from livestock diets rather than from human foods.
What should practitioners consider when evaluating and recommending nutritional supplements for equine patients?
What concerns and advice you should have if your clients are considering these diets.
A little bit of writing can go a long way.
Dr. Robert M. Miller looks at whether today's feeding practices fit the body's needs.
North Grafton, Mass. - Dog owners often assume that pet food for senior dogs is tailored to the nutritional needs of the older pet, possibly offering reduced calories or age-specific nutrients. But results of a new study indicate the nutritional value of food targeted to older dogs can vary widely from brand to brand.
A look at the role of dietary fat in chronic diarrhea in cats.
This meeting will help your team members learn about one of the most common problems in veterinary medicine: canine otitis externa and ear infections.
Studies in obese people demonstrating a significant link between obesity and the development of certain forms of osteoarthritis have resulted in a popular area of research for the veterinary scientific community.
Try this reader tip for keeping cats clean during syringe feeding.
Dundas, Ontario - The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) crafted a set of global nutrition guidelines consistent with those released last year by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
Does the obesity paradox in people occur in cats as well?
What/who is a cat? What characteristics make this species different from us or from dogs? By understanding our feline patients better, we can provide a better experience and environment for them. The basis of working cooperatively with cats is empathy based on an understanding of their nature and behaviours and trying to imagine what their experience is like.
Cats currently are the most popular pet in America, and are considered a family member by many cat owners. Despite these facts, cats do not receive the veterinary care they need; in 2006, only 64% of cats (compared with 83% of dogs) visited a veterinarian (1).
During the last 150 years or so, spectacular advances have been made in the science of medicine. The discoveries of the principles of adequate sanitation and nutrition, and of antibiotics, vaccines, and other drugs have demonstrated the value of the scientific approach to health problems. As a result, most health care professional education now focuses on the scientific aspects of treatment of disease.
The goal of clinical nutrition is to sustain the nutritional health of the pets we care for without adversely affecting the quality of the bond between our clients and their pets. To do this we consider the signalment of the animal, the most suitable diet to recommend given the pets physiological state and (or) disease, and the most appropriate feeding strategy for both the pet and her owner.
Pets require a satisfactory diet to maintain normal structure and function at all stages of life. I define a satisfactory diet as one that is complete, balanced, palatable, digestible, and safe. Complete means that the diet provides adequate amounts of all required nutrients; balanced means that the nutrients are present in the proper proportions. Balance is crucial because excesses of some nutrients may cause deficiencies of others.
For joint supplements, the news isn't good. Despite the enthusiasm, and aggressive marketing, not only is compelling evidence for efficacy lacking, there is evidence against efficacy. For example, a recent study in humans1 concluded that, "Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate alone or in combination did not reduce pain effectively in the overall group of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Our ability to communicate with clients determines our success as clinicians and caregivers. This is because client adherence to our recommendations depends in part on the relationship we share. In medicine, as in life, improved interpersonal interactions between caregiver and patient lead to increased commitment and satisfaction for all concerned.
