Nutritional Imbalances in Companion Animals Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Nutritional Imbalances in Companion Animals Deck (25)
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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

1. Hepatic lipidosis (due to anorexia)
2. DM
3. urethral obstruction


Give 2 disorders associated with obesity in dogs

1. 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. 1* underlying cause
2. Excessive intake
3. lack of excercise
4. Metablic status (eg. neutered) *always talk to client about change of feeding regime post-op!*
5. Genetics
6. 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?

- 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

1. meal fed rather than ad lilb
2. measure meals
3. diet history from WHOLE FMAILY
4. logbook for a week
5. add extra excercise (cannot calculate calories so just ^)


How can resting energy requrements be calculated?

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