Nutritional Imbalances in Companion Animals

Question 1

Why is obesity a problem in companion animals?

Answer 1

• risk factor for various diseases

- exacerbates existing conditions (orthopaedic, brachycephalic, urethral obstruction, CNS, metabolic)

Question 2

What is obesity generally defined as quntittively?

Answer 2

~20-25% above ideal BW (in people)

Question 3

Are critical BMIs known in animals?

Answer 3

No not like humans

Question 4

What are the clinical implications of obestiy?

Answer 4

• anaesthetic risk (monitoring and airway problems mainly)

- complicates Tx of diseases

Question 5

Give 3 diseases associated with obestiy in cats

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Give 2 disorders associated with obesity in dogs

Answer 6

1. Pancreatitis

2. DODs (osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia)

Question 7

Give 3 broad categories of disease worseneed by obesity

Answer 7

> 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

Question 8

Do most clients recognise their pets as obese?

Answer 8

No - 40% do NOT (apparently)

> claiming ignorance so they dont feel guilty??

Question 9

Give 6 contirbuting factors to obesity

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What defines an “active pet” according to feed companies?

Answer 10

> 20hrs week excercise

Question 11

How does aging affect weight gain?

Answer 11

• energy requirement proportional to lean body mass, which v with age
• if diet not adjusted accordingly -> weight gain
• senior diets = ^ quality protein, v calories

Question 12

What assessment of obesity should be implemented more often?

Answer 12

BCS

• should be incorporated into every PE
• teach to owners so know what to look out for

Question 13

What are the pros and cons of weight loss clinics?

Answer 13

Pros - multiple visits, builds client bond, motivation for weight loss when in a group
Cons - vets should get more involved with it

Question 14

Give 5 tips for designing a successful weight loss programme

Answer 14

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 ^)

Question 15

How can resting energy requrements be calculated?

Answer 15

70(BW)^0.75 
or 30(BW) + 70

Question 16

Are long term or short term goals better for weight loss?

Answer 16

long eg. 8kg in 2 years

Question 17

When should resting energy requirements (RER) and maintainence energy requirments (MER) be fed?

Answer 17

Resting for weight loss, maintainence for a non-overweight animal

Question 18

When should weight loss programmes not be started?

Answer 18

when animal is sick

Question 19

Why are prescription weight loss diets good?

Answer 19

• feed bulk so animal feels full

- feeding less of normal diet may -> deficiency in other nutirents

Question 20

What target weight loss rate should be aimed for?

Answer 20

1%-2% BW per week (eg. 20kg dog <0.4kg/week)

- reassess at 2 week intervals

Question 21

How may weight loss diets be formulated?

Answer 21

• ^ firbre
• v fat
• recently ^ protein (little evidence for this?? supposedly natural but lifestyle changed more than diet!)

Question 22

Why may high protein diets not be good?

Answer 22

• very palatable -> weight gain

- liver, kidneys may be affected by ^ protein

Question 23

How should excercise regimes be forumated?

Answer 23

Based on CURRENT excercise

Question 24

How may cats be excercised?

Answer 24

• 10 mins intense play

- hide meals in strenuous activity toys

Question 25

Which nutritional imbalances are also seen in companion aniamls?

Answer 25

> 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