Small Animal Nutrition: Unconventional Diets

Unconventional diet

a home prepared diet that is:

-raw

-vegetarian/vegan

-"BEG" diet

"BEG" diet

boutique, exotic ingredients, grain-free

True or false: there are no studies to substantiate specific health benefits for most dogs/cats

true!

Exception to when an unconventional diet would be better than a traditioanl diet

for certain disease states

Examples of healh risks when feeding an unconventional diet:

1.) nutritional inadequacy

2.) infectious disease transmission

3.) dietary hyperthyroidism

4.) diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Veterinarian's role in guidance on unconventional diets

must bgein the conversation about diet on day 1; have to understand the client's perspective to discuss appropraite diet options for individual pet

Home-prepared diets

can be cooked or raw and typically a combination of protein and carbohydrates +/- fat sources or vitamin/mineral supplementation

Most published recipes ____ _______ provide complete & balanced nutrition

do not!

The most profound consequences of feeding a home prepared diet occur in...

young, growing animals

Raw diets

can be commerical or home prepared

The biggest risk of feeding a raw diet is...

infectious disease (salmonella, E. coli, etc)

About half of dogs that test positive for salmonella have no...

clinical signs (diarrhea)

Dietary hyperthyroidism

hyperthyroidism that develops as a result of being fed a diet that is not complete and balanced

Dietary hyperthyroidism is most likley to occur when dogs are fed what type of diet?

raw diet (likely secondary to cossumption of thryoid tissue)

Vegetarian diets

do not include meat, poultry, or fish; protein sources include eggs, dairy, soy, legumes

Vegan diets

exclude all animal food products; protein sources include soy, nuts, seeds, legumes

Many over the counter vegetarian diets are __________. Why?

inadequate; they are lacking many essential nutrients, like essential amino acids

"BEG" diet

boutique companies, exotic ingredients, and grain free

Three reasons grain-free diets are inadequate:

1.) lacks precursors to make taurine

2.) other ingredients possibly affecting bioavailability

3.) breed-related issues affecting digestion/absorption

What disease has been linked to grain-free diets?

dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Why can a grain-free diet lead towards dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)?

grain-free diets lack precursors (methionine and cystine) that are required to synthesize taurine, and a taurine deficiency is what can cause the disease

Two tests for taurine deficiency:

1.) hepariniazed whole blood

2.) plasma

Three circumstances under which an unconventioanl diet is useful:

1.) Pet with multiple medical conditions

2.) Pet refuses to eat "ideal" commercial diet

3.) Owner prefers to feed home-prepared diet

In order for a home-prepared diet to be used appropriately, it must...

-be complete and balanced

-recipe must be followed exactly!!

Before recommending any diet, consider:

1.) is the company well-known and reputable

2.) can the company provide complete nutrient profiles

3.) what does the AAFCO feeding statement say

Choose the following claims that are legitimate via AAFCO pet food labeling regulations

A. biologic

B. organic

C. holistic

D. primitive

E. natural

organic and natural