Small animal nutrition

Body weight

Body condition score (BCS)

Muscle condition score (MCS)

What are the parts of a nutritional assessment that should be performed at every vet visit

Measures overall condition

Assesses fat > muscle

9-point scoring system

What is a body condition score

Assess muscle condition independent of fat stores

Visual exam and palpation: temporal bones, scapulae, vertebrae, pelvic bones

What is a muscle condition score

At least 1 full-time veterinary nutritionist on staff (PHD or board-certification)

Research and development department

Excellent quality control standards

Can provide full nutrient profiles for all diets

Personal experience

What are some good criteria for recommending a diet/company

AAFCO statement: complete and balanced? For which life stages

Ingredient list

Guaranteed analysis

What things should you look for on a pet food label

Association of American Feed Control Officials

Sets minimum (and a few maximum) nutrient requirements for dogs and cats

NOT a regulatory agency- no such thing as AAFCO approval

What is AAFCO

Is the diet complete and balanced? For which life stages?

How was that determined? Feeding trial or formulated to meet?

Intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only? (If applicable)

What things are required to be in an AAFCO statement

Formulated to meet based on AAFCO values

AAFCO diet trials

What are the 2 ways that a diet is determined to be complete and balanced

Should meet nutrient requirements

Doesn't take bioavailability into account

What are the pros and cons of a diet being formulated to meet AAFCO requirements for complete and balanced

Has been "tested" in life animals

May not meet all nutrient requirements

What are the pros and cons of a diet undergoing feeding trials to determine if it is complete and balanced

Criteria to claim diet for adult maintenance: more than 8 healthy adult dogs started at optimal body weight and fed for a minimum of 26 weeks

Before trial: complete physical exam

During trial: measure daily food consumption and weekly body weight

End of trial: measure hemoglobin, PCV, ALP, albumin

What is the AAFCO protocol for a diet trial for adult maintenance

Any dog shows clinical, pathologic signs of nutrient deficiency/excess

Any dog loses >15% BW

Average PCV <42% (or individual <36%)

Average albumin <2.8 g/dl (individual <2.4 g/dl)

Average ALP >150 IU/L (individual >300 IU/L)

What are the criteria for failing an AAFCO diet trial

Greater than or equal to 8 healthy puppies from at least 3 different bitches

Less than or equal to 8 weeks old (weaned)

Fed for a minimum of 10 weeks

Similar monitoring

What is the AAFCO protocol for a diet trial for puppy growth

Growth

Adult maintenance

Gestation/lactation

All life stages

What are the life stages that can be claimed by AAFCO

Protein (AAs), Ca, phosphorus, conditionally essential omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)

Dog: fat, Na/Cl, Cu, Fe, Manganese, Zn

Cat: vitamin A, Cu, I, Mg

How do nutrient requirements for AAFCO differ for a growing animal as opposed to adult maintenance

Listed by weight

Heavier ingredients are placed at the top of the list

Dry ingredients will be lower on the list than wet ingredients (ex: chicken meal and chicken breast are the same protein, but breast will be higher than meal because of weight)

How is the order of ingredients on an ingredient list determined

Any nonrendered, clean part of the carcass

Ex: organ meats

What is the definition of a meat by-product

Synthetic: butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)

Natural: tocopherols (vitamin E), vitamin C, rosemary

What are some examples of synthetic and natural antioxidants

Natural antioxidants are not as reliable as synthetic ones, and you have to include more to have the same effect

What are some drawbacks of natural antioxidants as opposed to synthetic ones

List minimum and maximum nutrients (%) on an as fed basis (g of nutrient per 100 g food)

Minimum crude protein (%)

Minimum crude fat (%)

Maximum crude fiber (%)

Maximum moisture (%)

What is a guaranteed analysis

More detailed nutrient values from ingredient databases and lab analysis

Nutrient concentrations that the diet is expected to achieve based on diet formulation vs actual lab test

What is a typical nutrient analysis

% nutrient / kcal/g = g nutrient per 100 kcal

Ex: 3,474 kcal/kg diet with 10% fat

3,474 kcal/kg = 3.474 kcal/g

10/ 3.474 = 2.9 g fat/ 100 kcal

How do you calculate grams of a nutrient per 100 kcal

Cattle, sheep, swine, goats, or any combination thereof

Which species must proteins be derived from to be considered "meat" or "meat by-products)

"Fish," "fish meal," "fish byproducts"

Ingredient can be "fish" without further specification

Can also have a name descriptive of kind ("ocean whitefish"), acceptable market name, or common name of species as established by FDA seafood list

What are the requirements for listing fish products on an ingredient list

Chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, ratites, squabs, or any combination thereof

Which species must proteins be derived from to be considered poultry or poultry meal

Sucrose from sugar cane

Sugar beets

What are the only things that can be referred to as sugar on an ingredient list

Start with resting energy requirement (RER)

Consider applying a maintenance energy requirement (MER) factor

How do you determine how much you should feed an animal

70 x BW(in kg) ^0.75

How do you calculate RER

Consider animal: prone to obesity? Activity level? Catabolic disease state?

Growing animals typically need an MER factor applied

Adult animals might not need an MER. Some need less than RER

How do you determine if you need to apply an MER factor

Growth:

<4 months- 3.0 x RER

>4 months- 2.0 x RER

Adults:

Neutered- 1.6 x RER

Intact- 1.8 x RER

Working- 2.8 x RER

What are some common MER factors for dogs

Growth- 2.5 x RER

Adults:

Neutered- 1.2 x RER

Intact- 1.4 x RER

What are some common MER factors for cats

180-225 kcal per day

Most healthy adult cats do not need more than _______ kcal per day

Feed diet for growth until at least 1 yr old- AAFCO statement should specify that diet is appropriate for growth or all life stages

Feed to achieve BCS of 4-5/9 for dogs or 5/9 for cats

Energy needs decrease after neutering

What are the guidelines for feeding a growing animal

Feed to maintain an ideal BCS 4-5/9

Feed diet appropriate for growth until dog reaches skeletal maturity- up to 15 months

Avoid excess calcium

-max 450 mg/100 kcal (vs usual 625 mg/100 kcal)

-typically aim for 300 mg/100 kcal

What are the guidelines for feeding large breed puppies

Every pet is an individual

Consider caloric needs: inherent metabolism, energy expenditure, healthy vs diseased

Monitor response to any chosen diet

Energy needs are lower in middle aged animals. Highest prevalence of obesity at 6-10 years old

How do you determine nutritional needs of an adult animal

There are no strict guidelines for "senior" pet foods

Consider individual. Healthy or diseased?

Body composition: sarcopenia, cachexia?

Osteoarthritis?

How are they doing? If they're doing well, don't need to switch diets

How do you determine if a dog should be switched to a senior diet

Muscle loss associated with age in the absence of disease

What is sarcopenia

Sarcopenia

Muscle loss associated with age in the absence of disease

Cachexia

Muscle loss in the presence of disease

Muscle loss in the presence of disease

What is cachexia

Subjective scoring

Objective scoring

What are the 2 ways of measuring muscle mass

Muscle condition score (MCS)

Normal, mild, moderate, severe atrophy

How do you perform subjective scoring of muscle mass

Performed mostly in research settings

Dual-energy-x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

Computed tomography (CT)

Ultrasound technique- vertebral epaxial muscle score (VEMS)

What are the methods of performing objective scoring of muscle mass

Ensure adequate caloric and nutrient intake

-protein, AAs, fish oil?, anti-oxidants?, utility of appetite stimulants, rehabilitation and strength training?

Correct underlying disease when possible

What are some ways to address muscle loss

10-33% of pets in USA receive dietary supplements

Higher use in pets with disease. Dogs and cats with heart disease and cancer are most common

How common is use of nutrition supplements

No regulation

Dietary supplements do not require proof of safety, efficacy, or quality control to be marketed

What is the regulation of supplements

Not mandatory. Companies can opt in.

U.S. Pharmacopeia, NSF international

Seals of approval should indicate that the product was properly manufactured, contains the ingredients listed on the label, and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants

Does NOT guarantee that a product is fully safe or effective

What is supplement quality testing

Vitamins/ minerals

Omega-3 fatty acids

Joint supplements

Herbal supplements for liver and kidney disease

What are the most common supplements used in vet med

Most supplements will not have all required nutrients- cannot just add them to chicken and rice and have a balanced diet

Pay close attention to specific quantities within a supplement- often might not have enough to be useful

What are some things to consider when choosing vitamin and mineral supplementation for a pet

EPA and DHA: anti-inflammatory properties

Marine sources are best (less conversion steps necessary to be helpful to the body): fish oil and algae oil

What are omega-3 fatty acid supplements

Anti-inflammatory dose: ~65 mg/kg/day

Osteoarthritis dose: 310 mg x BW(kg)^0.75

Also consider how much is coming from primary diet

What is the typical dosing of EPA and DHA

10%

Includes all treats, table scraps, AND supplements

How much of an animal's diet can consist of treats

Glucosamine

Chondroitin

MSM

Hyaluronic acid

Green-lipped mussel

What are some common joint supplements for pets

Choose product that contains organisms that work for your condition

Ensure product provides adequate number of cells per daily dose (typical human probiotic should give 1 billion cells per day)

Consider price

What are some general considerations for picking a probiotic for your pet

Minimal evidence to support use

What is the efficacy of nutraceuticals for liver disease