Nutritional analysis and microbiological evaluation of commercially available enteral diets for cats (original) (raw)
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Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Management of feline chronic gastroenteropathies has included intervention with both veterinary therapeutic formulas designed to manage non-specific gastrointestinal disorders and those designed with limited novel or hydrolyzed ingredients for management of food-responsive enteropathies and steroid-responsive enteropathies (inflammatory bowel disease). There have been few studies evaluating the use of dietary intervention for the management of feline chronic gastroenteropathy. This prospective, multi-center study evaluated the use of two commercially available feline veterinary therapeutic dry diets designed to manage non-specific gastrointestinal disorders in 28 cats with a history of chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea. The majority of cats enrolled in the study had a history of vomiting (n = 25), with a smaller number having a history of concurrent diarrhea (n = 2) or diarrhea alone (n = 3). Cats were excluded if diagnostic tests identified any systemic or infectious disease that could be associated with the clinical signs of vomiting or diarrhea, and if they were panhypoproteinemic, hypoalbuminemic, hypocobalaminemic, or had a Spec fPL ≥5.4 µg/L. Cats were randomized to one of two veterinary therapeutic diets for 4 weeks. Feeding of both therapeutic diets resulted in a numeric reduction in the number of vomiting episodes over the 4-week period, but no significant differences were seen between dietary interventions. When looking within dietary groups, significant differences were seen in cats fed Diet A with reductions of 69.1, 73.3, and 63.2% (p values of 0.008, 0.003, and 0.029) in weeks 2, 3, and 4, respectively, when compared to week 0. The probability of vomiting also showed significant reductions in cats fed Diet A between weeks 0 and 2, 3, and 4, with odds ratios of 0.008, 0.005, and 0.005, respectively (p values of 0.038, 0.23, and 0.23). Results of this study demonstrate that a veterinary therapeutic gastrointestinal formula can be effective in the management of feline chronic vomiting. Cats that fail to respond to this dietary approach after a 2-to 4-week trial may benefit from a limited novel or hydrolyzed ingredient formula and may require additional diagnostics to better characterize the underlying disease.
Enteral Feeding Techniques in Cats
Three methods of enteral feeding the cat have been evaluated on a total number of five patients of different breeds and ages. Several methods were elected including esophagostomy tube placement, percutaneous gastrotomy tube placement and enterotomy tube placement. Our study concluded that each of these metods represent a practical, safe, easy to perform procedure with minimal repercusions on a functional gastrointestinal tract and general status of the animal.
Retrospective evaluation of total parenteral nutrition in cats: 40 cases (1991-2003)
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 2006
Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in cats, to determine the frequency of complications, and to evaluate risk factors for complications. Design: The medical records of all cats receiving TPN at Tufts University between 1991 and 2003 were reviewed using a standardized data sheet. Setting: University hospital. Animals: Forty cats that received TPN were included in the analysis. Measurements and main results: Complications were classified as metabolic (e.g., hyperglycemia, hypokalemia), mechanical (e.g., catheter dislodgement, cellulitis), or septic (e.g., clinical suspicion of sepsis, in combination with a positive catheter culture). The most common underlying diseases were hepatic disease (n 5 16), gastrointestinal disorders (n 5 10), and pancreatitis (n 5 8). Median duration of TPN administration was 3.7 days (range, 0.3-9.5 days). Of the 40 cats receiving TPN, 26 experienced at least one complication with a total of 45 complications overall. These included metabolic (n 5 33) and mechanical (n 5 12). No cases of sepsis were documented. The most common metabolic complication was hyperglycemia (n 5 9). Most complications were mild and did not require discontinuation of TPN or adjustment of formula. Cats provided with energy above the resting energy requirement (RER) were more likely to develop hyperglycemia than those using RER as the initial calorie goal (P 5 0.02). Neither the presence nor number of complications impacted the duration of hospitalization or outcome. Conclusions: A more conservative estimate of energy requirements was associated with a lower risk of hyperglycemia. Future studies are warranted to determine the optimal formula and efficacy of TPN in cats.
Journal of Animal Science, 2019
Dietary fibers have gained renewed interest in companion animal nutrition as a means to manage pet obesity and improve gut and host health. Soybean hulls (SBH), a coproduct of the soybean oil extraction process, is an accessible and economical fiber source. However, limited research is available on the use of SBH in feline nutrition. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of a high SBH inclusion level on daily food intake, apparent total tract (ATT) macronutrient digestibility, fecal quality, and fecal fermentative end products in diets of adult cats. Four diets were formulated with either SBH, beet pulp (BP), or cellulose (CL) as the main source of dietary fiber, with the control diet formulated with no added fiber (NF). The fiber treatments were formulated to achieve approximately 15% total dietary fiber (TDF). Eight adult male cats (mean age = 10.5 yr ± 0.1; mean BW = 6.1 ± 0.8 kg) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Each period consisted of 14 d, with 10 d of diet adaptation followed by 4 d of total fecal and urine collections. Food was offered twice daily and cats were fed to maintain BW. Food intake on a DM basis (DMB) was lower (P < 0.05) in cats fed BP (55.2 g/d) when compared with SBH (70.8 g/d). As-is fecal output did not differ in cats fed BP or SBH, and when expressed on a DMB, fecal output did not differ among fiber treatments. The ATT digestibility of DM, OM, and GE was greater (P < 0.05) in cats fed NF when compared with those fed BP, CL, or SBH. Cats fed CL had the greatest (P < 0.05) ATT CP digestibility (88.5%), followed by cats fed NF (84.9) and SBH (81.7%) with the lowest values (77%) noted for cats fed BP. Acid-hydrolyzed fat (AHF) digestibility was greater for cats fed CL (92.9%) than for cats fed BP (86.9%) and SBH (88.6%). The TDF ATT digestibility was lowest for cats fed NF and CL (8.5% and 15.1%, respectively), followed by SBH (18.0%), with BP having the highest digestibility (33.7%). Total short-chain fatty acid concentration was greatest (P < 0.05) in cats fed BP (699.7 μmole/g) when compared with the other 3 treatments, whereas phenol and indole concentrations did not differ among treatments. In conclusion, a high inclusion level (15% TDF) of SBH appears acceptable in diets for adult cats, resulting in no negative effects on daily food intake, fecal scores, and similar ATT digestibility for most macronutrients when compared with BP and CL.
Retrospective Evaluation of Partial Parenteral Nutrition in Dogs and Cats
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2002
The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the use of partial parenteral nutrition (PPN) in dogs and cats. The medical records of all dogs and cats receiving PPN between 1994 and 1999 were reviewed to determine signalment, reasons for use of PPN, duration of PPN administration, duration of hospitalization, complications, and mortality. Complications were classified as metabolic, mechanical, or septic. One hundred twenty-seven animals (80 dogs and 47 cats) were included in the study, accounting for 443 patient days of PPN. The most common underlying diseases were pancreatitis (n ϭ 41), gastrointestinal disease (n ϭ 33), and hepatic disease (n ϭ 23). Median time of hospitalization before initiation of PPN was 2.8 days (range, 0.2-10.7 days). Median duration of PPN administration was 3.0 days (range, 0.3-8.8 days). Median duration of hospitalization was 7 days (range, 2-20 days). In the 127 animals receiving PPN, 72 complications occurred. These included metabolic (n ϭ 43), mechanical (n ϭ 25), and septic (n ϭ 4) complications. The most common metabolic complication was hyperglycemia (n ϭ 19), followed by lipemia (n ϭ 17) and hyperbilirubinemia (n ϭ 6). Most complications were mild and did not require discontinuation of PPN. Ninety-three (73.2%) of the 127 patients were discharged. All 4 animals with septic complications were discharged from the hospital. The presence, type, and number of complications did not impact the duration of hospitalization or outcome. However, animals that received supplemental enteral nutrition survived more often than those receiving PPN exclusively. Although PPN seems to be a relatively safe method of providing nutritional support, future studies are warranted to determine its efficacy.
Journal of Animal Science
Dried distillers’ grains, coproducts from the ethanol industry, may provide sustainable ingredients for pet food. Due to new post-fermentation separation techniques, corn-fermented protein (CFP) is higher in protein and lower in fiber compared with traditional dried distillers’ grains, increasing its appeal for inclusion into pet food. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of increasing levels of CFP on stool quality, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), and palatability in adult cats. Four extruded diets were fed to 11 adult cats in an incomplete 4 × 4 replicated Latin square design. The control diet contained 15% soybean meal (0C) and CFP was exchanged for soybean meal at either 5%, 10%, or 15% (5C, 10C, 15C). Cats were fed each dietary treatment for 9-d adaption followed by 5-d total fecal collection. Feces were scored on a 1 to 5 scale, with 1 representing liquid diarrhea and 5 representing hard pellet-like (Carciofi et al., 2008). A fecal s...
Journal of Nutritional Science, 2014
The digestive tract of ferrets is anatomically simple, with no caecum, ileocolic valve or external differentiation between the transition of ileum and colon. The species has a short large intestine that provides minor contributions to the digestive process. Aiming to better understand the digestibility efficiency of ferrets, the present study compared the digestibility of extruded diets with different amounts of macronutrients fed to dogs, cats and ferrets. Three formulations for cat maintenance were used (values in % of DM basis): high carbohydrate (HC; nitrogen-free extract (NFE) = 54 %, protein = 31 % and fat = 8 %); moderate carbohydrate (MC; NFE = 37 %, protein = 41 % and fat = 10 %); and low carbohydrate (LC; NFE = 19 %, protein = 46 % and fat = 23 %). Apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility was determined by the method of total collection of faeces. Results were compared by ANOVA, considering the diet and species effects and their interactions. Means were compared by...
Nutritional Peculiarities and Diet Palatability in the Cat
Veterinary Research Communications, 2005
Cats have become the most popular companion animal in Western Europe. Unlike other domestic animals, cats are strict carnivores and this influences both their nutritional requirements and food preferences. Cats have very high protein requirements and their diet must contain some nutrients, such as arginine, taurine, niacin, vitamin A and arachidonic acid. Besides its nutritional value, a diet for cats must also be highly palatable. This paper offers a quick overview of feline nutritional peculiarities and the factors that influence food palatability in cats.
Diet Therapy Guidelines for Cats with Chronic Renal Failure
Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 1996
Even as new therapeutic options such as hemodialysis and renal transplantation become available, diet therapy continues to be a mainstay in the management of most cats with chronic renal failure (CRF). Because of nutritional requirements of cats and the desire of food manufacturers to minimize the impact of lower urinary tract disorders, many feline maintenance-type diets may be inappropriate for cats with renal failure. Feline diets are typically high in protein, phosphorus, and sodium content. Some feline diets are also acidifying, and some appear to contain a suboptimum quantity of potassium. Therefore, dietary modification is appropriate for most cats with renal failure. This discussion focuses on recommendations for dietary protein, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and acid content for cats with CRF.