Theory of Planned Behavior applied to the choice of food with preservatives by owners and for their dogs.

Many pet owners make food choices for their pets that are similar to those they make for themselves, and food characteristics such as the presence of preservatives can influence this decision. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is a tool used to predict intentions and behavior and can be an important indicator for the pet food industry. The aim of this study was to investigate pet owner behavior regarding food with or without preservatives, based on the behavior prediction of TPB. A questionnaire was distributed with questions related to direct (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) and indirect (behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and intentions) measures for the analysis of TPB. For the statistical analysis the structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The correlation between owner behavior and the behavior imposed on their dog's diet was evaluated by paired T test or paired Wilcoxon test according to variables' adherence or not to normality, respectively. A total of 1,021 answers were evaluated after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The results indicated that TPB was effective in predicting the intentions (r2 = 0.58 for dogs and r2 = 0.59 for owners) and behavior (r2 = 0.58 for dogs and r2 = 0.57 for owners) regarding the intake of diets without preservatives. It was observed that owners are more concerned with the diet of their dogs than their own and they believe that the intake of preservatives can be prejudicial to the health of their dogs (p<0.001). However, owners trust more in pet food manufacturers than human food manufacturers (p<0.001). Therefore, it can be concluded that TPB can be an important tool to understand consumer behavior towards their dog food, and that the industry should intensify its approach on safety of preservatives in pet food, since many owners still believe they can be prejudicial to dogs.

Ketogenic diets: A systematic review of current scientific evidence and possible applicability in dogs and cats.

Ketogenic diets (KD) have been used in the treatment of epilepsy in humans for around a century and, more recently, they have been implanted for cancer patients, as well as in the treatment of obesity. This type of diet consists of high-fat levels, an adequate amount of protein and restricted carbohydrates, or high medium-chain triglycerides. Recently, the ketogenic diet has gained attention in veterinary medicine and studies were published evaluating the effects of KD in dogs with epilepsy. The objective of this review was to highlight recent studies about the application of KD in dogs and cats, to describe the neurobiochemical mechanisms through which KD improves epilepsy crisis, and their adverse effects. Studies were identified by a systematic review of literature available on PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. All cohort and case-control studies were included, and all articles were exported to Mendeley® citation manager, and duplicates were automatically removed. Seven articles and three conference abstracts conducted with dogs were included in the present study. There is evidence that the consumption of diets with medium-chain triglycerides increases the concentration of circulating ketone bodies and improves epilepsy signs, although these diets have higher carbohydrate and lower fat content when compared to the classic KD.

Body Composition of Healthy Cats and Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease Fed on a Dry Diet Low in Phosphorus with Maintenance Protein.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of feeding a low-phosphorus and maintenance protein diet in healthy cats and cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with IRIS stages 1 (CKD-1) and 2 (CKD-2). Cats were initially fed a senior diet (30 days) followed by the renal diet (60 days). Body composition, body weight (BW), muscle mass score (MMS), and body condition score (BCS) were assessed before (T30) and after renal diet intake (T60). General mixed linear models were used to assess the effects of fixed groups and moments (T30 × T60), as well as their interaction, in addition to the random effects of animals within each group. Unlike healthy cats and cats with CKD-1, cats with CKD-2 had a loss of BW, lower BCS (p < 0.005), and lower MMS (p = 0.0008) after 60 days of consuming the renal diet. The fat mass and lean body mass (LBM), determined by the deuterium isotopes method, did not change in all cats between T0 and T60. In healthy cats and cats with CKD-1, the renal diet resulted in maintenance of BW, BCS and MMS; but cats with CKD-2 presented lower BCS and did not reduce phosphatemia after consumption.

Environmental impact of diets for dogs and cats.

Food production is responsible for almost one-quarter of the environmental impact and, therefore, its importance regarding sustainability should not be overlooked. The companion animal population is increasing, and an important part of pet food is composed of ingredients that have a high environmental impact. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dry, wet, and homemade pet diets on greenhouse gas emission, land use, acidifying emission, eutrophying emissions, freshwater withdrawals, and stress-weighted water use. The wet diets were responsible for the highest impact, and dry diets were the type of diet that least impacted the environment, with a positive correlation between the metabolizable energy provided by animal ingredients and the environmental impact. It is necessary to consider the environmental impact of pet food since it is significant, and the population of pets tends to increase.

Obesity, inflammation, and cancer in dogs: Review and perspectives.

Obesity is the most common nutritional disease in dogs, and its prevalence has increased in recent decades. Several countries have demonstrated a prevalence of obesity in dogs similar to that observed in humans. Chronic low-grade inflammation is a prominent basis used to explain how obesity results in numerous negative health consequences. This is well known and understood, and recent studies have pointed to the association between obesity and predisposition to specific types of cancers and their complications. Such elucidations are important because, like obesity, the prevalence of cancer in dogs has increased in recent decades, establishing cancer as a significant cause of death for these animals. In the same way, intensive advances in technology in the field of human and veterinary medicine (which even proposes the use of animal models) have optimized existing therapeutic methods, led to the development of innovative treatments, and shortened the time to diagnosis of cancer. Despite the great challenges, this review aims to highlight the evidence obtained to date on the association between obesity, inflammation, and cancer in dogs, and the possible pathophysiological mechanisms that link obesity and carcinogenesis. The potential to control cancer in animals using existing knowledge is also presented.

Serum metabolomics analysis reveals that weight loss in obese dogs results in a similar metabolic profile to dogs in ideal body condition.

INTRODUCTION: The study of metabolic profile can be an important tool to better understand, at a systemic level, metabolic alterations caused by different pathological conditions, such as obesity. Furthermore, it allows the discovery of metabolic biomarkers, which may help to diagnose alterations caused by obesity. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the metabolic profile of blood serum of obese dogs, control dogs, and dogs that were subjected to a weight loss program. METHODS: Ten obese adult spayed female dogs were included, and their body composition was determined by the deuterium isotope dilution method. The dogs were subjected to a weight loss program and formed a new experimental group after losing 20% of the initial body weight. A third experimental group was composed of ten lean adult spayed female dogs. The metabolic profile of blood serum was evaluated through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Principal Component Analyses (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) models were constructed using Pareto scaling pre-processing. Pathway analysis was also performed using the MetaboAnalist online tool. RESULTS: The PCA shows that the control and after weight loss groups presented a trend to negative PC1, indicating similarities between these two groups. In contrast, obese animals presented a tendency to appear on negative PC2 indicating a different metabolic profile. The OPLS-DA analysis of the serum indicated that healthy groups presented higher content of glucose, while animals that lost weight had higher levels of cholesterol and lactate than the control group. On the other hand, the analysis showed that lipid content, cholesterol, and branched-chain amino acids were highest in obese animals. Variable Influence on Projection (VIP) analysis demonstrated that Lactate is the most important metabolite for the OPLS-DA model and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) corroborated the similarity between the control group and the obese after weight loss groups. Moreover, the pathway analysis indicated the most important metabolic pathways related to this dataset. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolomic assessment based on NMR of blood serum differed between obese dogs and animals in optimal body condition. Moreover, the weight loss resulted in metabolic profiles similar to those observed in lean animals.

Effects of a diet enriched with eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic and glutamine on cytokines as immunological markers for systemic inflammation in bitches before and after ovariohysterectomy.

The post-operative period can generate immunological stress and can be modulated through supplementation with the omega-3 series of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diets enriched with high doses of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids and glutamine on inflammatory mediators in dogs before and after ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Twelve female dogs were divided into two groups: group A was fed a commercial diet without the addition of EPA and DHA, and group B was fed an experimental diet enriched with EPA and DHA (0.2 g/100 kcal). Experimental diet intake initiated 21 days before surgery and continued until 30 days after OVH. Parameters measured were serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP), IGF-1, lymphoproliferation and body composition before and after surgery. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS software considering the effects of age and diet and their interactions, and means were compared by the Tukey test. There was no difference between groups in body weight (p = .682), lean mass (p = .101) and body fat (p = .103). There were no group differences in serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IGF-1, CRP and the percentage of lymphocyte proliferation. However, a time effect for TNF-α was observed (p < .001), in which T0P (10 days after the surgical procedure) presented lower values of this cytokine when compared to the other evaluation time points; and interaction effects between group and time were observed for serum concentrations of IL-6 (p < .001) and IL-10 (p = .002). OVH procedure was not considered invasive enough to increase inflammatory cytokines after 30 days of surgery, as well as the dosage of the EPA and DHA used before and after the surgery did not modulate the inflammatory markers.

Duration of Prebiotic Intake Is a Key-Factor for Diet-Induced Modulation of Immunity and Fecal Fermentation Products in Dogs.

Prebiotics promote health benefits, however, there is no consensus on the minimal intake period required in order to obtain good results. This study evaluated the effect of the time of ingestion of prebiotics on fecal fermentation products and immunological features in dogs. Twenty-four adult dogs were randomly distributed in a block design with six groups and four treatments. Diet and intake period were variation factors. Diets were either a control diet without the addition of prebiotic (CO) or with the inclusion of 1% of a commercial product containing a minimum of 0.38% galactooligosaccharides (GOS), 0.5% (B1) or 1% (B2) of a prebiotic blend. Time variable was set at 30 and 60 days for evaluation of immunity and gut health. Results were analyzed in the Statistical Analysis System software (SAS), version 9.4, considering the repeated measures over time design, and means were compared by the Tukey test and p < 0.05 was significant. Propionic acid was the only variable that had an interaction effect, with reduction of this metabolite in treatment B2 in the period of 60 days. At T60, concentrations of immunoglobulin A, lactic acid, and pH in the feces increased (p < 0.05) in all treatments regardless of prebiotic inclusion or not. GOS increased fecal score and lactic acid concentrations. Therefore, a 60-day intake period of a prebiotic blend was not sufficient to modulate fecal and immune variables and higher concentrations of a single prebiotic would be more relevant for results.

Vitamin D Metabolism and Its Role in Mineral and Bone Disorders in Chronic Kidney Disease in Humans, Dogs and Cats.

Some differences regarding Vitamin D metabolism are described in dogs and cats in comparison with humans, which may be explained by an evolutionary drive among these species. Similarly, vitamin D is one of the most important regulators of mineral metabolism in dogs and cats, as well as in humans. Mineral metabolism is intrinsically related to bone metabolism, thus disturbances in vitamin D have been implicated in the development of chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD) in people, in addition to dogs and cats. Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with Renal Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (RSHPT), which is the most common mineral disorder in later stages of CKD in dogs and cats. Herein, we review the peculiarities of vitamin D metabolism in these species in comparison with humans, and the role of vitamin D disturbances in the development of CKD-MBD among dogs, cats, and people. Comparative studies may offer some evidence to help further research about vitamin D metabolism and bone disorders in CKD.

Markers of inflammation and insulin resistance in dogs before and after weight loss versus lean healthy dogs / Marcadores de inflamação e resistência à insulina em cães antes e depois da perda de peso versus cães saudáveis e magros

Chronic low-grade inflammation in obesity is characterized by an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to insulin resistance. For this study body composition, markers of inflammation and of insulin resistance in dogs before and after weight loss were compared to those of lean dogs. Eleven client-owned obese adult dogs underwent a weight loss program with commercial dry food for weight loss and reached an ideal body condition score (BCS) six months after the beginning of the weight loss program. A Control Group of nine dogs with ideal BCS were selected for the comparison. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test for normality, Mann Whitney were used for non-normally distributes data, and Student t-test was used for normally distributed parameters. In the Obese Group body fat decreased from 41.6% (30.7-58.6) to 29.1% (18.6-46.3) (P<0.01) and dogs maintained lean body mass throughout the weight loss program (P>0.05). Obese dogs presented higher concentration of fructosamine, triglycerides, insulin, IGF-1 and leptin than the Control Group before weight reduction (P<0.05). Serum concentrations of triglycerides, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, insulin, leptin and IGF-1 decreased after weight loss (P<0.01), and these concentrations were similar to the Control Group (P>0.05), except for leptin (P<0.001). No alteration on peptide YY was found. Leptin (r=0.60, P=0.01), fructosamine (r=0.44, P=0.02) and triglycerides (r=0.40, P=0.04) concentrations correlated with the reduction of body fat. Weight loss reduced the concentrations of inflammatory and insulin resistance markers and most parameters became similar to dogs that have always been lean, reinforcing the importance of weight loss in small animal practice.(AU)

A inflamação crônica de baixo grau na obesidade é caracterizada pela produção aumentada de citocinas pró-inflamatórias que contribuem para a resistência à insulina. Para este estudo a composição corporal e os marcadores de inflamação e de resistência à insulina em cães antes e após a perda de peso foram comparados aos de cães magros. Onze cães adultos obesos pertencentes a tutores foram incluídos em um programa de perda de peso com ração comercial hipocalórica e alcançaram escore de condição corporal (ECC) ideal seis meses após o início do regime. Um Grupo Controle de nove cães com ECC ideal foi selecionado para a comparação. O teste de Shapiro-Wilk foi usado para testar a normalidade, Mann Whitney foi usado para análise dos dados que não atenderam distribuição normal e o teste t de Student foi usado para parâmetros que atenderam a normalidade. No Grupo Obesidade, a gordura corporal diminuiu de 41,6% (30,7-58,6) para 29,1% (18,6-46,3) (P<0,01) e os cães mantiveram massa magra ao longo do programa de perda de peso (P>0,05). Cães obesos apresentaram maior concentração de frutosamina, triglicérides, insulina, IGF-1 e leptina do que o Grupo Controle antes da redução de peso (P<0,05). As concentrações séricas de triglicerídeos, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, insulina, leptina e IGF-1 diminuíram após a perda de peso (P<0,01) e, essas concentrações foram semelhantes ao Grupo Controle (P>0,05), com exceção da leptina (P<0,001). Nenhuma alteração no peptídeo YY foi encontrada. As concentrações de leptina (r=0,60; P=0,01), frutosamina (r=0,44; P=0,02) e triglicerídeos (r=0,40; P=0,04) correlacionaram-se com a redução da gordura corporal. A perda de peso reduziu as concentrações de marcadores inflamatórios e de resistência à insulina e a maioria dos parâmetros tornaram-se semelhante aos dos cães que sempre foram magros, reforçando a importância da perda de peso na prática clínica de pequenos animais.(AU)

Neutering in dogs and cats: current scientific evidence and importance of adequate nutritional management.

Neutering or spaying is a commonly recommended veterinary procedure. However, veterinarians are often confronted with conflicting findings and differences in concepts regarding practice and proper nutritional management after the procedure. The objective of the present review was to bring to light the most recent literature, summarise it and discuss the findings focusing on the risks and benefits of neutering in dogs and cats, and to determine the appropriate nutritional management for these animals.

Vitamin D metabolism in dogs and cats and its relation to diseases not associated with bone metabolism.

Due to the presence of receptors in the cells of numerous body tissues, vitamin D is associated with several physiological functions that go beyond calcium and phosphorus homoeostasis and control of bone metabolism in the body. In humans, several studies have associated lower vitamin D concentrations with numerous diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases, and also with an increase in the total mortality rate of the population. Recently, this nutrient started to gain importance in veterinary medicine, and several articles have shown a correlation between low vitamin D status and diseases unrelated to bone metabolism. The present review aims to highlight the recent publications that investigated this relationship, bringing the evidence that exists so far in dogs and cats.

Factors associated with failure of dog's weight loss programmes.

BACKGROUND: Canine obesity is the cause of several health issues, and may predispose other diseases, such as orthopaedic disorders, endocrinopathies, metabolic abnormalities and cardiorespiratory disease which can lead to a decreased quality of life and reduced lifespan. Dog are considered overweight when their body weight is ≥15% above their ideal body weight, and as obese when their body weight exceeds 30% of optimal. Prevalence of canine obesity is estimated to be around 5%-20%, and up to 30%-40% when all overweight dogs are considered. Treatment is based on weight loss programmes, focused on caloric restriction associated with exercise. However, success rate of treatment is low. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons for weight loss failure of obese dogs during treatment with low-calorie diets. METHODS: Records of obese dogs undergoing weight loss programmes between May 2014 and May 2017, assessed by a team specialized in veterinary nutrition, were retrospectively evaluated. Dogs were classified according to weekly weight loss rate (WWLR) (<1%, between 1% and 2%, and more than 2%) and owner compliance with a dietary prescription and physical activity recommendations. RESULTS: The mean WWLR was not satisfactory (<1%) in 64.4% (n = 47/73) of dogs. Regarding owner compliance with the dietary prescription, 44.7% (n = 21/47) of owners did not follow diet prescriptions and physical activity recommendations for their dogs. There was a significant association (p = .01) between compliance of owners and satisfactory weight loss rate; however, there was no association between weight loss success, diet composition sex, reproductive status, age of the dogs and their physical activity (p ≥ .05). CONCLUSIONS: Non-compliance represents a great challenge in the treatment of canine obesity, and may be of more importance than other aspects.

Phosphorus and sodium contents in commercial wet foods for dogs and cats.

It has been reported that wet foods for dogs and cats have high levels of sodium and phosphorus due to their composition. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the sodium and phosphorus contents in wet pet foods, and compare it to daily requirements for both species. Twenty-five commercial wet foods for adult animals were evaluated, 13 for dogs and 12 for cats. The analyses' results were compared to the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF 2018) recommendations. All foods contained phosphorus and sodium amounts above minimum requirements. Three wet foods for dogs exceeded the safe upper limit for phosphorus, and four wet foods for dogs and three for cats exceeded 3.75 g of sodium/1,000 kcal metabolizable energy (ME), considered safe by FEDIAF. No studies were found at the present time evaluating whether higher sodium levels are safe for dogs and cats; however, consumption of high phosphorus diets has been associated with adverse effects on renal function parameters. Therefore, more studies are necessary to investigate the health implications of phosphorus and sodium concentrations observed in some foods evaluated in this research.

Effect of calcium sources in the diets of adult cats on urinary parameters and acid-base balance / Efeitos das fontes de cálcio na dieta de gatos adultos sobre parâmetros urinários e equilíbrio ácido-básico

Calcium is a macroelement that is part of the mineral composition of the diet of companion animals, and is considered a cation of strong alkalizing power, increasing urinary pH. Calcium salts have different solubilities and depending on the anion to which calcium is associated with, it can be more or less absorbed, modifying the pH of the urine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of calcium sources on alkalinization of urinary pH, as well as excretion of urinary electrolytes and acid-base balance of adult cats. An extruded diet for cats was selected, and had 160mEq/kg of calcium from the sources of either calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or calcium gluconate (C12H22CaO14) added. In the control treatment there was no addition of calcium sources, resulting in three treatments. Nine adult cats were used, mixed breed, in two experimental periods, with six replicates per treatment. Animal average age was 4±1.3 years old and average weight was 3.96±0.71kg. The cats remained in metabolic cages for an adaptation period of seven days, followed by six days of urine total collection, with volume, density, pH and calcium concentration (g/d) measurements. The acid-base balance was studied by blood gas analysis of venous blood. The two sources of calcium alkalinized the urine (P<0.001). However, calcium gluconate had less alkalinization power compared to the calcium carbonate (P<0.05). Urinary calcium was not affected by treatments, and represented less than 0.5% of calcium intake. The experiment showed that calcium, although an alkaline cation and considered strong influencer of the EB of the diet, cannot be evaluated individually, because depending on its associated anion it may have greater or lesser influence on cats urine pH.(AU)

O cálcio (Ca) é um macroelemento que faz parte da composição mineral da dieta de animais de companhia. Este macroelemento é considerado um cátion de forte capacidade alcalinizante e, de acordo com a fonte e quantidade inclusa, pode aumentar o pH urinário. Os sais de cálcio têm diferentes solubilidades e dependendo do ânion ao qual o cálcio está associado, pode ser mais ou menos absorvido e assim, alterar o pH da urina. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de duas fontes de cálcio na alcalinização do pH urinário, bem como a excreção de eletrólitos urinários e o equilíbrio ácido-básico de felinos. Foi selecionada uma dieta extrusada para gatos e adicionados 160mEq/kg de cálcio das fontes carbonato de cálcio (CaCO3) ou gluconato de cálcio (C12H22CaO14). No tratamento controle, não houve adição de fontes de cálcio. Foram utilizados nove gatos adultos, de raças mistas, em dois períodos experimentais, com seis repetições por tratamento. Os animais apresentavam idade média de 4,0±1,3 anos e peso corporal médio de 3,96±0,71kg. Estes permaneceram em gaiolas metabólicas em período de adaptação durante sete dias, seguido de coleta total de urina durante seis dias. Nestas amostras foram aferidos o volume, densidade, pH e concentração de cálcio (g/d). O equilíbrio ácido-básico foi avaliado por hemogasometria em amostras de sangue venoso. As duas fontes de cálcio alcalinizaram a urina (P<0,001). No entanto, o gluconato de cálcio apresentou menor potencial de alcalinização em comparação ao carbonato de cálcio (P<0,05). O cálcio urinário não foi afetado pelos tratamentos e representou menos de 0,5% da ingestão de Ca. O experimento demonstrou que o cálcio, apesar de ser um cátion alcalinizante e influenciador do EB da dieta, não pode ser avaliado individualmente, porque dependendo do ânion associado, pode apresentar maior ou menor influência no pH da urina de gatos.(AU)

Effects of pea with barley and less-processed maize on glycaemic control in diabetic dogs.

The source of starch may interfere with glycaemic control in dogs, but few studies have evaluated these aspects in diabetic dogs. This study compared the effects of two isonutrient diets with different starch sources, peas and barley (PB) v. maize (Mi), on diabetic dogs. The Mi diet was processed in order to generate a lower starch gelatinisation index. In all, fifteen adult diabetic dogs without other conditions were included. The animals were fed two dry extruded rations with moderate levels of fat and starch and high levels of protein and fibre using a random, double-blind cross-over design. Glycaemic curves over 48 h were developed via continuous glucose monitoring after 60 d on each diet and with the same neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin dosage. The following were compared: fasting, mean, maximum and minimum blood glucose, maximum and minimum glycaemia difference, glycaemic increment, area under the glycaemic curve, area under the glycaemic increment curve and serum fructosamine concentration. Paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare the amount of food and nutrients ingested and the dietary effects on glycaemic variables between the diets. Dogs fed the PB diet presented a lower average mean interstitial glucose (P=0·01), longer mean hypoglycaemic time (P<0·01), shorter mean hyperglycaemic time (P<0·01) and smaller difference between maximum and minimum blood glucose levels (P=0·03). Thus, the processing applied to the Mi diet was not sufficient to achieve the same effects of PB on glycaemic control in diabetic dogs.

Weight loss improves arterial blood gases and respiratory parameters in obese dogs.

Canine obesity is a common medical disorder and a known risk factor for associated diseases; it can seriously influence various physiological functions, thereby limiting the longevity of the animal. In this study, we evaluated potential respiratory alterations in obese dogs before and after being subjected to caloric restriction to decrease their body weight by 20%, and compared those dogs with control dogs with ideal body condition score. The animals were divided into three experimental groups: GI (obese dogs; n = 11); GII (obese dogs after weight loss, same animals as in GI); GIII (control dogs; n = 11). We evaluated lung function by spirometry and arterial blood gases. Statistical analysis included paired or non-paired Student's t test. Compared with dogs within an ideal body condition score (GIII), obese dogs (GI) had a low arterial partial pressure of oxygen (p < 0.05); decreased tidal volume (p < 0.005), inspiratory time and expiratory time (p < 0.05); and an increased respiratory rate (p < 0.005). After losing weight (GII), no differences with control dogs (GIII) were verified. The results suggested that obese dogs have an improvement in respiratory function with weight loss, but further investigations in a larger group of dogs are advised to confirm these findings.

Early parenteral nutrition in enterectomized dogs / Nutrição parenteral precoce em cães submetidos à enterectomia

The aim of this study was to explore the role of early central parenteral nutrition support with and without lipid emulsion in enterectomized dogs undergoing small bowel partial resection. Enterectomized dogs often cannot be fed properly via an oral or enteral route immediately post-surgery. After enterectomy, the animals received parenteral nutrition or crystalloid solution until they were able to voluntarily take in an oral diet. All dogs were recruited at the University of Sao Paulo veterinary teaching hospital. Eighteen dogs with intussusception, a foreign intestinal body, linear foreign intestinal body, or intussusception associated with a foreign intestinal body underwent enterectomy surgery and were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: crystalloid solution (CS group), parenteral nutrition with a mix of glucose and amino acids (GA group) or parenteral nutrition with a mix of glucose, amino acids and lipids (GAL group). A serum chemistry panel and complete blood count were collected prior to surgery and at the end of the study. Albumin increased in the GA and GAL group (p=0.042 and p=0.038 respectively) after hospitalization, but no significant differences were identified among the groups. Body weight decreased by 4.9% (p=0.042) in the CS group, but there were no significant changes in the GAL and GA groups. There was a significant decrease in the recovery scores in the GA and GAL groups during hospitalization (p=0.039 in both groups). Early parenteral nutrition was beneficial for patient recovery in post-surgical small bowel partial resection, indicating better quality, and no major complications or side effects were observed during the hospitalization period in the studied dogs.(AU)

O objetivo desse estudo era estudar os efeitos da nutrição parenteral central precoce com e sem emulsão lipídica em cães submetidos à ressecção parcial do intestino delgado. Os cães enterectomizados frequentemente não conseguem ser adequadamente alimentados por via oral ou enteral no pós-cirúrgico imediato. Após a enterectomia, os animais receberam nutrição parenteral ou solução cristaloide até o momento em que fossem capazes de alimentar-se voluntariamente por via oral. Todos os animais foram selecionados no hospital veterinário da Universidade de São Paulo. Dezoito cães diagnosticados com intussuscepção, corpo estranho intestinal, corpo estranho linear ou intussuscepção associada com corpo estranho intestinal foram submetidos à enterectomia e aleatoriamente alocados para receber um dos três tratamentos: solução cristaloide (grupo CS), nutrição parenteral com mistura de glicose e aminoácidos (grupo GA) ou nutrição parental com mistura de glicose e lipídios (grupo GAL). Hemograma e bioquímica sérica foram coletados antes da cirurgia e no final do estudo. Houve aumento de albumina no grupo GA e GAL (p=0,042 e p=0,038 respectivamente) após a hospitalização, mas não houve diferença significativa entre grupos. O peso corpóreo diminuiu cerca de 4,9% (p=0,042) no grupo CS mas não houve alterações significativas no grupo GAL e GA. Houve uma diminuição significativa no escore de recuperação no grupo GA e GAL durante a hospitalização (p=0,039 em ambos os grupos). A nutrição parenteral precoce mostrou-se benéfica para a recuperação no pós-operatório dos cães submetidos à ressecção parcial do intestino delgado, sinalizando uma melhora na qualidade da recuperação e ausência de grandes complicações ou efeitos colaterais durante o período de hospitalização dos animais estudados.(AU)

Abnormal carbohydrate metabolism in a canine model for muscular dystrophy.

The canine golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) model is the best animal model for studying Duchenne muscular dystrophy in humans. Considering the importance of glucose metabolism in the muscles, the existence of metabolic and endocrine alterations in a wide range of muscular dystrophies, and the pre-existing relationship between blood insulin concentration and muscular atrophy, the present study aimed to evaluate the postprandial glucose and insulin response in GRMD dogs. A total of eighteen golden retriever dogs were randomly distributed into three experimental groups: healthy/control (G1), female GRMD carriers (G2), and male dogs affected by GRMD (G3). Higher plasma resting glucose levels (P = 0·0047) were seen in G2 and G3 compared with G1, as was the case for minimum (P = <0·0001), mean (P = 0·0002) and maximum (P = 0·0359) glucose values for G3 compared with G1. Fructosamine concentrations were in accordance with reference values found in the literature for dogs. Insulin levels were lower in G3 compared with G1 (P = 0·0065); however, there was no evidence of insulin resistance according to the homeostasis model assessment index values obtained. As for the evaluation of postprandial responses, fluctuations of glucose (P = 0·0007) and insulin (P = 0·0149) were observed in G1 and G2, while in G3 the values remained constant. The results allowed us to identify metabolic changes related to carbohydrate metabolism in GRMD dogs, highlighting the importance of adequate food management for these animals.

Avaliação da pressão arterial sistêmica em cães obesos: comparação entre os métodos oscilométrico e doppler ultrassônico / Systemic blood pressure evaluation by oscillometric versus doppler ultrasonographic methods in obese dogs

A obesidade é o problema nutricional que mais acomete os cães e pode causar vários efeitos deletérios a saúde animal. No entanto, o efeito desta condição sobre a pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) em cães obesos é controverso. Os métodos indiretos de mensuração da PAS são os mais comumente utilizados na medicina veterinária para o diagnóstico da hipertensão sistêmica, por serem mais práticos e de fácil acesso. Não foram localizados na literatura estudos que tenham comparado os dois métodos para esta avaliação em cães obesos. Diante do exposto, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a PAS em cães obesos, comparando os métodos indiretos de mensuração da pressão arterial, oscilométrico e doppler ultrassônico, a fim de verificar as diferenças nos valores obtidos, como também o método mais indicado para aferir a PAS em cães nesta condição. Foram avaliados 50 cães, incluindo 25 obesos com escore de condição corporal (ECC) médio de 8,42±0,50 e 25 cães com peso corporal ideal com ECC médio de 4,56±0,51. Os resultados revelaram valores superiores da PAS obtidos pelo método doppler (152±16mmHg) comparados ao oscilométrico (136±11mmHg). A análise de correspondência determinada por análise estatística multivariada demonstrou maior correspondência entre a condição corporal e o método de avaliação da PAS. Esses achados sugerem que o método indireto doppler pode aferir com mais precisão os valores de PAS em cães obesos.(AU)

Obesity is the most common nutritional problem in dogs and it can cause various harmful effects on animal health. However, the effect of this condition on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in obese dogs is controversial. The indirect method of measuring PAS is the most commonly used in veterinary medicine for the diagnosis of systemic hypertension, because it is more practical and easy to access. There is little scientific information about the comparison of the two non-invasive methods of measurement of blood pressure in obese dogs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the SBP in obese dogs by comparing both indirect methods of measuring blood pressure, with oscillometric and doppler vascular in order to verify the differences in blood pressure values, but also the best method to assess the SBP dogs in this body score condition. The study complain blood pressure measurement of 50 dogs, with were divided in obese dogs with mean body condition score (BCS) of 8.42±0.50 (n=25) and dogs with ideal BCS of 4.56±0.51 (n=25). At comparison of blood pressure values, SBP values obtained by doppler method (152±16mmHg) were higher than the oscillometric (136±11mmHg). Correspondence analysis determined by multivariate statistical analysis showed correlation between body condition and the procedure of the SBP. These findings suggest that the indirect method doppler can better reflect the SBP in obese dogs.(AU)