Nutritional Management for Dogs and Cats with Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Gastrointestinal (GI) disease encompasses a wide variety of conditions, often with similar clinical signs. In order to optimize diet selection and nutritional management for dogs and cats with GI disease, it is important to consider a patient's nutritional assessment, problem list, specific nutrients of concern, and other factors. This review summarizes the process of utilizing this information to select a diet for a patient with GI disease as well as target levels for nutrients of concern. Overall, it is important to make an individualized recommendation and reassess the patient to make additional adjustments to the nutritional plan as needed as well as establishing target levels for nutrients of concern.

Effects of glucosamine-chondroitin sulfate supplementation on serum fructosamine concentration in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether short-term administration of an oral glucosamine-chondroitin sulfate (Glu-CS) supplement alters serum fructosamine concentration in healthy dogs. DESIGN: Prospective crossover study. ANIMALS: 12 healthy adult dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs received Glu-CS and a placebo for 3 weeks each, with a 4-week minimum washout period between treatments. Serum fructosamine concentration was measured 4 times for each dog: prior to the first treatment period, at the end of the first treatment period, at the end of the washout period, and at the end of the second treatment period. RESULTS: No significant change in serum fructosamine concentration was identified after treatment with either Glu-CS or the placebo. The change in serum fructosamine concentration associated with Glu-CS administration was not significantly different from the change in concentration associated with administration of the placebo. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that in healthy dogs, short-term (ie, 21 days) oral Glu-CS administration does not affect glycemic control or cause diabetes mellitus.

Response of healthy dogs to infusions of human serum albumin.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and immunologic response in healthy dogs to infusions of human serum albumin (HSA). ANIMALS: 9 healthy purpose-bred mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: Each dog was administered a 25% HSA solution once or twice. Various physical examination and laboratory variables were serially evaluated. Antibody against HSA was assayed before and after infusion by use of an ELISA. Intradermal testing was also conducted. A repeated-measures ANOVA or Friedman repeated-measures ANOVA on ranks was used to compare results for the variables. RESULTS: Adverse clinical reactions were observed after the first or second infusion in 3 dogs. Anaphylactoid reactions were observed in 1 of 9 dogs during the first infusion and in 2 of 2 dogs administered a second infusion. Two dogs developed severe edema and urticaria 6 or 7 days after an initial infusion. All dogs developed anti-HSA antibodies. Positive responses for ID tests were observed in 8 of 9 dogs. Short-term increases were detected in blood protein, total bilirubin, and calcium concentrations after HSA infusion. Serum cholesterol concentrations and platelet counts decreased after HSA infusion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of HSA resulted in profound reactions in 2 of 9 dogs administered a single infusion and in 2 of 2 dogs administered a second infusion. This indicates that there is risk of life-threatening adverse reactions to HSA infusion in healthy dogs.

Nutritional Considerations for Dogs and Cats with Liver Disease.

The goals of nutritional management of liver disease in the dog and cat are directed at treating the clinical manifestations as opposed to treating the underlying cause. Specifically, the clinician strives to avoid overwhelming the remaining metabolic capacities of the damaged liver while providing sufficient nutrients for regeneration. A brief overview of liver diseases and associated clinical signs encountered in the dog and cat and a review of specific nutrients are discussed as well as amounts and sources of nutrients recommended to meet nutritional goals in the diseased liver.