The Supplementation of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Concentrated Fish Oil Enhances Cognitive Function in Puppies.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has an important role in brain development and functionality. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of DHA-concentrated fish oil on the cognitive function of puppies. Twelve 3-month-old puppies were included, blocked by breed and randomly distributed into two groups: the Control Group (CG), without supplementation, and the Experimental Group (EG), supplemented with 40 mg DHA/kg BW/day. The object discrimination test was used, with a normal stage (NS) and a reverse stage (RS), and blood samples were collected to evaluate the serum polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentration and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) before (T0) and 30 (T1), 60 (T2) and 90 (T3) days after beginning the study. For the NS, there were effects of treatment (p = 0.0039) and time (p < 0.0001), in which the correct answer frequency in the EG was higher than the CG. The serum eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + HA concentrations at T1, T2 and T3 were higher than at T0 for the EG (p = 0.0159), in addition, EG showed higher serum EPA + DHA concentrations than CG at T2 (p = 0.0245). The TAC values were similar between the groups (p = 0.3211). It was concluded that the cognitive function of puppies can be enhanced with DHA-concentrated fish oil supplementation without increasing the serum lipid oxidation.

Evaluation of an onco-diet on body composition and inflammatory status of dogs with mammary tumor-Pilot study.

A high-protein hypercaloric diet enriched with glutamine and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was called an onco-diet. The goal was to verify the modulation of the inflammatory response and body composition of female dogs with mammary tumor after mastectomy, during onco-diet consumption, using a randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial. Six bitches (average age of 8.6 years) were allocated into Control Group-diet without glutamine, EPA and DHA supplementation; and six bitches (10.0 years) were allocated into Test-diet enriched with glutamine and omega-3. Serum measurements of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IGF-1, C-reactive protein and determination of body composition were performed at pre- and post-surgical times. Statistical tests were used to compare the nutrient intake and dietary effects on inflammatory variables between the diets. No differences in concentrations of different cytokines (p>0.05) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.51) were observed between the groups. The test group had a higher concentration of IGF-1 (p<0.05), higher percentage of muscle mass (p<0.01) and lower body fat (p<0.01), but the difference was present from initial and throughout the study. Onco-diet, enriched with glutamine and omega-3, in the amounts evaluated in this study, was not sufficient to modulate the inflammation and body composition of female dogs with mammary tumors submitted to unilateral mastectomy.

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.

Metabolic variables of obese dogs with insulin resistance supplemented with yeast beta-glucan.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is one of the most common nutritional disorders in dogs and cats and is related to the development metabolic comorbidities. Weight loss is the recommended treatment, but success is difficult due to the poor satiety control. Yeast beta-glucans are known as biological modifiers because of their innumerable functions reported in studies with mice and humans, but only one study with dogs was found. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a diet supplemented with 0.1% beta-glucan on glucose, lipid homeostasis, inflammatory cytokines and satiety parameters in obese dogs. Fourteen dogs composed three experimental groups: Obese group (OG) with seven dogs with body condition score (BCS) 8 or 9; Lean group (LG) included seven non-obese dogs with a BCS of 5; and Supplemented Obese group (SOG) was the OG dogs after 90 days of consumption of the experimental diet. RESULTS: Compared to OG, SOG had lower plasma basal glycemic values (p = 0.05) and reduced serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. TNF-α was lower in SOG than in OG (p = 0.05), and GLP-1 was increased in SOG compared to OG and LG (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: These results are novel and important for recognizing the possibility of using beta-glucan in obesity prevention and treatment.

Influence of number of ingredients, use of supplement and vegetarian or vegan preparation on the composition of homemade diets for dogs and cats.

BACKGROUND: Homemade diets are a worldwide trend, and many recipes are currently available on websites but may not be considered balanced. This study aimed to evaluate if the number of ingredients, supplement, or vegetarian/vegan-only ingredients included in a recipe influence the nutrient content of homemade diets for dogs and cats. Chemical analyses were performed on 75 diets for dogs and 25 for cats prepared according to websites' recipes, and minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). RESULTS: Canine diets that met fat requirements had more ingredients than those below recommendations. None of the cat diets met iron requirements, and feline diets that met requirements of manganese had fewer ingredients and those that supplied requirements of protein and sodium had more ingredients than the diets below recommendations (p < 0.05). Non-supplemented canine and feline diets had calcium and calcium:phosphorus ratio below recommendations (p < 0.05). Non-supplemented feline diets had lower sodium and iron, and zinc levels were below recommendation in diets for both species. Diets with animal products for dogs had higher levels of protein and zinc, although zinc was deficient in both groups, and there were higher amounts of crude fiber, magnesium, and manganese in vegetarian/vegan diets (p < 0.05). Diets with animal products for cats had higher levels of protein (p = 0.003), but there was a higher amount of crude fiber (p = 0.014) in vegetarian/vegan diets. CONCLUSION: The number of ingredients and vegetarian/vegan preparation did not guarantee nutritional adequacy of diets, and the presence of supplement did not ensure a balanced diet.

Supplementation of omega-3 and dietary factors can influence the cholesterolemia and triglyceridemia in hyperlipidemic Schnauzer dogs: A preliminary report.

Primary hyperlipidaemia in Schnauzer is characterized by increased plasma triglycerides (TG) and/or total cholesterol (TC) concentration and is associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatitis, insulin resistance and seizures. In humans, omega-3 fatty acids in addition to a low-fat diet can be used to reduce TG and TC. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids associated to a diet management with two different fat content in Schnauzer with primary hyperlipidaemia. Eighteen dogs with primary hyperlipidaemia were divided into two groups: group 1, n = 10, 8 females, 2 males, age (mean ± standard deviation) of 7.13 ± 2.70 years and body weight (BW) (mean ± standard deviation) of 7.25 ± 1.22 kg were treated with fish oil (approximately 730 mg/day of omega-3) associated with a low-fat and low-calorie diet (approximately 24g of fat/1000 kcal) for 90 days (T90); and group 2, n = 8 dogs, 6 females, 2 males, with 7.0 ± 1.77 years old and average BW of 8.36 ± 1.51 kg, treated with fish oil (approximately 730 mg/day of omega-3) and maintenance diet with moderate amount of fat (approximately 33g of fat/1000 kcal) for 90 days. Plasma TG and TC concentrations and lipoprotein (LP) profile (VLDL, LDL, HDL) were evaluated before and after treatment. TG and TC serum concentrations, expressed in mg/dL (mean ± standard deviation), before and after treatment in group 1 were: TG = 391.30 ± 487.86 (T0) and 118.7 ± 135.21 (T90); TC = 308.2 ± 63.06 (T0) and 139 ± 36.91 (T90). As for group 2, TG = 391.63 ± 336.89 (T0) and 250.75 ± 211.56 (T90); TC = 257.25 ± 92.88 (T0) and 207.25 ± 63.79 (T90). A reduction (p<0.05) of TG and TC was observed in both groups. The distribution of TG and TC among LP was not different between the pre (T0) and post treatment (T90) periods. After 90 days of treatment, the administration of omega-3 fatty acids, associated with a low-fat or maintenance diet reduced triglyceridemia and cholesterolemia without altering LP profile. The current investigation shows that both therapies were effective in reducing plasma TC and TG concentrations without altering LP profile.

Protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease stages B2 and C.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is characterized by thickening of the valve leaflets and omega-3 (ω-3) supplementation has been associated with modulation of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate, improvement of doppler echocardiographic indices, antiarrhythmic, anti-inflammatory and anti-dislipidemic effects in dogs and humans, although prospective studies of it single use are still absent in the veterinary literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of ω-3 supplementation in dogs with MMVD. Twenty-nine dogs were followed quarterly for 12 months by clinical evaluation, arterial blood pressure, electrocardiography, doppler echocardiography, thoracic radiography and laboratory tests including inflammatory mediators and cardiac biomarker blood concentrations. The dogs were classified in stages B2 and C, according to the classification proposed by ACVIM 2019. They were randomly assigned to either ω-3 group (ω-3G) or control group (CG). The ingestion of ω-3 reduced the chance of developing arrhythmias by 2.96 times (p = 0.003). The vertebral heart size (VHS) measurements were higher in the control group (p = 0.033). In conclusion, at the dosages used in this study, ω-3 dietary supplementation reduces the volumetric overload, has antiarrhythmic effect and keeps dogs with B2 and C stages of MMVD in milder stages of the disease.

Vitamin-mineral supplements do not guarantee the minimum recommendations and may imply risks of mercury poisoning in dogs and cats.

Given the importance of using the vitamin-mineral supplements to guarantee the minimum nutritional recommendations for pets in homemade foods, and hypothesizing that these products may contribute to toxic metals contamination, the present study aimed to determine the concentrations of essential minerals and toxic metals in vitamin-mineral supplements available in the Brazilian market and calculate if the amount recommended by the manufacturer guarantees the minimum recommendations of NRC (2006) and FEDIAF (2020), as well as calculating the amount of toxic metals that animals would consume, according to the amounts recommended by the manufacturer. Seven vitamin-mineral supplements were analyzed. The determination of essential minerals and toxic metals was performed using ICP-OES. Comparisons were made with the minimum recommendations for essential minerals, and with the maximum tolerated levels of toxic metals established by the FDA (2011), descriptively. Most of the vitamin-mineral supplements, in the quantities recommended by the manufacturers, do not guarantee the minimum recommendations of NCR (2006) and FEDIAF (2020) for the following elements: calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc. Only one supplement had detectable selenium concentrations. Three supplements provided more than 0.02mg of mercury/kg of body weight, the safe upper limit used to establish the maximum tolerated level of this element. It is concluded that most vitamin-mineral supplements do not meet the minimum recommendations for most essential minerals and, if formulated by untrained professionals, even with supplementation, homemade foods may still be nutritionally deficient. Furthermore, some vitamin-mineral supplements analyzed may imply risks of mercury poisoning in pets.

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.

Nutritional and laboratory parameters affect the survival of dogs with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease is a common disease in dogs, and factors such as serum concentrations of creatinine, albumin, and phosphorus at the moment of diagnosis may influence the survival of these patients. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the relationship between survival in dogs with chronic kidney disease and laboratory parameters (creatinine, phosphorus, albumin, and hematocrit) and nutritional parameters (body condition score, muscle mass score, type of food, appetite and feeding method). A total of 116 dogs with chronic kidney disease stages 2 to 4 were included, and survival was calculated considering the time between diagnosis and death. Survival curves were configurated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and a comparison between survival curves was performed by the log-rank test. Factors related to survival were disease stage (p<0.0001), serum phosphorus concentration (p = 0.0005), hematocrit (0.0001), body condition score (p = 0.0391), muscle mass score (p = 0.0002), type of food (p = 0.0009), feeding method (p<0.0001) and appetite (p = 0.0007). Based on data obtained in this study, it is possible to conclude that early diagnosis, as well as nutritional evaluation and renal diet intake, are determinant strategies to increase survival in dogs with chronic kidney disease.

Comparison of methodologies for fat determination and evaluation of calcium and phosphorus content in snacks for dogs / Comparação de metodologias para determinação de gordura e avaliação do conteúdo de cálcio e fósforo em petiscos para cães

In recent years, the relationship between humans and companion animals has tightened considerably and resulted in the expansion of the range of pet food industry products available in the market. In this context, snacks have gained greater popularity as pet owners seek to please their animals by providing such foods. Due to the growing importance of the snack segment, a need exists for accurate information on the nutritional composition of these products, such as fat concentration. No studies were found that evaluated the effectiveness of different methods applied for determining the content of this nutrient in dog snacks. In addition, too much mineral content can pose health risks. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare three methodologies for determining fat in pet snack products. The moisture, calcium and phosphorus content of each was also determined to compare the obtained results with each value stated on their product labels. Fat determination methods evaluated were ether extract (EE), ether extract after acid hydrolysis (EEHA), and fat content obtained from Ankom XT15 analyzer (ANKOM). Twenty-four snacks produced by 17 companies were evaluated. The results of the three methodologies were compared using the Tukey test. The comparison between the results of the laboratory analysis and the values stated on the labels was performed using descriptive statistics. There was no difference between the three methods evaluated (p = 0.34) regarding fat content. Regarding the nutritional compliance of the labels, 25% (n = 6) of the snacks presented higher moisture content than the declared amount, 50% (n = 12) presented lower fat content, 25% (n = 6) lower phosphorus content and, in 50% (n = 12), the calcium content was not within the minimum and maximum range stated on the label. Therefore, due to the absence of difference between the results, any of the three fat determination methodologies could be used. Regarding compliance of labels for calcium, phosphorus and fat content, greater control over the nutritional composition of these foods is required since most pet owners tend to supply large quantities of snacks to dogs, leading to excessive daily energy intake.(AU)

Nos últimos anos a relação entre seres humanos e animais de companhia estreitou-se consideravelmente e houve uma expansão da gama de produtos da indústria pet food disponíveis no mercado. Nesse contexto, os petiscos ganharam maior popularidade, uma vez que os tutores buscam agradar seus pets com esse tipo de alimento. Devido à crescente importância do segmento de petiscos, há a necessidade de informações precisas sobre a composição nutricional desses produtos, como o teor de gordura, uma vez que não foram encontrados estudos que avaliassem a eficácia dos métodos de determinação do teor deste nutriente em petiscos destinados a cães e o excesso de minerais pode implicar em riscos para a saúde. Assim, o presente trabalho comparou três metodologias para determinação de gordura em petiscos para cães, e também determinou os seus respectivos teores de umidade, cálcio e fósforo, cujos resultados foram comparados aos valores declarados pelos fabricantes nos rótulos dos produtos. Os métodos de determinação da gordura avaliados foram: extrato etéreo (EE), extrato etéreo após hidrólise ácida (EEHA) e teor de gordura obtido em analisador Ankom XT15 (ANKOM). Vinte e quatro petiscos produzidos por 17 empresas foram avaliados. Os resultados das três metodologias de determinação da gordura foram comparados com o emprego do teste Tukey. A comparação entre os resultados das análises laboratoriais e os valores declarados nos rótulos foi realizada por meio de estatística descritiva. Não houve diferença entre os três métodos avaliados (p = 0,34) em relação ao teor de gordura dos petiscos examinados. Em relação à conformidade nutricional dos rótulos, 25% (n = 6) dos petiscos apresentaram teor de umidade superior ao declarado, 50% (n = 12) apresentaram menor teor de gordura; 25% (n = 6) menor teor de fósforo e, em 50% (n = 12) deles, o teor de cálcio estava fora da faixa mínima e máxima declarada no rótulo. Portanto, devido à ausência de diferença entre os resultados, as três metodologias de determinação de gordura podem ser utilizadas. Quanto à conformidade dos rótulos em relação aos teores de cálcio, fósforo e gordura, é necessário maior controle sobre a composição nutricional desses alimentos, uma vez que a maioria dos tutores fornece petiscos em elevadas quantidades para os cães, que podem determinar excessivo consumo de energia.(AU)

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.

Tutores de cães consideram a dieta caseira como adequada, mas alteram as fórmulas prescritas / Dog owners consider homemade diet as adequate, but change the prescribed formulas

O estudo objetivou avaliar a adesão e a percepção dos proprietários de cães, residentes na cidade de São Paulo/SP, quanto ao emprego de dieta caseira no manejo nutricional de seu animal de estimação. Foram entrevistados por contato telefônico 55 proprietários que forneciam dieta caseira no manejo nutricional do seu cão. O questionário contemplou perguntas relacionadas ao preparo e eficiência das dietas, bem como o manejo dos animais. Verificou-se que considerável número (parcela) de prescrições (45,9%) esteve associado a pacientes com hiporexia. Dentre os proprietários que relataram dificuldade no preparo (10,9%), o tempo dispendido (33,3%) foi a maior problemática. Quando questionados em relação às modificações nas fórmulas prescritas, 60% admitiram que a realizaram sem prévia recomendação. Na opinião dos entrevistados, a dieta caseira não causou alterações nas fezes (50%) e na pelagem (62,7%) dos animais em comparação ao emprego de um alimento comercial e foi considerada adequada pela maioria (79,0%). As dietas caseiras podem ser amplamente utilizadas, mostrando-se especialmente importantes em cães doentes e/ou hiporéticos por apresentarem maior aceite em relação à dieta comercial, no entanto, nem todos os tutores estão aptos a utilizá-la.(AU)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the adhesion and perception of dog owners from the city of São Paulo, Brazil, on the employment of homemade diet for the nutritional management of their pet. The participants were 55 owners that provided homemade diet for their dog. The interviews were conducted by telephone and the questionnaire included points related with the preparation and effectiveness of diets, as well as the handling of animals. It was found that a considerable number of prescriptions (45.9%) was associated with patients with hyporexia. Among the owners who reported difficulty in the preparation (10.9%), time spent (33.3%) was the most problematic topic. When questioned in relation to changes in the prescribed formulas, 60% admitted that conducted it without recommendation. In the opinion of interviewed owners, the homemade diet did not cause changes in feces (50%) and coat (62.7%) of the animals compared to the use of a commercial food and was considered appropriate by the majority (79.0%). The homemade diets can be widely used, being especially important in dogs with diseases and/or dogs with hyporexia, since they are more easily accepted than the commercial diet; however, not all owners are able for its right use.(AU)

Evaluation of the owner's perception in the use of homemade diets for the nutritional management of dogs.

Many dog owners see homemade diets as a way of increasing the bond with their pets, even though they may not have the convenience of commercial diets. Modifications of ingredients, quality and proportion might change the nutritional composition of the diet, generating nutritional imbalances. The present study evaluated how dog owners use and adhere to homemade diets prescribed by veterinary nutritionists over an extended period of time. Forty-six owners of dogs fed a homemade diet for at least 6 months were selected for the present study. Owners were invited to answer questions by first reading all possible answers and then selecting the one that best indicated their opinion. The results were evaluated through descriptive statistics. Thirty-five owners (76·1 %) found that the diets are easy to prepare. Fourteen owners (30·4 %) admitted to modifying the diets, 40 % did not adequately control the amount of provided ingredients, 73·9 % did not use the recommended amounts of soyabean oil and salt, and 34·8 % did not correctly use the vitamin, mineral or amino acid supplements. Twenty-six owners (56·5 %) reported that their dogs refused to eat at least one food item. All of these alterations make the nutritional composition of the diets unpredictable and likely nutritionally imbalanced. Although homemade diets could be a useful tool for the nutritional management of dogs with certain diseases, not all owners are able to appropriately use this type of diet and adhere to it for an extended period of time and this limitation needs to be considered when recommending the use of homemade diets.

Dermatose responsiva à biotina em cão / Dermatosis responsive to Biotin in a dog

Os transtornos da pele e dos pelos são parte importante na prática clínica de pequenos animais. Numerosos fatores nutricionais afetam a homeostase, a qualidade e o aspecto da pelagem. As vitaminas do complexo B incluem compostos hidrossolúveis necessários como coenzimas em diversas funções celulares envolvidas no metabolismo energético e na síntese tecidual. A biotina, em especial, é necessária nas reações de carboxilação, participando da síntese de ácidos graxos, aminoácidos e purinas pelo tecido epitelial. Uma cadela com quadro de cistite recorrente e tumor venéreo transmissível foi tratada com antibioticoterapia prolongada e quimioterapia. Após alguns meses de tratamento, foram observadas lesões no plano nasal e nos coxins plantar e palmar, caracterizadas por hiperceratose, espessamento, fissuras, sangramento e inflamação. O paciente recebeu suplementação de 15mg de biotina por via oral (equivalente a 1,4mg kg-1 de peso corporal), uma vez por dia, durante 60 dias, havendo importante regressão das lesões. Sugere-se que, sob antibioticoterapia e doença, a síntese intestinal de biotina possa não ter sido suficiente, sendo necessária sua suplementação.

Skin and hair diseases are an important part in small animal's clinical practice. Many nutritional factors can affect the quality and the aspect of the coat. B complex vitamins are water-soluble compounds used as coenzymes in several cellular functions that are involved in energy metabolism and tissue synthesis. Biotin, in particular, is necessary for carboxylation reactions, fatty acids synthesis, and incorporation of essential amino acids and purines in the epithelial tissue. A female canine with recurrent cystitis and sticker tumor was treated chemotherapy and prolonged antibiotic therapy. After a few months of medications, lesions were observed in nasal plan and palmar and plantar pads, characterized by hyperkeratosis, skin thickness, bleeding fissures, and inflammation. The patient was treated with 15mg of oral biotin supplementation (1.4mg kg-1 of body weight) once a day, for 60 days, with significant regression of skin lesions at the end of this period. These findings suggest that in certain diseases and particularly in prolonged antibiotics therapy, intestinal biotin synthesis may not be adequate, demanding oral supplementation.

Manejo nutricional e digestibilidade no quilotórax canino / Nutritional therapy and digestibility in canine chylotorax

O quilotórax corresponde ao acúmulo de fluido linfático em um ou em ambos os espaços pleurais, resultante do extravasamento de linfa do ducto torácico ou de uma de suas divisões principais. Este pode estar associado à ascite quilosa em pacientes com distúrbios linfáticos sistêmicos, como na linfangiectasia, em decorrência de defeitos no transporte linfático-venoso do quilo da cavidade torácica para a circulação sistêmica. A linfangiectasia intestinal é um distúrbio obstrutivo que envolve o sistema linfático do órgão e revela-se como a causa mais comum de enteropatias associadas à má absorção e perda de proteínas em cães. São apresentados no presente relato o controle clínico com o uso de dieta caseira com baixa gordura e a quantificação da função digestiva, por meio da determinação da digestibilidade do alimento, em um cão acometido por quilotórax secundário à linfangiectasia intestinal. A dieta caseira incluiu arroz, peito de frango, cenoura, carbonato de cálcio, levedura de cerveja, suplemento vitamínico e mineral e sal. O ensaio de digestibilidade foi conduzido pelo método de coleta total de fezes. A dieta caseira foi eficaz em interromper o acúmulo de efusão quilosa torácica, restabelecer as concentrações de proteína total e albumina e promover ganho de peso no paciente. Os resultados da digestibilidade demonstraram menor aproveitamento de todos os nutrientes no cão com linfangiectasia em relação ao controle sadio.

Chylothorax corresponds to accumulation of lymphatic fluid in one or both pleural spaces, resulting from the leak of thoracic duct or of one of their main divisions. This can be associated to chylous ascites in patients with systemic lymphatic disturbances, as in lymphangiectasia, due to defects in the lymphatic-veined transport of chylo from thoracic cavity to systemic circulation. Intestinal lymphangiectasia is an obstructive disturbance that involves lymphatic system of gastrintestinal tract and it’s the more common cause of enteropathies associated to reduced-absorption and protein loss in dogs. A clinical management of a dog assaulted by chylothorax secondary to intestinal lymphangiectasia is described. A homemade low fat diet was used, and the quantification of digestive function, through the determination of diet’s digestibility, was performed. The homemade diet included rice, chicken chest, carrot, calcium carbonate, yeast, vitamin and mineral supplement and salt. The digestibility assay was carried out by total feces collection method. Homemade diet was efficient in stop recurrence of chylous thoracic effusion accumulation, recovery of serum concentrations of total protein and albumin, and promotes weight gain. Compared to the healthy control dog, animal with lymphangiectasia showed reduced digestibility of all analyzed nutrients.