Complication rates associated with misplaced feeding tubes in cats and dogs
Fernanda Camacho and Karen Humm, Willows Veterinary Centre, Solihull
Enteral nutrition is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality in hospitalised human patients. However, in around 2 percent of patients, the tube enters the trachea, which can result in pneumonia, pneumothorax and even death. The authors investigated the frequency of misplaced nasogastric or naso-oesophageal tubes in 97 feline and canine patients receiving feeding support. The tubes were mistakenly directed into the airway in 3.1 percent of cases. There was no measurable difference in complication rates between the naso-oesophageal and nasogastric groups. Radiography was the preferred method for checking that the tube was correctly positioned. However, in those cases where imaging is not available or feasible, other methods will be necessary. Tests to measure CO2 levels or identify negative pressure at the thoracic inlet and/or the final site may be used to check that the tube is correctly positioned.
Journal of Small Animal Practice, 65, 417-423
Development of a body condition index for estimating adiposity in horses and ponies
Samatha Potter and others, University of Melbourne, Australia
Obesity in equids is associated with metabolic changes that will increase the risk of laminitis. Efforts to monitor obesity in these animals usually involve body condition scoring but current methods are known to have significant limitations. The authors investigated an alternative approach, the body condition index (BCI), based on measurements of percentage body fat, derived using the deuterium dilution method. Their findings show that BCI results generally correlated well with adiposity, but tended to overestimate the percentage of body fat in leaner animals and underestimate that of more obese animals. However, the BCI method compared favourably with BCS in estimating adiposity and may provide a more effective tool for tracking weight changes, particularly for inexperienced assessors.
Equine Veterinary Journal, 56, 299-308
Are pet owners prepared to feed their animals insect-based diets?
Camila Baptista da Silva and others, Ghent University, Belgium
Although the idea is mostly met with distaste in Western countries, insect protein forms a regular part of the human diet in many cultures around the world. Concern over the sustainability of traditional ingredients has encouraged pet food manufacturers to explore the potential use of alternative materials in their products. The authors investigated whether pet owners would be willing to feed insect-based products to their animals. They questioned 435 pet owners on their views and found that 52 percent of those with dogs and 62 percent of cat owners had a positive attitude towards insect-based pet food. Overall, a majority of pet owners suggested that they would be prepared to choose such products for their animals if they are seen to have environmental or nutritional benefits.
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 108, 1833-1843
Impact of dog and owner demographics on dietary choices
Janice O’Brien and others, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg
The Dog Aging Project is a large-scale longitudinal study involving 45,000 dogs in the US, which obtains data on nutrition and canine health. The authors describe part of the study looking at the influence of human and canine demographics on the diet provided for these dogs. Their results show that canine factors such as age, breed and neuter status had a greater effect on diet than human factors such as owner age, educational level and income. Younger owners were more likely to provide their pet with commercial kibble foods. Home-prepared foods were more likely to be provided by older owners, those with purebred dogs that are in poor health and small-breed dogs. Raw food diets were more likely to be given to purebred, intact and highly active dogs.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 262
Barriers to reducing treat feeding by the caregivers of companion animals
Shelby Nielson and others, University of Guelph, Ontario
An important part of any strategy for dealing with obesity in pets is to encourage the owners to refrain from giving their animals treats. However, previous research has shown that many pet owners struggle to follow this recommendation. The authors investigated the reasons why cat and dog owners continued to offer treats counter to their vet’s advice. Changing the pet’s routine was reported as a barrier to reducing the number of treats by about 30 percent of respondents. Curiously, owners who recognised that their pet was obese admitted to finding it more difficult to stop giving treats. The authors emphasise the importance of considering the views and needs of both owner and pet when formulating plans to deal with obese and overweight animals.
Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 60, 100846
Safety of liquorice root extract as an immunomodulatory food supplement
Adrian Watson and others, Royal Canin, Aimargues, France
Glycyrrhizin, one of the main flavour ingredients in liquorice root, has been shown to have beneficial effects in the management of atopic dermatitis in dogs. However, previous studies in rodents have demonstrated that it can also cause hypertension by increasing levels of circulating cortisol. The authors administered glycyrrhizin to healthy dogs at oral doses of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6mg/kg for 28 days. There was no evidence at any dose of the hypermineralocorticoidism, with elevated potassium excretion and associated hypertension, reported in both humans and rats. They note that the highest dose tested here, which produced no observable ill-effects, is significantly higher than current international recommendations for a maximum daily dose of glycyrrhizin (0.02mg/kg bodyweight per day).
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 108, 1906-1912
Risk factors for being overweight or obese in domestic cats
Claudia Saavedra and others, Santo Tomas University, Chile
Modern domestic cats live a much more sedentary lifestyle than their ancestors which were kept to control rodents. They are also likely to be guaranteed regular meals of commercial pet foods. The authors reviewed the evidence on the prevalence and epidemiological variables associated with obesity and excessive weight in domestic cats. They suggest that standard assessments of body condition scores may be an imprecise indicator of the risk of obesity-related conditions. They argue the need to develop new methods that will provide more information on the distribution of adipose tissue, particularly at the abdominal level. They also recommend an introduction of dietary and feeding management strategies at an early stage in the cat’s life.
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 26
Beneficial effects of cannabidiol and krill oil supplements on chronic stifle osteoarthritis
Kumpanart Soontornvipart and others, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Cannabidiol, the main non-psychotropic agent in cannabis, has been shown to have some effect on the inflammatory process, as well as having pain-modulating properties. Oil derived from planktonic crustaceans, or krill, is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and is widely used in treating osteoarthritis in humans. The authors investigated the effects of administering both agents in dogs with osteoarthritis. Thirty dogs with chronic stifle disease entered their randomised placebo-controlled trial. Dogs in the two treatment groups – receiving krill oil alone or in combination with cannabidiol – showed significant improvements in pain interference and pain severity scores after two weeks of daily treatment. These changes were greater in the combination treatment group.
