| Diet Corner- Update |
| Diet and Diabetes- The Diet Connection in Cats Of the treatment options available for diabetic cats, perhaps the one with the most importance is also the one most often overlooked. New research has centered on the role of diet in both the development and treatment of diabetes mellitus in our feline friends. Pet owners of diabetic cats that visit North Dekalb Veterinary Clinic should be prepared for a thorough discussion of high protein- low carbohydrate diets and how they influence the treatment process. These diets are generally recommended for most diabetic cats, and for a few cats, diet change may be the only treatment needed (at least initially). These diets are also beneficial in lowering insulin requirements and occasionally allow us to use oral medications instead of injectable insulin. |
| Nutrition at North Dekalb Veterinary Clinic Nutritional support plays a crucial role in healing, both from illness and from surgery. At North Dekalb Veterinary Clinic, we take a proactive role in your pets nutritional needs. Nutritional discussions are an important part of our client education. Numerous medical conditions are treated using nutritional approaches along with, or sometimes instead of, pharmacuetical or surgical means. For example, the most common medical problem facing pets in this country is obesity. We have numerous diets and programs to help clients combat their pets weight problems. Special diets are also integral treatments in urinary tract conditions, diabetes, intestinal disease, and even some skin diseases. Without diet recommendations, we would be severely limited in treatment options for many of these problems. Please do not hesitate to ask questions regarding your pets nutritional needs. |
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Nutrition
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Prescription Diets FAQ's
What are prescription diets?
Nutrition plays a crucial role in many health problems. Prescription diets are specially
formulated diets used to aid in the treatment and prevention of these problems. These
diets may contain either higher or lower levels of nutrients, special ingredients, or
even pharmaceuticals known to be beneficial for various medical conditions. Since they
must be used in specific situations requiring regular monitoring, they are considered
"prescription" products. The sale of these diets is restricted and a valid patient-doctor
relationship must be maintained (in other words, we must be currently seeing the patient for
the medical condition in order to sell the diets to the pet owner).
What conditions/diseases are prescription diets used for?
Prescription diets are used to manage weight problems, diabetes, kidney disease,
urinary tract problems, nutritional problems, skin or allergy problems, heart disease,
gastrointestinal problems, and liver disease. There are even diets available to assist in
the treatment and control of dental disease, cancer, and various geriatric behavioral
conditions. While we can special order diets for the above-mentioned conditions, we
generally stock diets for the most common uses such as diabetes, weight control,
kidney disease, and allergies.
Who makes prescription diets?
A number of companies make the prescription diets currently available to our
veterinary patients. We do not restrict ourselves to one manufacturer but rather
choose diets that we feel are the best available. Therefore, we carry diets from a
variety of sources. Waltham USA, Purina, and Innovative Veterinary Diets are the most
commonly used. On occasion, we also use prescription Eukanuba diets although these
must be special ordered.
Why are prescription diets more expensive than other commercial diets?
Prescription diets are specially formulated for the condition that they are designed to
treat. Many of the ingredients are more expensive to produce and their production
requires extensive research and development. The market for these diets is also
smaller than that of regular diets. For these reasons, prescription diets tend to be
more expensive but their benefits far outweigh the cost difference.
To save money, can prescription diets be mixed with or used to supplement regular diets?
While this approach may appear to save some money, prescription diets are
formulated to work best when used alone. In addition, many of these diets require
that they be used exclusive of any treats or supplements. Using them with other foods
may not only prevent patients from receiving the optimum benefits but in some cases
may also be harmful.
Can homemade diets be used in place of prescription diets?
While homemade diets are often helpful and occasionally even preferred, the
availability, consistency of ingredients, and ease of use of prescription diets make
them superior to homemade diets. It can be very difficult to develop a well-balanced
homemade diet that meets all of the patient's nutritional demands. Since prescription
diets must frequently be used long-term, devoting the time required to make
comparable diets is often difficult or
impossible, and short-cuts often result in diets deficient in nutrients.
What about raw food diets?
Raw food diets, often referred to as b.a.r.f. (bones and raw food) diets are sometimes
promoted as an alternative to prescription diets. The theory is that cooking destroys
nutrients resulting in imbalances that promote disease. In reality, raw food diets are
often the ones deficient in nutrients. Some studies have shown that many of the
recommended raw food diets do not meet even basic nutrition needs. In addition, raw
food diets have also been linked to cases of salmonella infection that may not only be
fatal to pets but also transmissible to pet owners. The truth is, domestic pets today
are very different from the wild counterparts. Comparing a poodle to a wolf or a
persian cat to a tiger makes little sense because, along with the obvious exterior
changes, many internal changes have also occurred. The ability to digest foods,
assimilate nutrients, and handle pathogens can be far different. North Dekalb
Veterinary Clinic does not recommend the use of raw food diets in place of properly
processed and balanced pet foods
| Hot Topics in Veterinary Nutrition While it seems that many nutritional recommendations stay the same from year to year, there are numerous areas of special interest worthy of note. Not surprisingly, one of the most important issues for pets is one that many of us can relate to, especially in our busy world of fast food and tight schedules. We now share Americas number one health concern with our beloved pets. Obesity Obesity in pets has hit epidemic proportions. Simply put, our pets are fat! The result of this has been an increase in orthopedic problems (especially knee and soft tissue injuries), more cardiovascular disease, skin problems, pancreatitis, and a big jump in the number of diabetic pets. The basic premise of weight loss is simple: Fewer calories in and more calories burned. In reality, however, busy schedules limit walking time/play time and as a result, most of us hand them a few extra treats or some table food to assuage our guilt for not spending more time with them. But it is time to replace that 1 quart stadium cup in the dry food bag with a more reliable measuring cup. It's also high time to get out that leash or find that feather toy and take a little time to exercise Fido and Fluffy. If you need help developing a diet plan for your pets, please don't hesitate to contact us. After all, your pets are our patients and we want to help you to keep them healthy. |