Nutrition

Holiday hazard 4: Ribbon and tinsel

Prebiotics and probiotics promote beneficial intestinal bacteria numbers and improve gastrointestinal and overall health.

Sherry Sanderson, DVM, DACVIM, DACVN, answers questions about the advantages of feeding a prebiotic and probiotic in a synbiotic relationship.

Dogs and cats are often observed eating grass and other plants of no apparent value.

Horses' condition makes it easier for vitamin E to do its work protecting cells from free-radical damage.

Manhattan, Kan. -- How will climate change affect the nutritional resources of cattle in the future? Likely, protein availability through grazing will diminish, prompting the need to start thinking about supplemental nutrition sources now, according to a study from Kansas State University.

Participation in this CE offering is available to members of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. The applicable article is available in the December 2008 issue of The NAVTA Journal. (1 CE credit)

Considering the large impact of immunology on companion animal practice, it's natural to wonder what role nutrition plays.

Some owners prefer to prepare homemade foods – feel less guilty and have impression of preparing a "real meal" that is "more natural" and "more traditional".

Obesity is the most important malnutrition of companion animals. It can be a disabling medical condition when moderate to severe in scope. At prevalence rate estimates of 10-40%, obesity must be considered a significant hazard to dogs and cats.

Nutritional needs of the anorectic or debilitated animal are sometimes overlooked, since most of the focus is placed on curing the disease and not the whole patient.

Supplementation of diets may be necessary due to dietary imbalances or because of disease-specific therapeutic benefits of the supplement.

Foods, whether for human or animal consumption, are supposed to provide nutrients for maintenance of health; however, situations arise where the food may be source of the problem.

Pet food sales in the United States exceed 17 billion dollars. Veterinarians and veterinary staff are – and should be – a valuable source for nutritional recommendations.

Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and the general public are inundated with information, some accurate and some not, on pet nutrition.

Therapeutic diets represent another aspect of treatment of specific diseases in addition to conventional therapy. These diets are designed for one or more diseases and formulated to contain a nutrient composition that may be of benefit in treating these diseases.

This association estimates half of the dogs and cats in the United States are too heavy.

Participate in a study to help raise awareness about the dangers of pet obesity-and possibly win $200 for your clinic.

People should be vigilant on behalf of their animals, a veterinarian says.

This team member met a dog that reminded her that she can't care for every pet, but she can help one needy family at a time.

Talk to clients about the importance of therapeutic pet food?and how to pay for it.

Owners exercising with their pets not only improves the health of both but can strengthen the human-animal bond.

Here's your script for talking to clients about the importance of buying therapeutic pet food at your clinic-not a pet store.

Participation in this CE offering is available to members of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. The applicable article is available in the September 2008 issue of The NAVTA Journal. (1 CE credit)

Dog visits to the veterinarian increased about 8 percent last year to an average of 2.8 annual visits, while cat visits remained unchanged at an average of 2.1 annually, according to a national survey.