Geriatric Nutrition: Do Old Dogs and Cats Need New Tricks?
Dr. Tammy Owens
1. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress leads to faster attrition of __________ involved in aging?
Mitochondria
Telomeres
Cellular pathways involved in aging
Body fat
Muffins, a 13 year old FS DSH presents for a senior wellness exam. It is noticed that she has lost 5% of her body weight since her last exam a couple of years ago and has mild muscle wasting over her epaxial and pelvic limb muscles. The owner says that she hasn’t made any changes to the diet in years and that Muffin still eats the same amount of the same grocery store brand dry food she always has. What could be contributing to her muscle loss?
Increasing energy needs as she ages. Many senior cats have increased energy needs after 11-13 years of age. Perhaps she needs a more energy dense diet as a senior. Will need to confirm energy density of current diet and estimate current calorie intake.
Decreased digestion of protein and/or fat with aging. This occurs in some, but not all, senior pets. Perhaps she needs a more highly digestible diet and/or an altered fat concentration in the diet.
Altered protein intake needs with aging. Current protein intake from the diet should be compared to the base recommended daily intake for an adult cat to ensure it is meeting or exceeding this. Source and digestibility of protein in the diet should be con
All of the above
What change in body composition is predictive of increased morbidity and mortality in dogs, cats, and people?
Decreased body fat
Increased body fat
Decreased lean body mass
Increased bone density
A 10 yo MN medium size mixed breed dog presents for an exam. Owner relays that the dog is less active and has increased difficulty rising. Physical exam reveals mild generalized muscle atrophy (more pronounced in pelvic limbs), reaction to extension of hips bilaterally, and a grade III/VI left systolic heart murmur. The dogs’s appetite is good and he is on a highly digestible, adequate protein diet that is for all life stages. You recommend transitioning to diet more appropriate for a senior pet, but specifically are looking to increase what in the diet?
Vitamin B complex to improve overall energy metabolism, vitamin C and vitamin E for antioxidant effects, and probiotics to improve the gut microbiome
Vitamin E and C supplements for their antioxidant effect and fish oil for the anti-inflammatory PUFAs EPA & DHA
Fruit and vegetable based prebiotic fibers to improve metabolome
Omega-3 PUFAs EPA and DHA at a dose adequate for both cardiac cachexia and osteoarthritis, fruit and vegetable ingredients that will increase antioxidant, phytonutrient, and prebiotic fiber intakes for improving markers of aging
The Dog Aging Project is testing the use of __________ for the potential positive effects on lifespan and improved cardiovascular function?
Rapamycin
Omega-3 fatty acids
Vitamin C
Prebiotic fiber
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