Thursday April 25, 2019

News

NUTRITION

Clinical Case Studies

  • Clinical Case Challenge: Nutrition History/Case Details Cole, a 10-year-old male neutered Dalmatian, was presented to the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center’s Emergency Service with stranguria. He had a large, unexpressable bladder, a III/VI systolic murmur on the left side, ventral pyoderma, and hyperemic paws.  Body weight was 27 kg, with a body condition score of 4/9 and a normal muscle condition ...
  • Clinical Case Challenge: Nutrition (Dog) Maxy, a 2-year-old spayed female Golden Retriever, presents for her first weigh in after starting a weight loss program. Her initial physical exam reveals no abnormalities other than a body condition score of 9/9 (normal muscle condition). Her starting weight is 105 pounds, with an estimated ideal weight of 80 pounds. Her diet history reveals ...
  • Clinical Case Challenge: Nutrition (Cat) A 15-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat presented for evaluation of polyuria/polydipsia and weight loss despite a good appetite. He weighed 9 pounds (4.1 kg) with a body condition score of 4/9. Moderate atrophy of the epaxial muscles was noted. Physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. A CBC revealed a mild, non-regenerative anemia (Hct, 25%; reference ...

Success Stories

  • Oliver’s Story Quick Action and Teamwork Lead to Happy Ending For Oliver, it was the quick action by the Foster Hospital for Small Animals’ emergency services team at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts, as well as their effective collaboration with the other specialists, that resulted in a happy ending for this very sad puppy. For the Alward ...
  • Foster Hospital’ Obesity Clinic for Animals Helps Obese Dog Achieve Healthy Weight Just like humans it should come as no surprise that pets too can face weight challenges. For Hobbes’ family, recognizing that their golden retriever was overweight was the first and most important hurdle. Acknowledging that something had to be done for the good of Hobbes’ health was just as important. It was then an easy ...

Research

At Your Service

  • At Your Service: Nutrition The Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals focuses on individualized weight loss programs with careful monitoring to help pets become slimmer, happier and healthier. Weight management can be very challenging and time-consuming, especially if patients have comorbidities that require additional nutritional modification. We specialize in weight loss plans for patients that  have previously failed on other ...
  • At Your Service: Nutrition The Clinical Nutrition Service of the Foster Hospital for Small Animals offers in person and telephone appointments to pet owners and case consultations to veterinarians throughout the country. Common services the Clinical Nutrition Service provides are: Optimal commercial diet selection Nutritional plans for pets with medical conditions such as kidney disease, heart disease, cancer and gastrointestinal disease Assistance ...

Client Education

  • Nutrition Websites: The Best of the Best Pet Nutrition: General Information vetnutrition.tufts.edu/petfoodology — visit Tufts’ Cummings School’s Petfoodology site, with information on everything from whether you should give fish oil to your cat to what to feed your kitten if she has a health problem to diets for certain disease conditions. You can look for any nutrition topic using the search bar. www.nationalacademies.org — National Research Council’s ...
  • Which Nutrition Websites to Trust Nutrition Websites: The Best of the Best Which Nutrition Websites to Trust Here are eight questions to ask before relying on information found on a pet nutrition website — and the sites that we find to be the most reliable.
  • Breed Specific vs All Breed Diets We discuss the differences and similarities between breed-specific diets and all breed diets
  • The Eco-Friendly House Cat Greening our pet’s living space has never been easier as our experts share ideas on how to create a more Earth-friendly environment for all of us.
  • Understanding Food Allergies They are actually much more complex than most people realize, and it’s very important to use a novel protein diet with the guidance of your vet. Here’s why.
  • The ‘Guaranteed Analysis’ Puzzle Decoding one of the biggest sources of confusion regarding cat food labels: Lots of numbers that are hard for pet owners to put into practical use.
  • Weight Loss Foods and Actual Calorie Count Today, you can find at least 50 cat foods on the market with promises on their labels that claim everything from “weight loss” to “reduced calorie” to “weight management.
  • Helping Your Cat to Lose Weight Slimming down an overweight feline companion takes patience and dedication — and also veterinary expertise and direction. Here’s why.
  • Are Grain-Free Diets Healthier? A Tufts study compares grain-free diets to those that contain grain — and the conclusion is that the marketing outpaces the evidence of their actual benefit.
  • Ask The Doctors: October 2017 The safety of preservatives in commercial cat food; a typical case of feline acne
  • Feeding the Homemade Diet Home-cooked meal plans for your cat may spell “love” — but not necessarily good nutrition. Here’s why nutrient imbalances and other dietary problems abound.
  • Dear Doctor: Tuna Fixation It can be hard to break a cat’s longstanding preference for a certain food, so ask your veterinarian for suggestions if you feel stumped.
  • Drug Used to Euthanize Pets Found in Dog Food Dogs eating the food get sick, a recall is initiated, and consumers are left jittery. What to think? What to do? Here are 11 answers.
  • Is a grain-free diet healthier for my dogs and cats? Cailin Heinze, a veterinary nutritionist at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center, responds Grain-free diets are one of the largest growing segments of the pet food market. More and more pet owners are choosing these diets, which are billed as more natural and less likely to cause health problems and allergies. It all sounds great—except that those ...
  • Dear Doctor: What should I feed my cats? We are growing increasingly concerned with the reports of tainted pet food — food recalls, sudden deaths, etc. and we want to know how to best protect our beloved pets.
  • Premium pet foods – are they worth the premium price? Are premium pet foods worth the premium price, or can you save money without compromising your pet’s health? We discuss what premiumization means for pet food and why premium foods may not always be the best nutritional value.
  • Who we are and why you can trust us What does it mean to be a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and why can you trust us to provide accurate, unbiased nutrition information for your pet?
  • Paging Dr. Google: Nutrition on the Internet Information on the Internet about pet nutrition can be confusing and contains lots of myth and misinformation, but there also is some excellent information available. How can you decide who to trust? We provide tips on effectively and objectively using the Internet so you can make the best decisions about your dog or ...
  • Vegan Dogs – A healthy lifestyle or going against nature? The story of a pet owner who was attacked online for posting a picture of her dog and describing her vegan dog diet has gone viral on social media. We discuss whether vegan diets are safe for dogs.
  • Speaking Engagements – First Half of 2016 All three of us are frequently asked to speak at continuing education conferences for other veterinarians, present our research at scientific meetings, and speak at events for pet owners. Here are some of our more recent speaking engagements.
  • Should you make your own pet food at home? An increasing number of pet owners are interested in cooking their pets’ food at home. We discuss what is involved in cooking for your pet and the pros and cons.
  • What are the best foods and treats for my pet’s dental health? Advice for keeping your pet’s teeth healthy and clean
  • Recent Publications – July 2016 One of the more important parts of working at a university is sharing your knowledge with others. All three of us regularly publish research papers in scientific journals and write chapters in textbooks for other veterinarians. Below is a list of some of our more recent papers and chapters.
  • Why you shouldn’t judge a pet food by its ingredient list Although ingredient lists are commonly used by pet owners and most pet food rating sites to determine the quality of pet foods, this approach has many pitfalls and usually is not a good way to select a food.
  • Grain-Free Diets – Big on marketing, Small on truth Are you feeding a grain-free diet to your pet? Grain-free diets are one of the largest growing segments of the pet food market right now. More and more pet owners are reaching for these diets, which are billed as more natural for pets and less likely to cause health problems and allergies.
  • Aging Gracefully: Nutrition Tips for Senior Pets Foster Hospital for Small Animals invites you to a complimentary, informational webinar on nutrition tips for our senior pets. Join us online to learn more on April 27, 2016 at 6:30 P.M.
  • Creature Feature Cailin Heinze explains why a diet of canned meat or fish is not balanced enough for cats and dogs. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette March 9, 2016 Read full article at: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/mar/09/creature-feature-20160309/?f=features-family
  • Improving Your Cats Nutrition Making nutritional changes for your cat can help her enjoy a higher quality of life.
  • Animal Instinct Tufts scientists seek to put some evidence behind what we intuitively know is a wonderful thing: our special relationship with the animals in our lives.
  • Going to the Dogs (And Cats) Nutrition research could learn from man’s best friends.
  • Does Your Dog Eat Organic? Meet The ‘Human Grade’ Pet Food Startup Lisa Freeman exposes the truth behind more expensive pet food, which is not markedly better for pets than less expensive food.
  • Grain-free diets: An alternative option, but don’t dismiss the grains Grains are as “biologically appropriate” as other popular sources of carbohydrates in pet foods. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation currently being propagated regarding grains in pet foods. Contrary to popular belief, grain-free diets do not offer health benefits over a diet that contains grains, and each diet should be assessed based on its overall ...
  • Evaluating a Pet Food Ingredient List Is the ingredient list the first thing you look at on a pet food label? If it is, then you are not alone! Over half of pet owners surveyed say that the ingredients are the most important factor in choosing a pet food.
  • Holidays are Around the Corner: Watching Your Pet’s Waistline Pet obesity is a growing health concern. Overweight cats have an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint problems. Similarly, obese dogs are prone to diabetes, develop more orthopedic problems and arthritis. They may also develop respiratory distress and are more susceptible to heat stroke. Keep these things in mind to prevent your pet’s waistline ...
  • The right food could give your aging dog a new leash on life Nicholas Dodman says that medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in dog food improves their cognition and reduces cognitive decline.
  • Study finds wide variety in nutritional content of dog milk replacers Cailin Heinze research on dog milk replacers shows nutritional content varies significantly.
  • Fancy food? Your cat is probably OK with the basic stuff Lisa Freeman talks about how little impact expensive pet food has on actual animal nutrition.
  • Can dogs help kids lose weight? Cummings School veterinarian to study benefits of pets in reducing childhood obesity
  • Can dogs help kids lose weight? Health Canal Research on the effect of pets on motivating childhood weight loss, led by Deborah Linder, has been awarded funding from the National Institutes of Health. This is a Tufts-generated news release. Read full story here: http://www.healthcanal.com/public-health-safety/51006-can-dogs-help-kids-lose-weight.html
  • Our relationships with pets might be to blame for their growing obesity problem My Northwest (Seattle) Deborah Linder gives tips for pet owners to help their pets lose weight. http://mynorthwest.com/11/2522370/Our-relationships-with-pets-might-be-to-blame-for-their-growing-obesity-problem
  • Kibble Confusion In a nation of tubby tabbies and plump pooches, Tufts experts give the scoop on good nutrition for our pets
  • Something’s Fishy Is it safe to give my cat canned tuna as a treat?
  • With concerns about mercury poisoning, is it safe to give canned tuna to cats as a treat? Cailin Heinze, a veterinary nutritionist and assistant professor at the Cummings School, responds
  • Risks outweigh benefits of raw meat-based diets for pets Researchers review existing evidence on raw food diets
  • Is My Pet Overweight? Dr. Deborah Linder, DVM, DAVCN is a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at the Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals who provides five helpful tips for preventing your pet from becoming overweight. Visit the Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals for more information. Download this infographic as a PDF.
  • Catching the Signs of Pet Distress With a new diagnostic tool, Tufts veterinarians are demystifying feline heart disease
  • Misconceptions About A Popular Pet Treat Tasty Bully Sticks Can Add Calories & Carry Bacteria
  • New Tools for Evaluating Quality of Life for Cats, Dogs with Heart Disease “CATCH” and “FETCH” scores help veterinarians and pet owners make critical decisions
  • Wide Variety in Nutritional Content Found in “Senior” Dog Foods Tufts researchers discover discrepancy in owners’ perceptions, actual content
  • Kibble Confusion In a nation of tubby tabbies and plump pooches, Tufts experts give the scoop on good nutrition for our pets
  • Wide Variation in Calorie Content among”Low Calorie” Range may contribute to confusion among pet owners with obese dogs and cats

Stories

  • How accurate are dog-activity trackers? There are countless gadgets available these days for people to track everything from our heart rate to our stress levels. So perhaps it’s no surprise that there also are quite a few products that now claim to similarly monitor your dog’s activity and health, including tracking what your pet is up to all day at ...
  • Is Your Cat Anorexic? It’s important for the cat owner to understand why the syndrome happens, the harmful effects on a cat’s health — and the modern ways to stimulate appetite.
  • Our Fat Pets Dr. Deborah Linder was quoted in an article on pet obesity appearing in The New York Times on August 2, 2018. The piece includes her comments on how veterinarians assess whether or not an animal is overweight and also calls attention to the challenge of pet owners equating food with love when caring for their ...
  • Worried about Your Horse’s Nutrition? There’s going to be an app for that, if two Cummings students have their way How do you build a successful app? For two veterinary students, the starting point is this: give horse owners what they need. Lauren Ungar, V19, and Mary Davis, V19, are developing an app, Nutracheck Equine, to help owners keep horses healthy by making the best ...
  • OTC Diet is Not the Same As a Prescription Diet Many premium commercial pet food manufacturers now include foods that offer “novel” proteins and “limited ingredient,” “hypoallergenic” and “grain-free” formulas.
  • Our Cats Are Too Fat Researchers determine that the key to weight loss is a steady and persistent reduction in calories.
  • Do Supplements for Arthritis Work? Experts feel that they may be helpful — and a nod is given to Omega-3 fatty acids as the best choice. Here’s what you should look for.
  • Why are so many of our pets overweight? The Conversation US Dr. Deborah Linder examines how our relationships and interactions with our pets may be contributing to their obesity in her piece for The Conversation US. Read full article here: https://theconversation.com/why-are-so-many-of-our-pets-overweight-85958
  • Dear Doctor: How to Feed Kittens and their Nursing Mom Q I am fostering an adolescent stray mother cat and her three kittens (I picked them up when the kittens were about one-week-old) and I fed her a high-quality wet cat food the first few days. Then, I was told by a cat-loving friend that it was best to feed her kitten food because it’s higher ...
  • Grain-free pet foods are no healthier, vets say. Focus on this nutrition issue instead. The Washington Post While grain-free diets are marketed as superior for pets, there is no data to support the idea that they are better, says Dr. Cailin Heinze. In this Washington Post article, Dr. Heinze and other veterinarians suggest that owners should prioritize keeping their pets at a healthy weight by feeding a well-balanced diet. Read full ...
  • Dear Doctor: A Cat with an Endless Appetite A lot of animals — cats included — have had a difficult time finding enough to eat when living in a feral community-type setting and after adoption become ravenous when they are presented with a decent meal.
  • The Goodness of Grains Veterinary nutritionist Cailin Heinze weighs in on “grain-free” pet foods.
  • Does Seasonal Affective Disorder Affect Pets? ‘Tis the season of shorter days, plunging temperatures, and for many of us, bouts of the winter blues.
  • 7 Causes of Weight Loss in Pets While controlled weight loss, planned in conjunction with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist, is incredibly beneficial for pets that are overweight, there are certain forms of weight loss in animals that can be concerning.
  • A big pawprint: The environmental impact of pet food You can have both a healthy and more sustainable approach by feeding your dog or cat diets that contain moderate amounts of meat and use animal by-products, and feeding your pet only the amount of food it needs to maintain a healthy lean body weight.
  • Dear Doctor: Concern about stones Many owners become concerned about water consumption when a cat has battled urinary stones. Changing wet food brands can be a part of the solution.
  • Unwholesome Ingredients In Your Dog’s Food? Rumors of dog and and cat meat and other unsavory ingredients in pet food have people nervous.
  • Assessing pet supplements Lisa Freeman appears in this article investigating the need for more pet supplement regulation.
  • Busting pet food myths with veterinary nutritionist Dr. Lisa Freeman of Tufts Veterinary School Lisa Freeman is interviewed in this radio segment on pet food and nutrition.
  • Dear Doctor – Preservatives in pet food There used to be a lot of talk about the dangers of BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin used as preservatives in certain pet foods
  • The Pet Doctor: Nutrition Edition Cailin Heinze speaks with host Bernadine Cruz about the ins and outs of pet nutrition.
  • Does Your Pet Need Supplements? Cailin Heinze discourages pet owners from administering supplements to their pets.
  • Should Your Dog Be Taking A Probiotic? Cailin Heinze cautions against feeding human food to pets.
  • Dear Doctor – The hazards of feeding dog food to cats Is dog food safe to feed to cats?
  • Dear Doctor – My cat won’t drink water I never see my cat drink water
  • 4 mistakes you’re making when feeding your pet Cailin Heinze talks about the importance of not underfeeding overweight pets as part of the effort to help them lose weight in this Health.com reprint.
  • What Appetite Changes Can Mean on Cats A shift in eating habits can be harder to spot in a multicat household, but eating too much or too little are red flags that require your attention
  • Lisa Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVN By Sandy Quadros Bowles As a girl growing up in Florida, Lisa Freeman dreamed of becoming an equine veterinarian. That was not such an unusual plan for a girl who grew up riding horses. Unlike many of her contemporaries, whose plans change course amid life’s ebbs and flows, Freeman did indeed become a veterinarian.But her specialty changed. She ...
  • An App for Your Pets Cummings student heads to veterinary business plan competition with startup idea for tracking animal care
  • Food as Medicine Jessie Markovich, a resident in clinical nutrition, is working to ensure a good life for cats with chronic kidney disease. Photo: Kelvin Ma.