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tvpjournal.com | September/October 2016 | T O day' S Ve T erinary Prac T ice ac V n n u T ri T i O n nOT e S Peer r eviewed 83 d ietary fats, as well as specific fatty acids, are essential in the diet of dogs and cats, as recognized in the nutrient recommendations for pet food provided by the n ational r esearch c ouncil ( nrc ) and the a ssociation of a merican Feed c ontrol Officials ( aa F c O). 1,2 Fats and fatty acids: • Provide energy • a id in fat-soluble vitamin absorption • Modulate inflammation • a ct as a precursor to eicosanoids and prostaglandins • Serve structural roles as a component of cell membranes • Promote healthy growth and development • a ffect skin and coat health. 1 The type of fatty acids fed to a patient, as well as the total amount of fatty acids in the diet, have the additional potential to improve or impair health. This review discusses basic properties of fatty acids; sources of essential fatty acids; therapeutic modifications of dietary fatty acids, fish oils, and other fatty acid supplements; and areas of caution in clinical practice when supplementing fatty acids. Role of Dieta R y f atty a ci D s in Dogs & c ats Catherine E. Lenox, DVM, Diplomate ACVN Royal Canin USA The American College of Veterinary Nutrition (acvn.org) and Today's Veterinary Practice are delighted to bring you the Nutrition Notes column, which provides the highest quality, cutting edge information on companion animal nutrition, provided by the ACVN's foremost nutrition specialists. The primary objectives of the ACVN are to: • Advance the specialty area of veterinary nutrition • Increase the competence of those practicing in this field • Establish requirements for certification in veterinary nutrition • Encourage continuing education for both specialists and general practitioners • Promote evidence-based research • Enhance dissemination of the latest veterinary nutrition knowledge. The ACVN achieves these objectives in many ways, including designating specialists in animal nutrition, providing continuing education through several media, supporting veterinary nutrition residency programs, and offering a wide array of resources related to veterinary nutrition, such as this column. Editor's Not E The American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) is a small specialty college, with members working in private practice, academic veterinary medicine, and industry. Board-certified veterinary nutritionists in industry regularly contribute to the academic mission of the College through research publications, confer - ence presentations, continuing education efforts, and active membership. As a result, these specialists, like Dr. Lenox, may be invited to author articles on topics within their area of expertise when there is no conflict of interest. Potential conflicts of interest are reviewed by myself as guest section editor, a peer reviewer (who is a member of ACVN and not employed by the same organization as the author), and the administrative/ editorial team at Today's Veterinary Practice. No spe- cial advertising consideration is provided to industry companies for whom authors may work. The goal of this column is to provide the latest in unbiased and evidence-based veterinary nutrition from the foremost experts irrespective of their places of employment. We, as always, welcome your feedback on the column and hope the material herein proves of value in your practice. —Justin Shmalberg, DVM, Diplomate ACVN & ACVSMR, CVA, CVCH, CVFT ACVN Liaison to Today's Veterinary Practice ce a r T icle