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T O day' S Ve T erinary Prac T ice | September/October 2016 | tvpjournal.com ac V n n u T ri T i O n nOT e S Peer r eviewed 86 Quality of Supplement i f supplementing a diet with fatty acids, it is important to choose a quality supplement. When choosing a fish oil supplement, take special care to select one from a reputable company with good quality control practices. Potential exists for nutrient excess (mainly vitamins a and d ) and toxin exposure, including mercury exposure with fish oil supplements. 10 c alling a manufacturer to inquire about quality control testing and consulting an independent (third party) evaluator are 2 ways to ensure the supplement quality. DIETARY FATTY ACIDS: BODY CONDITION & DISEASE d ietary fat levels can be adjusted to help manage disease. a djusting the amount of dietary fat and specific fatty acids can also affect the energy density of a pet food. For Body Condition a t 8.5 kcal/g, dietary fat is more than twice as energy dense as protein and carbohydrate (each 3.5 kcal/g). 11 • Higher fat diets (when tolerated) can increase the energy density of a diet, aiding in weight gain without significantly increasing the volume of food needed to improve body condition. • Lower fat diets, which are lower in energy density, can help with weight loss, while provid - ing required essential fatty acids and allowing a patient to consume a larger volume of food without significantly increasing caloric intake. For Disease: Fat Restriction n ot all patients can tolerate average amounts of dietary fat. Managing conditions, such as hyperlipidemia, canine pancreatitis, and lymphangiectasia, often necessitates dietary fat restriction (< 20% of total calories from fat). 12-14 i n some patients, therefore, dietary fat restriction is used as an adjunct therapy in disease management, despite the animal's body condition and the desired energy density for its diet. Before implementing fat restriction, however, a dietary history should be obtained (Table 4). This helps ensure that, when the patient's nutritional plan is adjusted, dietary fat is restricted relative to the previous diet. i t is also imperative that essential fatty acid requirements be met despite fat restriction. a low fat diet can be provided that meets fatty acid requirements, with most dietary fat coming from essential fatty acids, including la , ala , aa , e P a , and d H a . Overall, a nutritional assessment and plan should ensure adequate energy and nutrient intake for the patient despite fat restriction. a thorough nutritional assessment includes assessment of animal factors, dietary factors, and feeding management and environmental factors. 15 For Disease: Supplementation Fatty acids, especially e P a and d H a , have a number of therapeutic uses in dogs and cats that are summarized elsewhere. Table 4. Components of a d ietary History Information about diet, including: • Type • Amount • Frequency of feeding • Duration of feeding Information about other foods fed, including: • All treat types and frequency • Table scraps/human food amounts and frequency • Food for medication administration • Food for training • Dietary supplements • Any other food or treats Information about what other pets in the household eat Table 5. EPA + d HA for Adult m aintenance: i ntake, Allowance, s afe u pper l imit, & d oses 8 Ad E qu A t E iN t A k E rEC omm EN d E d Allow ANCE sAFE uPPE r l imit s u GGE st E d s u PP l E m EN t A l d os E * d og (body weight, 10 kg) 169 mg (0.03 × 10 0.75 ) 169 mg (0.03 × 10 0.75 ) 2080 mg (0.37 × 10 0.75 ) 500–750 mg (50–75 mg/kg × 10 kg) Cat (body weight, 5 kg) 7.3 mg (0.0025 × 5 0.67 ) 7.3 mg (0.0025 × 5 0.67 ) NA 150–250 mg (30–50 mg/kg × 5 kg) NA = information not available * To avoid exceeding the safe upper limit and potential adverse effects, include fatty acids present in the main diet as part of the total supplemental dose.