| TODAY'S TECHNICIAN DECIPHERING THE CHOICES
The simple truth of pet nutrition is that: UÊThere are many excellent nutritional options UÊThe majority of pets can flourish on most of these options
UÊBasic nutritional needs can be met by any nutrition- ally complete food designed for the species.
Foods are deemed nutritionally complete if they have
been evaluated and meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional criteria (which will be noted on the product packaging). Because pets are individuals, however, some foods, even those that have met basic nutritional requirements as set forth by AAFCO, may not be appropriate for every pet.2 The veterinary professional's job is to:
UÊEducate owners about their pets' specific needs UÊDiscuss owners' concerns and questions regarding their pets' food
UÊGive owners nutritional options that meet both of these criteria.
TECHNICIAN'S ROLE While most veterinarians address nutrition for patients with medical concerns, wellness nutrition often falls through the cracks. Incorporating nutrition into regu- lar wellness routines is an excellent idea; however, practical concerns, such as appointment length, can interfere with a veterinarian's ability to do so. This is where the veterinary team, in particular, the techni-
cian, can step in to help: UÊComplete the nutritional assessments UÊDevelop, along with the veterinarian, nutritional recommendations
UÊCommunicate that plan to the owner UÊPerform follow-up to help owners be successful at home.
In this way, nutrition is an area
of practice that offers technicians an opportunity for professional and personal development and the practice an opportunity to increase its profitability with a valuable and popular client service.
DEFINING YOUR MESSAGE The key to developing a successful nutrition program is to maintain a consistent message in all areas of the practice. Defining the practice's philosophy on nutrition and train- ing the entire staff on the key points is the best way to communicate this message to the client. An interested technician is more than capable of developing the veterinarian's desired message into a comprehen- sive program and then implement- ing it in the hospital.
76 Today's Veterinary Practice July/August 2012
CREATING A NUTRITION PROGRAM 1. Develop a consensus regarding nutrition and com- municate it to team members—ideally in writing.
UÊPay attention to common client nutrition ques- tions or issues you encounter during your regular examinations for a few weeks; develop written positions to address these.
UÊAsk team members about their own questions and clients' concerns related to nutrition; address those as well.
2. Body condition score (BCS) should be noted during each examination.2
This provides a point of
reference for team members when the pet is pre- sented for subsequent visits or weigh-ins.
UÊAll veterinarians should agree to use the same BCS scale (1–5/5 or 1–9/9) and the patient should be assigned a score by the veterinarian performing the examination.
UÊTeam members should be trained to understand the chosen scale and able to discuss the significance of the score with owners.
3. Calculate calories — every visit. Train technical staff to calculate calories for owners and to do so at every appointment, along with temperature/pulse/ respiration.
UÊCalculate calories the client is currently feeding AND check with the veterinarian to calculate the calories the pet should be eating.
UÊThe calculation method can be selected by the veterinarian(s); determine whether calories should be calculated at ideal weight or current weight.
UÊCommon calculations for resting energy require- ments (RER) in dogs and cats include4-5
:
» 30 (bwkg) + 70 = RER » 70 (bwkg)0.75 = RER
Table 1. Recommended Websites for Locating Pet Food Calories Iams Canine Veterinary Diets Hill's Prescription Diets Natura Vet Products Popular Dry Cat Foods*
tinyurl.com/IamsCanineVeterinaryDiets hillsvet.com/products.html naturavet.com
petobesityprevention.com/wp-content/ uploads/2010/05/Cat_Dry_Food.pdf
Popular Dry Dog Foods* Popular Wet Dog Foods* Purina Veterinary Diets
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Other Food/Table Scraps
dodgecountycanine.com/files/Dry_ Dog_Food_Calorie_content.pdf
petobesityprevention.com/wp-content/ uploads/2010/05/Dog-Food-Calorie- Counts-December-2011-Wet-Dog.pdf
purinaveterinarydiets.com royalcanin.us/vcn/index.html nutritiondata.self.com
* These sites provide information that is continually changing in the market- place; they should not be relied on for accurate or current information.