Introduction
- Each individual animal has unique energy requirement.
- Energy is derived from dietary fat, carbohydrate and protein.
- Cause : (often) young animal fed homemade diet.
- Signs : weight loss +/- failure to grow.
- Diagnosis : must rule out weight loss due to concurrent disease (because of legal welfare considerations).
Diagnosis
Differential diagnosis
- Maldigestion
. - Malabsorption .
- Renal insufficiency .
- Hepatic disease .
- Cardiac insufficiency .
- Periodontal disease .
- Parasitic disease .
- Neoplasia .
- Pain-induced anorexia .
- Drug toxicity .
- Adverse environmental conditions: eg adverse housing, hospitalization.
Sequelae
Prognosis
- Good: if uncomplicated starvation and detected early.
- Guarded: if concurrent disease - depends on primary cause.
Expected response to treatment
- Gradual return to optimum body weight: time taken depends on animal's initial weight.
- Improving activity level and general demeanor.
Reasons for treatment failure
- Concurrent systemic disease.
- Standard reasons .
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Burger I H (1994).Energy needs of companion animals: matching food intakes to requirements throughout the life cycle.Journal of Nutrition124, 2584S-2593S
