The other nutritional interventions discussed with heart disease in dogs have not been studied as extensively in cats, so results are primarily anecdotal and subjective. B-vitamin supplementation is suggested with these patients. Cats on diuretics for their CHF experience greater B-vitamin urinary loss and have greater requirements than healthy animals. B-vitamins are water soluble and eliminated in the urine. B-VitaminsĪlthough no association between vitamin deficiency and feline heart disease has been made, cats with HCM tend to have lower blood levels of B6, B12, and folic acid. Routine monitoring of blood electrolytes are essential in these patients. Restriction or supplementation may be necessary to avoid such complications. Potassium and MagnesiumĪs with dogs, treatments for CHF (diuretics, blood pressure medications) may cause alterations in blood potassium and magnesium levels that can affect heart and nerve function. The amount and stage to initiate salt reduction is still a topic of feline cardiac research. Severe restriction can cause metabolic shifts that actually are harmful and counterproductive to the cat’s health. Even then recommendations are only for moderate restriction. Only as congestive failure progresses is consideration given to restriction. Salt restriction is not necessary in the early stages of HCM. (See Vitamin C and Calcium Oxalate Stones) Sodium Vitamin C should be avoided in cats with a history of urinary calcium oxalate crystals or stones. Vitamin C and E are the most commonly used in cats and dogs. Antioxidants neutralize these molecules and reduce that inflammatory response. The tissue damage created by these molecules increases the detrimental inflammatory response that intensifies CHF. However, reactive oxygen molecules, or “free radicals,” are known to increase as CHF progresses. Unlike humans, the role of antioxidants in feline heart disease in undefined. Cats lack the ability to effectively make that conversion, so fish oil supplementation is the preferred choice for cats with HCM. Canola and flaxseed oils do not contain preformed EPA and DHA and require conversion from shorter chain omega-3 fats. Fish oil is rich in preformed EPA and DHA, so conversion from other omega-3s in not required. Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docasahexaenoic acid, DHA, are omega-3s that are known to decrease inflammation and reverse muscle loss. Omega-3 fatty acidsĬongestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory chemicals that actually increase muscle breakdown and directly cause anorexia. Higher dietary fat also increases palatability. Switching from dry to wet is often helpful, but in some cats the reverse is true. Highly palatable (i.e., better tasting) foods that are rich in protein can slow or reverse the wasting that occurs for these patients. Thirty-eight percent of cats with heart disease have histories of anorexia. These patients often lose muscle mass from the condition as well as from the poor appetite often associated with heart conditions and the drugs used to treat them. ProteinĪdequate protein is essential for HCM at all stages. Recommendations generally address the needs of the various stages and treatments of congestive heart failure that result from this genetic disorder. Presently there are no recommended dietary recommendations for cats diagnosed with early, non-clinical HCM. DCM is preventable and treatable with diets containing adequate amounts of taurine. Routine assessment of blood taurine levels should be part of that evaluation. Regular veterinary exams are important for all animals, but for cats on vegetarian diets it is especially important. A 2004 study found that two commercial feline vegetarian diets contained only 18-24 percent of the daily recommended allowance for taurine. Plants contain little taurine, so homemade vegetarian diets need generous supplementation.īut it is not just the homemade vegetarian diets that pose a risk. It is a problem, however, for cats fed a vegetarian diet. Animal muscle tissue is rich in taurine, so for this carnivorous species that is not problematic. Unfortunately, this species has limited ability to convert other amino acids or molecules into taurine. However, one cat population is still at significant risk.Ĭat metabolism requires large amounts of taurine, an amino acid-like molecule. With the nutritional changes made to commercial cat food following the 1987 research revelation that linked taurine deficiency with feline heart disease, the diagnosis of DCM has significantly decreased. We continue this week on the role of nutrition in dealing with these conditions. As I pointed out last week, feline heart disease is more prevalent than previously thought.
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