Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Total parenteral nutrition in dogs and cats - what to know
By Lippert, A C et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·1993·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: A retrospective study of the use of total parenteral nutrition in dogs and cats.
Plain-English summary
This study looked at the use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), which is a way to provide nutrition directly into the bloodstream, in dogs and cats over a period of 43 months. A total of 72 dogs and 12 cats received TPN, usually because they had problems with their stomach or intestines. Most of these pets were on TPN for about 4.5 days, and more than half gained weight during that time. While there were some issues like mechanical problems with the feeding setup and metabolic problems related to fats and sugars, most pets were able to switch back to regular eating and go home. Overall, TPN was found to be a helpful option for very sick pets who couldn't eat normally.
Abstract
The records of all dogs and cats receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) over a 43-month period were examined retrospectively. Dextrose, amino acids, lipids, electrolytes, and vitamins were administered by central venous catheter according to published nutrient recommendations; 72 dogs and 12 cats were studied, accounting for 380 patient days of TPN. Duration of TPN administration was 1-14 days with a mean of 4.5 days. Most animals required TPN because of gastrointestinal dysfunction, and more than half of them gained weight during TPN administration. Mechanical complications were frequent. Metabolic complications, especially lipid and glucose intolerance, were also commonly seen. Septic complications were the least frequently encountered, but resulted in patient morbidity and may have contributed to mortality. Most animals receiving TPN were returned to enteral nutrition and discharged. For critically ill animals unable to tolerate enteral alimentation, TPN can be supportive therapy in the treatment of the primary disease.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8501697/