Effect of diet on the cardiovascular system in healthy beagles.

Abstract

In management of canine cardiac disorders, cardiac drugs are commonly administered with food, although the cardiovascular effects of feeding and frequency of feeding are unknown. This study investigated the cardiovascular effect of feeding and frequency of feeding using a telemetry monitoring system in unanesthetized and unrestrained dogs. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and double product were steeply elevated during the five minutes immediately before feeding. They showed a sharp fall within 60 min after feeding time, especially the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which showed lower values than from before feeding time. There were no significant differences in the means of preprandial elevation, postprandial fall or 24-hr averages in the once- and twice-daily feeding periods.