Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nutritional support for sick pets using liquid diets
By Crowe, D T et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1997·Veterinary Institute of Trauma, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The use of polymeric liquid enteral diets for nutritional support in seriously ill or injured small animals: clinical results in 200 patients.
Plain-English summary
In a study involving 200 seriously ill or injured dogs and cats, researchers looked at the effects of special liquid diets designed to provide nutrition. These diets were given in different ways, such as free-choice, by syringe, or through a feeding tube, and could be used for up to 208 days. The study found that about 5% of dogs and nearly 8% of cats experienced vomiting, while around 9% of dogs and 18% of cats had diarrhea. For pets that received these diets for a week or more, dogs generally gained a little weight, while cats tended to lose some weight, along with some changes in their blood cell counts. Overall, the treatment had mixed results, helping some dogs but not being as beneficial for cats.
Abstract
This prospective, multicenter study evaluated the use of four polymeric liquid enteral (PLE) diets manufactured for dogs and cats in 200 ill or injured patients. Polymeric liquid enteral diets were administered by free-choice feeding, syringe, or feeding tube for up to 208 days. Overall results indicated a 4.9% incidence of vomiting in dogs and a 7.9% incidence in cats; an 8.9% incidence of diarrhea in dogs and an 18.4% incidence in cats. Patients fed the PLE diets seven days or longer had an average increase in body weight of 1.4% in dogs, an average decrease in body weight of 3.8% in cats, increases in lymphocyte counts, and mild decreases in serum albumin.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9358417/