Page 145 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

146 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

Reassessment
Marked clinical improvement occurred within one week and the cat appeared clinically normal within one month.
VetBooks.ir Comments

Vitamin E protects cells against lipid peroxidation. α-tocopherol appears to localize within cell membranes to prevent or inhibit
initiation of lipid peroxidation. Animals fed oily fish and fish oils containing high levels of unsaturated fat require greater amounts
of vitamin E to limit fat oxidation.

Bibliography
Koutinas AF, Miller WH, Kritsepi M, et al. Pansteatitis (steatitis,“yellow fat disease”) in the cat: A review article and report of four
spontaneous cases. Veterinary Dermatology 1993; 3: 101-106.

CASE 6-8

Hemorrhagic Diathesis in a Group of Kittens

Patient Assessment
A group of adult intact female cats and their kittens were involved in an AAFCO feeding trial to establish nutritional adequacy for
gestation, lactation and growth. Necropsy of four kittens that died during the feeding trial revealed hepatic or GI hemorrhages.
Fourteen of the surviving kittens were divided into two groups. Blood samples were taken on Days 1, 3, 4 and 6. After the Day 3
blood samples were taken, seven of the kittens were injected subcutaneously with a vitamin K preparation (200 mg K ), and the
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other seven were left untreated. Clotting times were determined for each sample.
The mean clotting time for kittens not receiving vitamin K treatment was 50 ± 9 seconds (values for normal kittens 22 ± 0.1 sec-
onds). Mean clotting times for kittens receiving treatment decreased significantly from 59 ± 10 seconds for Days 1 and 3 to 22 ±
0.4 seconds for Days 4 and 6.

Assess the Food and Feeding Method
Queens and kittens were fed a commercial feline food formulated primarily from tuna, free choice. Individual food intake measure-
ments were not available for the kittens because they were group housed for the AAFCO feeding protocol.

Feeding Plan
Further studies using purified diets did not identify the specific cause of vitamin K deficiency in kittens eating this fish-based food.
These studies led to a recommendation that pet food companies include a supplemental source of vitamin K in moist fish-based
foods for cats.

Bibliography
Strieker MJ, Morris JG, Feldman BF, et al. Vitamin K deficiency in cats fed commercial fish-based diets. Journal of Small Animal
Practice 1996; 37: 322-326.

CASE 6-9

Weight Loss in a Group of Cats

Patient Assessment
Twenty-eight cats in a humane shelter in England developed lethargy, a mild decrease in food consumption and weight loss.
Analysis of blood samples taken from three of the cats revealed a normocytic, normochromic anemia.
Three days after the onset of clinical signs,13 of the cats rapidly lost body condition and developed an uncoordinated gait.Within
eight to 12 hours, these cats developed ventriflexion of the head and had fully dilated pupils with no light reflex. Five of the cats
subsequently developed seizures and died despite treatment with anticonvulsant drugs. A diagnosis of thiamin deficiency was made
based on necropsy results.