Nutritional management of canine chronic hepatitis

摘要

Little is known concerning the nutritional requirements of dogs with naturally occurring hepatic disease. Most of the published information has been extrapolated from the human literature or from studies on experimentally induced hepatic disease hiveterinary patients. The goal in the nutritional management of hepatic disease is to design a highly palatable diet that provides adequate energy, adequate protein, and all essential "micronutrients". The diet must also be appropriate for managing potential complications that can accompany hepatic disease such as gastrointestinal ulceration, hepatic encephalopathy (HE), ascites or coagulopathy. It is imperative that prior to initiating dietary therapy for any patient with hepatic disease that a definitive diagnosis be obtained. Dietary management may change depending on the nature and extent of the lesion. Once a diagnosis is obtained it is important to realize that not all individuals have identical manifestations of the same hepatic disease. Therefore, no one diet will meet the needs of all animals with hepatic disease. Each patient needs to be evaluated separately and an individualized dietary plan devised.