Objective: To investigate the percentage of prescribed enteral nutrition that is actually delivered; the percentage of goal feeds [defined in terms of the animal's estimated resting energy requirement (RER)] that are delivered; and the reasons animals are under or overfed in a small animal teaching hospital. Design: Prospective investigation. Setting: Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Animals: All dogs and cats that received tube feeding while admitted to the Ryan Veterinary Hospital during the months of August-December 2003. Interventions: The medical record for each animal was reviewed to determine the feeding prescription, the amount of tube feeds actually delivered, and any reasons why the amount delivered differed from the amount prescribed. The amount prescribed was also compared with the animal's goal feeds which were defined for a patient as 50% RER/day on the first day of feeding and 100% RER/day for the remaining days of hospitalization.Main results: Twenty-five animals (23 cats and 2 dogs) were enrolled in the study. Animals received a median of 91% (range: 68-100%) of their prescribed feeds/day and a median of 90% (range: 36-133%) of goal feeds/ day. Nausea or vomiting and conflict with other treatments were the most common recorded reasons for incomplete feeds. Conclusions: Both prescribed and goal feeds were delivered to the animals in this investigation with a good rate of success. Consultation with the Nutrition Support Service improved the likelihood that prescribed feeds would meet the animal's estimated RER.(J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2006; 16(2)(S1): S2-S6)

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Objective: To review the types and potential consequences of diet/nutrient–drug interactions that can occur in patients receiving nutritional support. Data sources: A literature review was performed using Ovid multi‐database searching including Medline, Agricola and Biosis. Summary: Although very little information is currently available that pertains specifically to veterinary patients, we know from the human experience that food intake and diet composition can affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, efficacy and toxicity of a drug. Conversely, certain drugs can alter the absorption of nutrients when administered in conjunction with food or act to antagonize nutrient metabolism or function. The different ways that incompatibility can arise between food or nutrients and drugs in patients receiving nutritional support and strategies for avoiding these problems are discussed. Conclusions: The consequences of diet/nutrient–drug interactions include decreased tolerance of nutritional support, loss of feeding access, decreased drug efficacy, nutrient malabsorption or malassimilation, and risk of drug overdosage. Therefore, when patients receiving nutritional support experience these types of complications, a review of the diet, route of nutritional support, drugs, and timing of feeding and medication administration are indicated.

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