Effect of withholding food versus feeding on creatinine, symmetric dimethylarginine, cholesterol, triglycerides, and other biochemical analytes in 100 healthy dogs

Abstract

Background Withholding food is often recommended before collection of blood for routine biochemical analysis in dogs despite a paucity of evidence to support this requirement. Objectives To compare measurements of selected biochemical analytes collected before and after feeding in clinically healthy dogs. Animals One hundred clinically healthy staff‐ and student‐owned dogs weighing ≥15 kg. Methods Prospective observational study. Food was withheld from the dogs for 10‐26 hours. Preprandial serum was collected, and then dogs were fed their usual food at an amount equivalent to at least 2/3 resting energy requirement (RER). Selected serum analytes were measured at 2‐, 4‐, 6‐, and 8‐hours postprandially. The proportion of postprandial values that exceeded either the reported allowable total error (TEa), or for symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), the reference change value (RCV), was determined. As neither TEa nor RCV is available for lipase, comparison was made to the high end of the reference interval (RI). Results The proportion of dogs with at least 1 postprandial measurement that exceeded the TEa or RCV was 92/100 for triglycerides, 66/100 for blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 46/100 for phosphorus, 17/100 for glucose, 9/100 for bilirubin, 5/100 for SDMA, 2/100 for creatinine, and 0/100 for cholesterol and albumin. Postprandial lipase never exceeded the RI in dogs with normal fasted lipase. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Withholding food is generally not necessary before performing routine biochemical analysis in clinically healthy dogs. Withholding food might be helpful to limit variability in analytes impacted by feeding, such as triglycerides and phosphorus.

Effects of prednisolone on 1,2‐O‐dilauryl‐rac‐glycero glutaric acid‐(60‐methylresorufin) ester‐lipase activity and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in healthy cats

“…Food was not withheld for laboratory examination, and this might have affected laboratory results. However, a recent study evaluating the effect of prior food intake on standard laboratory values in dogs found no increase in lipase activity (substrate 1,2 diglyceride, Beckman Coulter) 32 . We measured lipase 24 hours after the previous prednisolone administration.…”

“…However, a recent study evaluating the effect of prior food intake on standard laboratory values in dogs found no increase in lipase activity (substrate 1,2 diglyceride, Beckman Coulter). 32 We measured lipase 24 hours after the previous prednisolone administration. Lipase half-life time is unknown in cats.…”

Biological variation of 16 biochemical analytes estimated from a large clinicopathologic database of dogs and cats

“…One possible reason for this is that some of the samples were not obtained from fasted animals. Dietary intake can influence certain analytes, especially triglycerides, 30 and biochemical experiments are usually conducted under fasting conditions. However, in our study, the samples were collected at various private veterinary hospitals, and thus, we lacked information about the feeding status at the time of sample collection.…”

“…One possible reason for this is that some of the samples were not obtained from fasted animals. Dietary intake can influence certain analytes, especially triglycerides, 30 and biochemical experiments are usually conducted under fasting…”

Plasma chemistry reference intervals for adult multi‐drug‐resistance gene deficient Collies

“…The prandial state of the Collies in this study was variable. There may be some differences in triglycerides, BUN, and phosphorus based on the prandial state of the animals used, but for most measurands, no differences between fasted and un‐fasted samples are expected 13 . Some age‐related differences are also possible; however, partitioning was not done for age in this study as insufficient young Collies were available.…”