Soy Protein Isolate versus Meat‐Based Low‐Protein Diet for Dogs with Congenital Portosystemic Shunts

Abstract

Background: Both presurgical preparation and long-term support of nonoperable dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) require optimal dietary management. Studies suggested that protein source may play an important role, with vegetable and dairy protein sources having better effects on hepatic encephalopathy (HE) than meat proteins.Objectives: Determine whether a low-protein test diet with soy as its main protein source results in better scores than a control diet with the same composition but with poultry as its main protein source in dogs with CPSS.Methods: In a double-blind cross-over study, 16 dogs received each diet for 4 weeks. Dogs in group T first received the test diet and then the control diet, whereas dogs in group C were fed the diets in the opposite order. Different variables (body weight, body condition score, HE score, fecal score, CBC, plasma tests of liver function including NH 3 , and coagulation tests) were measured at the start of the study and after completion of each diet.Results: One-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed. Plasma NH 3 was significantly lower after the test diet than after the control diet. The test diet also resulted in significantly higher fibrinogen concentrations and lower prothrombin times. The HE score improved with both diets, with no significant difference between the 2 diets.Conclusions: Both diets achieved a significant improvement in HE score. The influence of the soy-based diet on plasma NH 3 concentration and coagulation parameters suggests that such a diet decreases the risk for HE and gives better support of liver function.

Determination of mammalian deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in commercial vegetarian and vegan diets for dogs and cats

“…Vegetarian diets can be fed to dogs safely when adequately formulated, but are not recommended in cats in any instance due to documented concerns regarding amino acid adequacy and other factors; in addition, given the poor compliance with labelling requirements in most over‐the‐counter vegetarian diets, veterinary therapeutic options for dogs may be most appropriate when desired for a canine patient (Kanakubo et al., ). Vegetarian diets are sometimes recommended by veterinarians for dogs to manage specific conditions such as hepatoencephalopathy (Proot et al., ), adverse food responses (Strombeck, ) and urate or cystine urolithiasis (Bartges and Kirk, ). As such, both pet owners and veterinarians hold expectations regarding the ingredients in commercial vegetarian and vegan diets.…”

Putative precipitating factors for hepatic encephalopathy in dogs: 118 cases (1991–2014)

“…13 The historical hepatic encephalopathy grade generally represented the most severe clinical sign recorded in the patient' s history. 13 The historical hepatic encephalopathy grade generally represented the most severe clinical sign recorded in the patient' s history.…”

Hepatic encephalopathy in dogs and cats

“…However, currently there is no way to diagnose covert HE in dogs and cats as the paper and pencil or computer‐based neuropsychometric tests used in people are not applicable to veterinary patients. Additionally, there are no universally accepted guidelines to grade the severity of overt HE in dogs or cats, although some authors have adapted human grading schemes for use in dogs (Table ) …”