title: Nutritional concepts for the veterinary practitioner.
abstract: Although veterinary practitioners know that nutrition can make a difference in the health and recovery from disease or illness in dogs and cats, they may feel poorly equipped to provide unbiased information on nutrition. This article provides information about evaluating and recommending diets and interpreting a pet food label to allow for comparisons among pet foods and discussion about how to do a nutritional assessment. It provides an example of how nutritional assessment and recommendation were successfully introduced into a busy private practice. Finally, some of the myths and misperceptions about nutrition are discussed with information provided from evidence-based research.
authors.affiliation: Private Consultant, 11 Mavisbank Place, Lasswade, Midlothian EH18 1DQ, Scotland; The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Scotland. Electronic address: m.chandler@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marjorie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.affiliation: The Parkway Veterinary Hospital, GKT Enterprises, PC, 3 Southwest Monroe Parkway, Suite Y, Lake Oswego, OR 97035, USA.
authors.forename: Gregg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Takashima
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000592:standards*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005515:Food Labeling; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Body condition score; Muscle condition; Nutritional assessment; Nutritional myths; Pet food labels