title: Palatability assessment of an oral recuperation fluid in healthy dogs during the perioperative period.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether healthy dogs undergoing elective surgery will accept and prefer an oral recuperation fluid (ORF) to water during the perioperative time period and if the consumption of an ORF would lead to increased caloric intake during the final preoperative and first postoperative periods. This prospective, observational study was performed in the setting of a University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. A total of 67 healthy dogs were presented for routine ovariectomy (n = 30) or castration (n = 37). Before surgical intervention, dogs were offered an ORF to assess their voluntary acceptance of the fluid. After 2 hours, the ORF was offered alongside water to assess fluid preference. Routine castration or ovariectomy was then performed. During the immediate postoperative period, dogs were reassessed as to their acceptance and preference of the ORF. A high percentage of dogs accepted the ORF in both the preoperative (55/67, 82%) and postoperative (42/67, 63%) periods (P < .01 and P = .04, respectively). Of dogs that demonstrated a preference between the ORF and water, 87% (95% CI: 77%-93%) chose the ORF preoperatively, whereas 98% (95% CI: 87%-99.5%) chose the ORF postoperatively (P < .01 and P < .01, respectively). Dogs that consumed the ORF in each measurement period ingested a higher amount of food (measured as percentage of kilocalories offered) when compared with those that did not consume the ORF (preoperatively 83% vs. 49%, P < .01; postoperatively 51% vs. 27%, P = .01). A commercially manufactured veterinary ORF was found to be palatable, as determined by acceptance and preference testing, in healthy dogs during the preoperative and postoperative phases of routine sterilization. Further studies in dogs undergoing more intensive surgical procedures or recovering from nonsurgical illness or both are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Jethro M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Twedt
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lappin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Justin C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mathis
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. Electronic address: lauren.sullivan@colostate.edu.
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000662:veterinary; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D059035:Perioperative Period / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015532:Rehydration Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000592:standards*; D013649:Taste
chemical_list: D015532:Rehydration Solutions
keywords: critical care nutrition; enteral nutrition; oral recuperation fluids; postoperative nutrition management