title: Nutritional analysis and microbiological evaluation of commercially available enteral diets for cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of nutrients less than or greater than accepted standards in commercially available enteral diets for cats, and to identify contamination incidence in enteral diets for cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven commercial enteral diets for cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Labels were evaluated to determine if diets were intended to be nutritionally complete and balanced. One diet under storage techniques partially representative of clinical conditions was sampled on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 of storage for aerobic bacterial culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 7 diets were analyzed for key nutrients and results were compared to Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Nutrient Profiles for Adult Cats for maintenance and National Research Council recommended allowance (NRC-RA). From label information, 4 diets were classified as complete and balanced and 3 diets were classified as not complete and balanced. All 7 diets had at least 1 nutrient less than the AAFCO minimums and the NRC-RA. The total number of nutrients less than AAFCO minimums ranged from 3 to 9 (median = 4), with iron, potassium, and manganese being the most common. Concentrations of some nutrients were undetectable. None of the samples tested had a positive aerobic culture at baseline (day 0) or on subsequent samples from days 1, 3, 5, and 7 under any storage condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  None of the diets analyzed met all of the minimum nutrient concentrations. While short-term feeding may not be of concern for an individual patient, clinicians should be aware of potential nutritional limitations when feeding enteral diets to ill or injured cats.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors: Lori R
authors: LR
authors: Prantil
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors: Jessica E
authors: JE
authors: Markovich
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors: Cailin R
authors: CR
authors: Heinze
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors: Deborah E
authors: DE
authors: Linder
authors: VCA Antech, Inc, 12401 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90064.
authors: Todd R
authors: TR
authors: Tams
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors: Lisa M
authors: LM
authors: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis* / Q000382:microbiology; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000662:veterinary*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: enteral nutrition; feline nutritional requirements; nutritional completeness