Feline Diets and Diabetes

Feline Diets
and Diabetes
Despite their bad reputation, carbs are not inherently bad. In fact, the right level
of carbohydrates depends on the individual cat. By Dr. Elizabeth Devitt
o cats get diabetes from
high-carbohydrate diets
and dry food?
That question is controversial among experts in
feline medicine and nutrition, who debate the need for sugars and
plant-based starches in an animal that
was made for eating meat.
It's also a question that you undoubtedly hear from your customers.
Let's take a look at new research as
well as scientific reviews of the literature
on feline diets and diabetes to gain some
perspective on the role of carbohydrates
in feline nutrition.
How Did (arbs Get a Bad Rap?
Carbohydrates' bad reputation may
stem from the fact that cats are true
carnivores, according to Dr. Robert
36
pet age NOVEMBER 2010
Backus in "The Controversy Over
Carbohydrates in Diets for Cats:' presented at the 2009 American College of
Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum held
in Montreal.
Omnivores are designed to get their
nutrients and energy from meat and
plants. Cats, however, are created to be
perfect protein processors. They lack
many digestive tools that help break down
carbohydrates in plant materials and distribute the energy efficiently to the rest of
the body.
The cat's shortage of enzymes to process plant material also could have led to
the perception that using plants instead
of animals as energy and nutrient sources
might not be as healthful.
In "The Carnivore Connection
to Nutrition in Cats:' by Dr. Debra
Zoran, an associate professor at Texas
A&M University, College of Veterinary
Medicine (College Station, Texas), the
modern housecat's dry, starchy diet came
up short after a detailed analysis of the
ways hunt-for-food felines are anatomically and biochemically designed to digest
high-protein, low-carbohydrate meals of
bird!rand mice.
Another contributor to carbohydrates'
unpopularity has been the rise in obesity and diabetes in cats, coupled with
the increased use of commercial diets.
Reports that carbohydrates represent less
than 10 percent of metabolizable energy
in feral cats' diets versus more than 35
percent in many manufactured dry foods
led some people to conclude that the
increased carbohydrate content in cat
diets may be to blame.
Furthermore, studies that report the
benefits of low-carbohydrate diets in
. managing obesity or diabetes add weight
to the argument that high-carbohydrate
diets can cause these health problems.
But just because low-carbodiets are useful in managing diabetes does not mean
healthy cats should not eat carbohydrates.
"Carbohydrates have been painted black;'
said Dr. Margie Scherk, editor of the
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
and former president of the American
Association of Feline Practitioners
(Hillsborough, N.n "The idea that cats
can't eat carbohydrates because they
are carnivores isn't true. Cats may have
evolved to be protein machines, but they
can tolerate carbohydrates just fine or
we wouldn't have cats living longer than
ever:'
Eric Morris, nutritionist for Fromm
Family Foods Inc. (Mequon, Wis.), maker
of Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals, agrees.
"I'm not debating genetics, but today's
domesticated cats live in a different environment and lead different lives than wild
cats: They're neutered, they don't hunt
and they don't have the same stresses or
exposure to pathogens. Carbs aren't the
bad ·guys. They. can 'be used for energy,
and the right kinds can help good bacteria
in the gut:'
No one argues the fact that cats were
made to metabolize protein most efficiently, but Backus found no studies to
support the idea that carbohydrates put
cats at risk for chronic hyperglycemia
and, eventually, insulin resistance and
diabetes. He traced the source of this
hypothesis to an article that explained the
predisposition of some groups of people
to diabetes, which was then applied to
cats. But studies don't support that bridge
from people to cats.
Dr. Jennifer Larsen, an assistant professor at University of California School
of Veterinary Medicine (Davis, Calif.),
drew the same conclusion in her review,
"Low-Carbohydrate Diets for Health
and Disease in the Cat: What Does the
Research Tell Us?" presented in January
20lO at the North American Veterinary
Conference in Orlando, mao One study
showed that cats had blood sugar levels
similar to omnivores after high intakes of
simple sugars. In another study, cats failed
to exhibit big blood-sugar spikes after
eating starch at concentrations found in
extruded, dry-type diets.
Do Carbs Make Cats Fat?
No. Cats get fat like everyone does- by
eating more than they exercise.
"The issue isn't carbohydrates. It's
calories;' said Scherk. "Calories are a
misunderstood entity. They are simply
a measure of energy produced when a
particular substrate~protein, fat or
carbohydrates-is metabolized. What
causes obesity is an excess of calories,
regardless of where those calories come
from:'
Carbohydrates were blameless in a 2005
study published in the Journal of Feline
Medicine and Surgery: Cats lost weight
based on their body condition and energy
intake-not on the levels of carbohydrates
in their diet.
Dietary fat is more of a risk factor for
obeSity than carbohydrates, according to
Larsen. Higher-fat diets have more calories per mouthful, so it's easier for owners
to overfeed and for cats to overeat.
The most common ri~k factors for
excess weight in cats are being male,
middle-aged, neutered, indoor, inactive
and eating all-day-buffet style meals.
Do Carbs Cause Diabetes?
Eight percent of U.S. residents live with
diabetes, according to the Centers for
Risk Factors for Diabetes
• Genetic tendencies
• Other insulin-resistant disorders or conditions, such as chronic pancreatitis or
hyperthyroidism
•
•
•
•
•
•
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Indoor lifestyle
Middleage
Gender (male cats are more commonly afflicted)
Use of corticosteroids like prednisolone
Source: Cornell Feline Health Center (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Precise Holistic Complete Wild at Heart River lineSalmon, just introduced in September, features a
new probiotic from the human supplement sector
and botanical sources of vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants.
Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta).
Feline experts estimate that as many as
one out of every 400 cats may be diagnosed with diabetes'.
"The incidence of diabetes in cats is rising, and it mimics the increase in people;'
said Dr. Randy Lynn, technical services
manager for Intervet/Schering-Plough
Animal Health (Roseland, N.n "People
want to draw similarities between lifestyle
and diet between people and cats:'
Diabetes isn't caused by carbohydrates,
said Scl1erk. "It's caused by too many
calories in a cat predisposed to becoming
diabetic when they're already obese:'
In fact, obeSity is the significant risk '
factor for diabetes in cats, said Dr. Jacquie
Rand in her lecture on diabetes at the 2009
ACVIM Forum. A professor in the School
of Veterinary Science at The University of
Queensland (Australia), Rand cited one
study in which cats allowed free access to
a highly palatable, energy-dense diet over
lO months increased their body weight
by 44 percent and their insulin sensitivity
(ability to use insulin to store blood sugar
appropriately in the body) dropped by
more than half. After the weight gain, 25
percent of the cats in the study had insulin sensitivity values fall into the range
reported for diabetic cats.
petage.com
NOVEMBER 2010
37
Is Dry Food Bad for Cats?
Dry food may have suffered by association with carbohydrates because most
kibble has higher carbohydrate content
than canned foods.
"It isn't the dry food that is bad;' said
Dr. Renee Rucinsky, chair of the diabetic
guidelines committee of the American
Animal Hospital Association (Lakewood,
Colo.) . "Cats are gaining weight and
becoming diabetic because of the abundance of the dry food. It's just not appropriate to fill a food dish once a week. You
wouldn't sit down at a buffet and work
your way through it for a week:'
"Cats aren't designed for trough feeding;' said Scherk. "The average mouse is
30 to 35 calories. The average cat (five
kilograms) needs about 250 calories per
day. In kibble, that translates to 10 to 20
pieces of kibble fed eight times a daY:'
In a 2009 study, researchers at Utrecht
University in the Netherlands collected
data about diet, activity and diabetes from
telephone interviews with cat owners and
concluded that physical inactivity and
indoor confinement were independent
risk factors for diabetes, not the dry food.
(Note: They could not determine if the
percentage of dry food in the diet was an
independent factor.)
•
Can Low-Carb/High-Protein Diets
Prevent Obesity and Diabetes?
The "Diabetes Management Guidelines
for Dogs and Cats" published in the Mayl
June issue of the Journal of the American
'il.aJ
O! ~
WELLNE§'
=
u
Wellpet's grain-free, low-carb, protein-focused
Core line includes dry food with 12 percent carbohydrate and canned food with less than 5 percent
carbohydrate. Low-carb/high-protein diets are
beneficial to diabetic animals, according to veterinary guidelines.
38
pet age NOVEMBER 2010
The Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals line, designed to offer variety for the cat and the consumer, reflects the
company's interest in the influence of carbohydrates on cat health. The company also offers grain-free diets
and a probiotic blend designed specifically for cat diets.
Animal Hospital Association recommends limiting carbohydrate intake in
diabetic animals to reduce high blood
sugar and glucose toxicity in cats and
feeding higher-protein diets to maximize
a cat's metabolic rate, prevent loss of lean
muscle mass and improve satiety.
"There is a body of research that shows
that cats don't need carbohydrates in the
way that other species do;' said Rucinsky,
co-author of the special report and
owner/medical director of Mid Atlantic
Cat Clinic in Cordova, Md.
Studies also have shown that cats need
two to three times more protein than
omnivores, according to Zoran.
But there isn't one recipe for every cat.
"While there's compelling evidence that
a higher-protein, lower-carbohydrate diet
can help diabetics, it isn't clear that it will
help the nondiabetic cat;' said Lynn.
"Most of my conversations with
customers are about feeding lower
carbohydrates;' said Dr. Sally Perea, senior
nutritionist for Natura Pet Products Inc.
(Davis, Calif.). "People's interest is driven
by awareness of the human science and
the Atkins diet. But the right level of
carbohydrates depends on the individual
cat:'
"I don't think [low-carb/high-proteinl
diets work for every cat;' said Dr. Lisa
Drapela, staff veterinarian for Precise Pet
Products (Nacogdoches, Texas). "There
is a population of cats that can't tolerate
high protein:'
Larsen points out that most therapeutic
weight-loss diets are less energy-dense
than other diets and vary widely in fiber,
moisture levels, shape and nutritional
profiles to provide options for a wide
range of patients. The low-carbohydrate
diets may be more energy-dense, so care
must be taken to avoid overfeeding and
causing weight gain.
Despite recent research, said Larsen,
there are no current, peer-reviewed
studies that have controlled for variables
such as diet ingredients, fiber type and
source, or for fat and protein to compare
the effect of diets on diabetic cats.
How Can You Advise Customers?
So what do you tell your customers who ask you about any connection
between dry diets and feline diabetes and
obesity?
"The real secret is for people to ask
the right questions about the pet to
give the best recommendations;' said
Dr. Al Townshend, staff veterinarian for
Wellpet (Tewksbury, Mass.) . "You need
to know the age, activity level, neuter
status and any health concerns before
you can make a good recommendation.
Weight management is also a key factor
in choosing a diet that works for that
individual cat:'
"The fact that cats are true carnivores
is the most compelling evidence for making dietary recommendations for cats;'
said Dr. Deborah Greco, senior research
scientist with Nestle Purina PetCare Co.
(St. Louis) . She recommended giving cats
one or two meals a day of a commercial,
balanced cat food with at least one wet
portion to increase water intake and
reduce carbohydrate content.
"If you're trying to mimic a cat's natural
diet, the caloric distribution of nutrients
in mice and birds is 50 percent fat and 50
percent protein:' said Perea. "Historically,
your best option was canned food because
you don't need ingredients like grain to
bind the food and create kibble:'
Now, food manufacturers have the
COMPLETE POS
.
$3
• Barcoding, Labeling and Inventory Control
• Loyalty Points, Gift Cards, Multiple Price Levels
and Special Promotions "Buy 10 get 1 Free"
• Automate purchase orders and generate reports
• Built in fast credit/debit card processing
• Seamless Accounting integration with QuickBooks,
Simply Accounting and Peachtree
,
pas
Dell
Computer
+ 17" LCD Monitor
+ Cash Drawer
+ Laser Scanner
+ Receipt Printer
+ LABEL Printer
+ Software & Training
D~m SYSTEM
• Powerful & Easy to learn! The BEST POS Value! Period.
CREATE & MANAGE YOUR OWN WEBSTORE
UStNG ACE RETAIL POS !!!
now at an introductory price'
RETAIL
I"
()
S
1-888-810-9395
ll D.
Natura Pet Products' Evo, one of the first lowcarbohydrate kibbles on the market, also is available
in cans. Consumer interest in such diets is driven by
awareness of the Atkins diet.
Earth Friendly Litters
technology to create kibble that can hold
up with less starch and more meat.
For example, Natura makes Evo, one
of the first low-carbohydrate kibbles, and
Innova, which is higher in carbohydrates.
"[Innoval is a nice option for cats that
can't tolerate the increased fat in Evo;'
said Perea, who did not anticipate any
change to these product lines with the
acquisition of Natura Pet Products by
Procter & Gamble.
"I love the idea of dry products that are
grain-free diets and higher protein, since
canned food may not suit the cat or the
owner's schedule;' said Rucinsky.
Grain-free does not mean a food is
carbohydrate-free, however, noted
Drapela of Precise Pet Products. For
example, there may be potatoes or peas
instead. "I think the part about these
diets that works for cats is the increased
protein levels:'
"The greatest challenge is getting the
overall balance of ingredients and benefit
right;' said Morris of fromm. "Fromm
Family Foods continues to look at the
carbohydrate influence on cat health, the
profiles of different protein sources and
adding variety with sustainable, quality,
human-grade ingredients:'
"With so many options, retailers can
help customers find the right diet for
their cat by making local veterinarians
their allies;' said Rucinslcy. "Have conversations about the foods you carry; know
the nutritional specificity of these foods
and the nutritional needs of cats. Work
together for the health of pets in your
communities:' •
Dr. Elizabeth Devitt is a freelance writer
based in Santa Cruz, Calif. She specializes in
animal health care topics.
Precious Cat provides your cat with
consistent litter box use for life
and meets the special needs of your cat.
trapped inside the crystals preventing bacteria nrn'IAlTn
can lead to urinary tract infections and kidney failure.
Precious Cat Long Haired Cat Litter has all the benefits
of Precious Cat Senior with a granule size preferred by
long haired cats. It will not adhere to a long haired cat's
fur and will not discolor their coat.
Contact your pet supply
retailer for availability
~~~~r
877-311-CATS (2287)
www.preciouscat.com
petage,com NOVEMBER 2010
39