Back to ArticlesNotes for the Tiny Tails Rescue Forum August 20, 2018
FEEDING THE STARVED DOG
August 20, 2018
Notes for the Tiny Tails Rescue Forum August 20, 2018rehabilitating the rescued malnourished dog
Starvation
WHAT
HAPPENS DURING STARVATION?
Researchers have
studied how a dog’s body organs and biochemistry are disrupted by various
lengths of time of starvation. If the dog is healthy to begin with, and no
medical problems exist that, of course, would compound the starving dog’s
medical status, a predictable sequence of adaptations take place.
The dog’s biochemical
functions shift into survival mode within twenty-four hours with no nutritional
intake. The highest priority of the dog’s metabolic processes becomes the
necessity to keep the blood glucose concentration at a normal level. If the
blood glucose ("blood sugar") level drops too low for any reason, the
brain, heart, muscles and kidney function shuts down rapidly and death comes
quickly. So, when the dog has no opportunity to eat, the survival mode’s first
concern is to mobilize stored glucose from liver and muscle reserves by
changing the biochemical processes to different chemical pathways that make
glucose readily available.
After about two days
without food the liver reserves of glycogen (glucose) are depleted. So in order
to keep the blood level of glucose in the normal range, new chemical pathways
open, called gluconeogenesis, where the liver and kidneys create molecules from
complicated biochemical reactions so that fats and proteins are extracted
from adipose tissue and muscle. As the glucose
reserves are tapped and diminished, chemical reactions kick in to create
glucose internally from those protein and fat reserves. Energy to run the
body’s machinery (muscle, brain, kidney, heart and other organ functions
require energy to fuel their activities) is now fueled less by glucose and more
by fatty acid extracted from fat reserves.
On the
third day of food deprivation the dog’s metabolism slows
down. This lower, or slowed, metabolic rate continues as long as no food is
consumed. The lowered metabolism is a survival mechanism to decrease the
utilization of body fat and muscle for energy. Lowered blood sugar levels
changes insulin secretion
by the pancreas, which
in turn lowers thyroid hormone levels; and it’s the thyroid gland function that ultimately
dictates the metabolic rate.
During
starvation the liver releases chemicals called ketones into the blood stream;
ketones are then used as a source of energy for the dog’s body cells. By
creating ketones and fatty acids to be used as energy sources, the dog’s body
conserves what little glucose is circulating so that glucose-dependent red
blood cells and important kidney tissues can continue to access glucose.
Interestingly, red blood cells and kidney tubule cells cannot utilize anything
other than glucose for cell energy needs.
After
five days of starvation fat becomes the main source of energy.
FEEDING THE STARVED DOG
Animal
caretakers must exert strict self-control when attempting to nurse a starved
dog back to good health. The natural and common tendency is to overfeed the dog
"because he’s ravenous." If an emaciated and starved dog is suddenly
overfed serious consequences, such as refeeding syndrome, await. This is
because a sudden load of carbohydrates in a large meal can create serious
shifts in potassium and phosphorus concentrations in all body cells.
Signs of
Refeeding Syndrome are described as muscle weakness, muscle cramps, heart
muscle damage and rhythm irregularities, seizures, red blood cell rupture and
respiratory failure.
In
addition, a prolonged lack of food does not "shrink the stomach," but
it does make the stomach much more sensitive to stretch receptor nerve impulses. The dog may feel as if full
when the stomach has only a small quantity of food in the stomach. The
increased sensitivity to gastric expansion
will dissipate over 3 to 7 days.
The food
being fed to the starved dog should have adequate mineral composition,
especially phosphorous, potassium and magnesium. (Therefore, do not be tempted
to feed, for example, just hamburger, which does not have a wide or balanced
mineral content.) The amount of food, or total calories, should not exceed over
24 hours what the dog would normally eat at its normal weight. An emaciated dog
is best served consuming a small meal every six hours (4 times a day) rather
than consuming one or two larger meals.
A broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral
supplement is important to include at each meal. Some evidence supports the
addition of the amino acid glutamine to the recovery diet. Omega 3 and 6 fatty
acid supplements are also beneficial to a dog recovering from malnourishment;
the same holds true for the amino acid arginine. Dietary nucleotides are important
contributors to the formation of DNA and RNA and assist in a number of
metabolic activities of healthy cells. Diets rich in meat provide adequate
nucleotides.
By
feeding a highly digestible, meat-based "Puppy" or "Growth"
food, along with certain supplements, recovery and weight gain should be
evident in a short period of time -- that is, as long as the dog has a normal
appetite.
Also,
until a normal appetite should return, it is recommended to divide the daily
suggested amount of food (based on the dog's estimated health weight) into four
smaller portions. At each meal, closely monitor the dog's intake and note it on
a chart. For example, the record could state, 8:00 a.m. meal - ate 100% or ate
50% or ate 10%.
If, after
two days, the dog does not consume an amount over a 24-hour period
approximately equal to the amount expected to be eaten by a healthy dog of the
patient’s ideal weight, assisted (forced) feeding may become necessary. Consult
your veterinarian regarding how best to force feed the patient.
Keep in
mind that some dogs raised on a single type of dog food may reject a different
type no matter how hungry the dog may be. There are dogs that simply refuse to
eat canned food, dry food or table scraps, so be prepared to be creative. Slightly
warming the food or moistening with chicken broth, and presenting the food in
tidbit amounts can tempt a reluctant appetite.
If you
estimate the dog has been deprived of food for 7 days or more, the diet should
be composed predominately of fat rather than carbohydrates. Never allow the
dog, especially early in the recovery feeding process, to consume a large meal
all at once. Small amounts fed at intervals during the first few days is very
important. Free access to water is proper.
It is
common to see occasional vomiting or loose stool in the early recovery time of
a starved dog. By weighing the dog twice a day (a.m. and p.m.) and by noting
the amount of food ingested versus the amount vomited and passed as feces, an
assessment can be made regarding positive or negative weight gain. Veterinary
care is needed if bloody stool or vomit is noted or if there is weight loss
during the refeeding and recovery period.
DETERMINING
HOW MUCH TO FEED
Nutritionists employ a
number of methods and formulas to determine the average total caloric intake
for dogs based upon the dog’s ideal body weight. Any estimate of "how
much" to feed is inherently subjective and lots of variables will apply to
each individual dog.
Some nutritionists rely
on the (MER) Maintenance Energy Requirement to determine approximately how much
food (actually how many calories) an average dog needs on a daily basis to
maintain body weight. In spite of exceptions and variables, calculating the MER
is sensible and useful.
Below is an
approximation for an average dog’s maintenance daily caloric requirements:
Dog’s Weight in
Pounds
|
Total Calories
Needed Per Day
|
11
|
456
|
22
|
725
|
44
|
1,151
|
66
|
1,508
|
88
|
1,827
|
132
|
2,394
|
The stress of recovery
from a starvation state might demand a slightly higher caloric intake than
estimated. When feeding the emaciated dog, the number of calories the dog
should ideally consume during recovery from starvation should be approximately
the same as what the dog would consume at its normal weight. For example, if a
rescued Mastiff is extremely thin and emaciated and upon examination she weighs
88 pounds and you estimate that when healthy she would weigh 130 pounds, try to
feed the dog a daily caloric amount calculated for a 132 pound dog. Therefore,
during a 24-hour day you would provide the dog not with 1,827 calories but
rather 2,390 calories.
Every pet food or
supplement label must list the calories per unit weight of the product. Plus,
the percent fat and protein are listed. For some mysterious reason
carbohydrates (CHO) percentages are not often listed and, if needed, must be
calculated by deduction from the percentages of everything else listed on the
label. Fortunately, in the starving dog’s recovery diet our main focus is on
fat and protein intake so calculating the calories supplied by carbohydrates
isn’t a priority.
It is suggested that
dogs mildly to moderately underweight be provided with a diet moderately high
in fat and protein. These diets should have adequate levels of carbohydrates
but not predominantly carbohydrate. Try to feed products that show (for dry
food) fat content of 18% and protein 28-30%. (Liquid supplements will list
seemingly lower percentages for fat and protein because they typically are 60
to 70% moisture whereas dry pet foods have only 10% moisture.)
For a markedly
underweight dog that truly looks starved, an even higher fat content in the
diet is recommended... but remember to start out slowly! Do not overfeed with
too much at any single feeding. Also, check with your veterinarian before
giving an emaciated dog a recovery diet.