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Posted: 21st December 2020

Hydrolysed diets 'may be beneficial' for feline vomiting and/or diarrhoea
Cats with chronic vomiting and diarrhoea may benefit from a hydrolysed diet.
Researchers assess cats prescribed a hydrolysed diet before antibiotic treatment.

Cats with chronic vomiting and diarrhoea may benefit from a hydrolysed diet before antibiotic and/or glucocorticoid therapy, according to new research.

The study, published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP), describes the responses of cats prescribed a hydrolysed diet with or without concurrent antibiotic and/or glucocorticoid for chronic vomiting and/or diarrhoea of undetermined aetiology. 

JSAP editor Nicola Di Girolamo, said: “The results of this study are particularly prudent with the increased awareness and understanding of the role that companion animal veterinary surgeons can play in preventing the development of antimicrobial resistance.”

In the study, researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) reviewed the medical records of some 5,000 cats with evidence of receiving a hydrolysed diet for gastrointestinal indication, prior and concurrent medication and response after hydrolysed dietary intervention.

Poor response was defined as evidence of receiving antibiotic or glucocorticoid treatment for vomiting and/or diarrhoea at visits after the onset of the diet, or death from gastrointestinal signs for a follow-up period of at least six months. Researchers found that 42 per cent of cats that were first prescribed a hydrolysed diet with or without concurrent antibiotic and/or glucocorticoid had a poor response. 

Dr Aarti Kathrani, a senior lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the RVC, and corresponding author of the paper explained: “Antibiotic and/or glucocorticoid administration before and concurrent with the diet were associated with higher odds of a poor response. 

“Although our study was unable to determine the causality behind this association, possible explanations may include the association of antibiotic and glucocorticoid treatment with severity of GI signs, prescribing habits of veterinary surgeons, or the effects of antibiotic and glucocorticoids on the intestinal microbiota and mucosal immune system, respectively reducing the effectiveness of a hydrolysed diet.”

Nicola Di Girolamo added: “Although the information available did not allow the authors to correct for the severity of the condition of the individual cats, and this fact could have biased the results if cats that had a more severe condition -and therefore more likely to have a poorer outcome - were immediately prescribed additional medications other than the hydrolysed diet. 

“These results are a base for further randomised controlled trials and provide useful guidance for veterinary surgeons facing similar situations.”



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