Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Long Island University, Old Brookville, NY, 11548, US.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, US.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2024;1446:203-215. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-54192-6_9.
Aging is often associated with chronic inflammation and declining health. Both veterinarians and owners of aging dogs and cats are interested in nutritional solutions and strategies to prevent signs of age-related disease, increase longevity, and improve quality of life. Physiological decreases in muscle mass, decreased immunity, and a decrease in sense acuity are some of the changes often seen in otherwise healthy senior pets; however, there may also be an increase in risk for pathologies such as renal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neoplastic diseases. Aging may also lead to cognitive decline and even cognitive dysfunction. Some nutritional strategies that may be helpful with the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases include supplementation with ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant nutrients that can help modulate inflammation and benefit osteoarthritis, renal disease, cancer, and more. Supplementation with medium-chain triglycerides shows promise in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction as these may be metabolized to ketone bodies that are utilized as an alternative energy source for the central nervous system. Additionally, a high intake of dietary phosphorus in soluble and bioavailable forms can lead to renal disease, which is of greater concern in senior pets. There are no published guidelines for nutritional requirements specific to senior pets and as a result, products marketed for senior dogs and cats are highly variable.
衰老是与慢性炎症和健康状况下降相关联的。兽医和老年犬猫的主人都对营养解决方案和策略感兴趣，这些方案和策略旨在预防与年龄相关的疾病迹象、延长寿命和提高生活质量。肌肉质量下降、免疫力下降和感官敏锐度下降等是在其他方面健康的老年宠物中经常出现的一些变化；然而，也可能会增加患肾脏、心血管、肌肉骨骼和肿瘤疾病等疾病的风险。衰老也可能导致认知能力下降，甚至认知功能障碍。一些有助于预防和治疗与年龄相关疾病的营养策略包括补充 ω3 多不饱和脂肪酸和抗氧化营养素，这些营养素可以帮助调节炎症，有益于骨关节炎、肾脏疾病、癌症等。中链甘油三酯的补充在治疗犬认知功能障碍方面显示出希望，因为这些可能被代谢为酮体，酮体被用作中枢神经系统的替代能源。此外，高含量的可溶性和生物可利用形式的膳食磷可导致肾脏疾病，这在老年宠物中更为关注。目前没有针对老年宠物的营养需求的既定指南，因此，市场上针对老年犬猫的产品差异很大。
