Turkey (fresh Turkey min. 20%, dehydrated Turkey protein min. 20%), pulses (Lentils min. 5%), Potato, legume fibre, Carob meal, refined Chicken oil, Brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), lignocellulose, marine zooplankton meal (Krill, source of Omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin), dried whole Egg, hydrolysed poultry Liver, FAEC Complete (Yucca schidigera extract, yeast products, (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a source of MOS and nucleotides), glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, methylsulfonylmethane, Chicory root, Salvia rosmarinus, Melissa officinalis, Taraxacum officinale, Salvia officinalis, Minthostachys verticillata, Cynara scolymus, Silybum marianum), Carrot, Artichoke, Pumpkin, Apple, FAEC Inmune (microalgae oil Schizochytrium sp. (source of Omega 3 DHA fatty acids), Panax ginseng, Punica granatum, Zingiber officinale, Urtica dioica, Camellia sinensis, Curcuma longa, Harpagophytum procumbens), FAEC Probio (Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus plantarum).

Support of lipid metabolism in case of hyperlipidaemia and support for the reduction of excess weight

Hyperlipidaemia

Hyperlipidaemia, which is defined as the presence of abnormally elevated lipids in the blood serum or plasma, either triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia) or cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) or both.

Diagnostic tests should be carried out on an empty stomach, approximately 12 hours, so that postprandial hyperlipidaemia is not misleading, and in the event of obtaining a serum with a milky appearance, the serum concentration should be observed as an indicator of severity. From this point, the diagnosis of the cause is key, whether it is primary or secondary to other diseases such as diabetes, obesity, pancreas or hypothyroidism; if the latter is the case, we must treat this primary pathology and monitor its disappearance. If what we find is a dog with obesity, it will be mandatory to use a diet such as the one proposed, low in fat that allows weight loss.

It is important to understand that the presence of cholesterol and triglycerides in dogs and cats cannot be extrapolated to humans, as they metabolise fats in a very different and more efficient way than in our case. So, although diet is an effective control measure, it is not necessarily the cause, but it can be the solution. Common human diseases such as arteriosclerosis are directly related to diet, but in cats they rarely occur or if they do, they can be a solution.

In the absence of diseases that trigger the disease, it will be a primary hyperlipidaemia, and two main types can be distinguished, idiopathic hypercholesterolaemia and hereditary hypercholesterolaemia. For this type of hyperlipidaemia, which in humans can lead to other secondary diseases such as pancreatic secondary diseases such as pancreas and diabetes mellitus, although there is no evidence that this occurs in cats, the treatment will be purely dietary, with a low-fat diet, moderate protein content although we must control the general condition of the cat, because in the case of hyperchylomicronemia, it is not uncommon to find this condition in animals without overweight, so we must provide sufficient calories for proper maintenance.

Again, in cats, there are insufficient studies to support the benefit of probiotics, although again, their use suggests benefits in the control and reduction of serum lipids in non-obese humans with hyperlipidaemia. Furthermore, since related lipids are absorbed in the small intestine, requiring interaction with bile acids, salts and enzymes, probiotic strains have demonstrated multiple benefits for the digestive system, we will gain benefits at this level.

Excess weight reduction

If what concerns us is obesity in cats, understood as the accumulation of fat in the animal until it reaches more than 20% of the ideal weight, we are talking about one of the biggest problems that we can find in the clinic, being an almost endemic disease nowadays.

Living together with humans in confined environments, with a sedentary lifestyle, excessive calorie and highly palatable diets, loss of functionality of the cat, of its hunting behaviour… are largely to blame for the fact that this disease has increased in presence and importance if we consider the loss of health and quality of life of the cat.

We must understand obesity as a key disease in the development of many other secondary diseases or as a relevant actor in the aggravation of existing diseases such as: Diabetes Mellitus type II, hepatic lipidosis, heart disease, insulin resistance, lower urinary tract disease, joint complications, dermatitis… In other words, it is not a minor illness that does not deserve attention.

Weight gain begins when the calorie balance is positive, i.e. more is ingested than is expended. Knowing this, we can act effectively to limit the appearance of being overweight in the first place and obesity in the second case, as well as its possible solution. We can find different factors that favour its appearance, from the breed, in which the common european cat has a greater tendency to gain weight than other breeds; sterilisation, which will require an adjustment in calorie intake as a sterilised cat will need around 20% less energy; the lack of physical activity, age and the use of inadequate diets.

Weight loss in the cat should be gradual, as rapid weight loss can lead to hepatic lipidosis, so veterinary monitoring is important to ensure that the goal is achieved safely. Generally, weight reduction through diet will be approached by reducing fat to encourage the burning of fat deposits, while maintaining good muscle mass with the use of high quality proteins in adequate concentrations.

During the necessary calorie restriction period, the body is challenged, the immune and/or digestive system may be compromised, which is why the use of probiotics that will reinforce the health and functionality of these is clearly recommended during this phase. In addition to all this, the possible benefits of including probiotic strains in the fight against obesity and overweight are being studied, from the modification of the individual’s energy homeostasis, to the modulation of the intestinal flora and its functionality.