Associate Professor, Small Animal Internal Medicine Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Manhattan, Kansas, United States
Disclosure(s):
Maria Jugan, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM): No relevant disclosure to display
There is growing awareness of the complex relationship between the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome and other organ systems, both in healthy individuals and those with systemic disease. This connection is particularly relevant in cats, as they exhibit disease patterns similar to metabolic syndrome in humans. Given that cats are obligate carnivores, nutrition plays a crucial but unique role in these disease manifestations in comparison to other species. Understanding how different diet profiles influence the feline GI microbiome is key when considering nutritional intervention in obese cats. In this session, we will begin with a brief overview of metabolic syndrome, and the connection with the GI microbiome. We will then examine how various diet profiles have been demonstrated to influence the gut microbiome and metabolic changes in healthy cats, with a focus on insights that may be applicable to metabolic syndrome models. Lastly, we will explore current feline research on weight loss, weight gain, and obesity models, highlighting how diet composition and feeding strategies may impact disease management in cats through their effects on the GI microbiome.
Learning Objectives:
Identify key similarities between disease characteristics in obese cats and human metabolic syndrome, with a focus on the role of the GI microbiome.
Explain how different nutrient profiles affect the GI microbiota in healthy cats and their potential role in increasing or decreasing the risk of obesity and metabolic disease.
Discuss how diet nutrient composition and feeding strategies in obese cats can influence the GI microbiota and contribute to disease management
