Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food
Best for Immune System:Higher-than-average vitamin and mineral levels
- Lower in fat but still high in fiber
- Moderate Omega fatty acid levels
- Joint and metabolism supplements
- LifeSource Bits improve the immune system
This healthy weight dry dog food contains 9% fat and 10% fiber. The low fat count helps to lower triglyceride levels, while the fiber helps your dog stay fuller for longer after a meal.
Its a fantastic choice for dogs who need an immune system boost. Blue Buffalos LifeSource Bits pack a punch of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The stronger the immune system, the easier it is to fight off hyperlipidemia!
Immune-Boosting Formula
The protein count is fairly low, at 20%. Poultry meal and meat are the main ingredients, so be aware that if your dog is sensitive to them, they may need to find another dog food.
This one is not only low-fat, its also fairly low in Omegas. Theres enough to give your dogs coat a shine, but not enough to cause extra fatty problems.
L-carnitine and glucosamine are welcome additions that help both exercise and energy metabolism.
What Breeds Are More Prone To High Triglycerides
If youre the pet parent of a Schnauzer, a Border Collie, or a Shetland Sheepdog, your pup is at higher risk of developing this condition.
Thats not to say that other breeds are in the clear. These three breeds are particularly prone to high levels of blood fat content, but it can happen to any breed if the conditions are right for it.
How To Treat Elevated Liver Enzymes In Dogs
If your dog has increased liver enzymes, the optimal treatment method will depend on their unique situation.
Each of the criteria discussed above will necessitate a unique treatment strategy that will provide the dog with the best chance of recovery.
Suppose the precise cause of a dogs liver distress is unknown. In that case, your veterinarian will most likely recommend more diagnostics to pinpoint the problem.
These tests may involve an abdomen ultrasound, x-rays, and possibly a liver biopsy in some situations.
Suppose a dog presents with symptoms of illness and is discovered to have increased liver enzymes. In that case, the veterinarian will frequently recommend hospitalization.
Your veterinarian will be able to rehydrate them, provide medication to treat their symptoms and monitor their liver functions for any improvement or deterioration.
If a dogs liver values worsen following hospitalization, your veterinarian may discuss their quality of life in the future.
Suppose a dog improves in the hospital or is not in serious condition when they arrive. In that case, your veterinarian may recommend an at-home treatment plan in the future.
Your veterinarian can provide medicine to help a compromised liver and a diet that is easier for the liver to digest.
Your veterinarian will most likely recommend regular bloodwork for your puppy in the future, as it is critical to be aware of any potential issues.
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Trauma Is A Potential Cause Of Elevated Liver Enzymes
Another possible reason for increased liver enzymes in dogs is liver trauma.
It can seriously harm the liver and the cells that inhabit it, resulting in a significant reduction in liver function.
Liver injuries can result from extreme heat strokes, toxins, or even abdominal injury.
Heatstroke, for example, can injure the hepatocytes within the liver, causing long-term damage if not treated.
Suppose trauma is the source of your dogs increased liver enzymes. In that case, your veterinarian will need to devise a treatment plan that addresses the specific trauma they experienced.
Because liver trauma can be caused by anything from heatstroke to toxins, the primary issue must be treated to support the liver.
Finding And Treating Elevated Blood Lipids In Dogs
High blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels frequently have no clinical signs that alert you to their presence. The condition is often found only when your veterinarian performs routine screening blood tests.
Thats not to say you may never see clinical signs of hyperlipidemia. In some cases, signs do occur and are often associated with the digestive system. Your dog may experience vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite and potentially pancreatitis. Other affected dogs may have excess fats deposited on the cornea of the eye, which youll notice as a white patch, or in the eye itself, which leads to inflammation of the eye and/or blindness.
Treatment for high cholesterol, triglycerides or both depends on the underlying cause. If hyperlipidemia is associated with another disease, it typically resolves once the underlying condition is treated. If increased blood lipids are caused by obesity, weight loss will be necessary.
Dogs with hereditary hyperlipidemia, however, will need additional treatment. Diet is the cornerstone of treatment for these cases. A low-fat, high-fiber dog food, such as Diamond CARE Weight Management Formula for Adult Dogs, can help resolve many cases of hyperlipidemia. And if a change in diet alone isnt enough, your veterinarian will prescribe medication to help lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
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How Diet Can Help Alleviate High Triglycerides
A grain-free, healthy weight dry dog food can help to alleviate the symptoms of high levels of triglycerides, or even stabilize triglyceride levels altogether.
Dog foods with reduced fat content are the key. High levels of fats can find their way into the blood, and can have detrimental effects on your dogs health.
A balanced diet of all-natural ingredients promote health. A lower content of fats helps to reduce the chances of it landing up in the blood. High fiber helps your dog feel fuller for longer when theyre eating fewer fats.
Best Dog Food For High Triglycerides High Fiber Low Fat Diet For Dogs
These unconditionally-loving balls of fur give us so much happiness and love that they change us into better people! In return, they only ask that you take care of them. One of the most important aspects of taking care of pets is ensuring that they get a balanced diet, specific to their health. And just as in the case of humans, you will find different pets with different requirements.
Our focus in this article is on dogs with high triglycerides and the best dog food for this condition.
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How Do You Know If Your Dog Has High Triglycerides
Usually, most people find that their dogs blood is high in triglycerides as a result of other veterinary tests. Such as when his blood is tested for other conditions.
However, there are a few symptoms of hyperlipidemia to look out for:
- Abnormal behavior
If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to keep an eye on him. Or, if he is displaying the more serious or uncommon symptoms, seek immediate assistance straight away.
How Will My Veterinarian Treat My Pets Hyperlipidemia
If your veterinarian identifies an underlying cause for the hyperlipidemia, this cause will be treated . Your pet may receive medications for Cushings disease or hypothyroidism, insulin injections for diabetes, or treatment for pancreatitis.
If no underlying cause is found, your pet will need to start eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Prescription foods are typically used, although you may be able to work with a veterinary nutritionist to formulate a home-cooked diet if you would prefer. Within 1-2 months, this diet change should lead to a reduction in hyperlipidemia.
“If no underlying cause is found, your pet will need to start eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet.”
In addition to diet changes, medications and supplements may also be recommended. Omega-3 fatty acids can help resolve hyperlipidemia, when combined with a low-fat diet. Human drugs that are used to decrease triglyceride and cholesterol levels in pets include gemfibrozil , bezafibrate , fenofibrate , and statins, such as atorvastatin and lovastatin . These drugs have not been tested extensively in dogs and cats however, and therefore dietary management is preferred when possible.
| Contributors: Catherine Barnette, DVM |
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Hyperlipidemia In Dogs And Cats
Hyperlipidemia is a general term for disorders in which too many fat molecules circulate in the blood. The two most important lipids in pets are cholesterol and triglycerides. Lipids are insoluble, meaning they are not easily dissolved in water. Because blood is a watery substance, in order to move these within the blood stream, the pets body forms special complexes to facilitate passage out of the body.
In a healthy animal, lipid levels typically rise for a short time after a meal and then return to a normal level. The problem of hyperlipidemia occurs when certain conditions prevent the excess fat from leaving the blood stream, so that the level of lipids remains high for far longer than nature intended .
Hyperlipidemia can involve elevating one or more components of circulating fats and lipoprotein complexes. It can involve elevated triglycerides, elevated cholesterol or both. These elevations lead to the formation of complexes called chylomicrons, which can give blood blood a creamy, white appearance.
In pets, hyperlipidemia most often occurs as a consequence of some other disorder, such as diabetes mellitus , hypothyroidism , Cushings disease , certain liver diseases, and protein-losing nephropathy .
Specific dog breeds are predisposed to hyperlipidemia. Miniature schnauzers and beagles usually develop the condition after the age of four years.The genetic link in dogs is not yet understood.
Signs
Typical signs can include:
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Nutritional Management Of Hyperlipidemia
Lisa P. Weeth
DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Weeth received her veterinary degree from the University of California, Davis, in 2002. She spent 2 years in general and emergency practice before returning to UC Davis in 2004 for a residency in clinical nutrition. She completed her residency training in 2007 and became a board-certified veterinary nutritionist that same year. Dr. Weeth has been in specialty practice offering in-person and telemedicine nutrition consultations since 2007, and since 2018 has been heading the nutrition department at Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital in Los Angeles, California. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Weeth serves on the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee is on the Executive Board for the American Association of Veterinary Nutrition and is a regular lecturer at regional, national, and international veterinary conferences.
Stewart K. Morgan
DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Dr. Morgan has experience in ruminant, small animal, equine, and swine veterinary medicine. He completed a comparative nutrition residency at Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He is the Associate Manager for Scientific Affairs at Hills Pet Nutrition.
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Causes Of High Levels Of Triglycerides
High-Fat Diet
The triglycerides can rise after a meal, especially if the dog food in question is high in fat. While some dogs need a high-fat diet in order to gain enough energy, when the fat molecules end up in your dogs blood it can lead to this condition.
Medication
Meds such as steroids can cause unusual reactions in the body. Metabolism can be thrown off, and fat that would normally be metabolized as energy ends up somewhere it shouldnt be in the blood.
Genetics
Hyperlipidemia can be an inherited condition. Breeds most prone to this are Border collies, Shetland Sheep Dogs, and Schnauzers. It can affect any breed, though, so its a good idea to feed your pup a dog food for high triglycerides either way.
Other Diseases
Sometimes, high triglyceride levels are caused by other diseases. Hypothyroidism, canine diabetes, pancreatitis, and Cushings disease can all lead to this health problem later on. This is known as secondary or acquired hyperlipidemia. Often, treating the initial disease will inhibit the signs and symptoms of high triglycerides.
The Triglyceride Level Of Your Dog And Cats Blood
Triglycerides are forms of fat or lipid. They are composed of a glycerinebackbone with three fatty acids attached. Triglycerides and cholesterol are the primary fats circulating in the bloodstream. While glucose is our cells prime source of immediate energy, triglycerides are a stored backup source of energy for cellular metabolism.
Much your dog and cats blood triglycerides comes indirectly from the foods it eats. However, your dog or cats pancreatic enzymes must disassemble the triglyceride molecule into glycerine and its three fatty acid components before they can be absorbed. Both your pets liver and its body fat cells have the ability to reassemble triglycerides. Your pets liver also has the ability to change other absorbed nutrients in the diet into triglyceride and cholesterol.
Nature designed the body to utilize food carbohydrates moving throughout the body as glucose for its major source of energy. For that, we rely on the enzyme, amylase. Many dogs and most cats are not as efficient in doing that as humans are. Your cat has the hardest time thriving on a high carbohydrate diet. That is why fat in your cats diet is more important for them than for you. The triglycerides found in meat tend to be saturated fats. Dogs and cats evolved to handle saturated fats much better than we humans. It does not clog their arteries. Besides being an important source of energy for your dog or cat, triglycerides are essential components of the walls of all cells in the body.
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Can High Triglycerides Be Cured
The good news is that one health threat is highly treatable. There are many high triglycerides treatment options from statins to supplements. High cholesterol affects more than 102 million Americans.Triglycerides level chart.
| Risk level |
|---|
| Atorvastatin , 10 to 80 mg daily |
| Fluvastatin , 20 to 80 mg daily at bedtime |
| Lovastatin , 10 to 80 mg daily at bedtime |
A Mixed Diet For A Dog Who Wouldnt Eat
Rocky is a 31/2-year-old Yorkie-Poodle mix who has had digestive problems all of his life. From puppyhod, he was a picky eater and had frequent diarrhea. His owner, Danielle Flood, who lives in Crofton, Maryland, tried feeding all kinds of foods, but nothing seemed to work, and within a few days, he would stop eating again.
One of the vets Flood consulted believes that Rocky has both IBD and chronic pancreatitis, and suggested feeding a home-cooked diet, but Rocky wasnt interested in a mixture of chicken and rice. Rocky was down to 13 pounds of skin and bones when Flood, desperate to find a food that Rocky would eat and that wouldnt make him sick, came across the dehydrated foods made by The Honest Kitchen. Floods first success was with Preference, its low-fat incomplete mix meant to be combined with meat and other fresh foods:
I mixed just under 1/4 cup of Preference with hot water and added half of a boiled chicken breast. To my surprise Rocky devoured his entire plate and for the first time was begging for more food! Better yet, he didnt start refusing the food after a few days, as he has with everything else weve tried.
A few weeks later, Rocky is still happily eating Preference mixed with chicken. We have also tried cooked chicken livers and very lean beef sirloin, and he loves those as well. He likes it best when there is a little more meat than mix.
We continue to give Rocky 1/8 tsp acidophilus with each meal. He also gets a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Dog Food
Best Without Chicken:Multiple proteins but recommended for dogs with poultry allergies
- Suitable for dogs with an allergy to chicken ingredients
- Grain-free and easy to digest
- Joint and metabolic supplements
- LifeSource Bits for vitamins and minerals
If your dog has an allergy to poultry, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Dog Food could be the best dog food for them. Its packed with meat, including beef, beef meal, fish meal, deboned lamb, and deboned venison.
Its worth noting that dogs who are allergic to legumes or potatoes may experience digestive symptoms eating this dog food. Be careful if your dog has food sensitivities!
Great for Dogs with a Poultry Allergy
It can be hard to find top-quality grain-free dog foods without chicken in them. This one is the best dog food for high triglycerides that contains no poultry whatsoever, so if your dog has allergies, this could be the best option.
Aside from avoiding the problem ingredient, it contains slow-burning carbs like sweet potatoes and carrots, and antioxidant-rich fruits like blueberries and cranberries.
L-carnitine is a super addition as it helps dogs metabolize properly, putting that fat to good use. Glucosamine and chondroitin keep their joints strong while theyre losing the pounds.
Its also important to note that the Omega fatty acids are lower than average in this dog food.
Secondary Disorders Of Lipid Metabolism
Hyperthyroidism is associated with decreased clearance of VLDL by the peripheral tissues and decreased clearance of LDL by the liver. Insulin deficiency with diabetes mellitus results in decreased production of LPL, activation of hormone-sensitive lipase , and a subsequent increase in circulating free fatty acids. Increased circulating cortisol, as seen with hyperadrenocorticism, has a similar net effect of increasing HSL activity and decreasing LPL activity.
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Best Overall: Wellness Core Grain
Wellness CORE reduced fat formula is the best food choice when it comes to high triglycerides. It is a quality brand of dry dog food for your furry friend.
The new recipe for CORE reduced fat contains 25% less fat than the original formulation. The recipes use a meat-based nutritional philosophy and are made from premium protein, superfoods, and nutritional supplements.
Another feature to look for in a reduced-fat recipe is the inclusion of salmon oil, which is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids and has the highest bioavailability of any nut or seed. In addition to the salmon oil, Wellness CORE reduces the amount of taurine in its formula, which may be lacking in some dogs. This diet can also be grain-free and is great for dogs with an active lifestyle.
The reduced-fat version is vital for the healthy function of the heart muscle. As for taurine, which is essential for the health of your pup, Wellness CORE Reduced Fat is an excellent choice. Just like other Wellness food, this food contains a high content of meat. However, the amount of meat and fat in this recipe is low.
There are also many other benefits of this product. The nutrient-rich formula has a meat-based nutritional philosophy and is packed with omega fatty acids, which contributes to its lean body mass.
Features
Pros
- Contains probiotics, vitamins, and minerals
Cons
- Not suitable for all types of dogs
Verdict