Nutritional calculations: a guide for the veterinary healthcare team

Clinical nutrition spans an understanding of basic nutritional principles to the application of nutrition in optimising health and the wellbeing of companion animals. In developed society, dogs and cats are most often fed commercial diets (Hill, 2009). In the UK, it is estimated that 13 million (46%) of households own a pet and the value of the UK pet food market is now £2.6 billion (Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA), 2014a) yet, traditionally, while 90% of pet owners would like a nutritional recommendation, only 15% perceive being given one (American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 2003). More recent findings suggest that around 30% of pet owners use ‘instinct’ when deciding how much to feed (PFMA, 2014b), demonstrating a need for accessible and accurate nutritional advice from the veterinary healthcare team. However, when communicating with clients about nutrition and making nutritional recommendations, it is also important to consider that 68% of pet owners do not follow professional guidelines when deciding portion size; an acknowledged contributory factor to the UK pet obesity epidemic (PFMA, 2014b).