貓下泌尿道症候群(Feline lower urinary tract disease, FLUTD),常發生於 2-7 歲齡的成貓 6。 患病的貓會有血尿(hematuria)、頻尿(pollakiuria)、排尿困難(dysuria)、尿痛(stranguria),甚至是無 尿(anuria)等臨床症狀 22。根據研究統計,於 10 歲齡以下之成貓,造成 FLUTD 最常見的病因為貓 自發性膀胱炎(Feline idiopathic cystitis, FIC),其次則為泌尿道結石 4, 8, 14。
直到今日,FIC 的致病機制尚不清楚,但普遍認為,FIC 是由環境壓力引發神經內分泌系統的 變化,導致膀胱內的發炎反應 2, 12。許多獸醫醫學研究指出,飲水量減少、活動量降低、體重過 重、多貓家庭及情緒壓力…等,都可能為造成 FIC 的危險因子 12。
目前,FIC 還沒有治癒的方法,而治療的目標多以降低臨床症狀的嚴重程度,和延長疾病發作 間隔的時間為主。除了可藉由提升飲水量來緩解 FIC 以外 3, 23, 營養管理也是重要一環。據研究顯 示,將家貓的食物從乾飼料轉換為濕食 13, 20,可以顯著降低貓下泌尿道症候群的復發率。此外,情 緒壓力的緩和,更是改善 FIC 的重要因子。
獸研所的成貓泌尿機能主食罐,除了符合美國飼料品管協會(Association of American Feed Control Officials, AAFCO),美國國家科學研究委員會(National Research Council, NRC)和歐洲寵物 食品產業聯盟(European Pet Food Industry Federation, FEDIAF)的成貓基本營養需求建議量 1, 10, 21 之外,針對貓自發性膀胱炎的預防與管理上更加入了以下的功能性添加物:
1. N-乙醯葡萄糖胺 (N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine, NAG)
2. 左旋色氨酸 (L-Tryptophan)
3. 美國進口蔓越莓粉(Cranberry powder)
4. 茶胺酸(L-Theanine)
5. 富含 ω3 脂肪酸的魚油
獸研所的成貓泌尿機能主食罐,除了高含水量外,也以優質的動物性蛋白為主要熱量來源。動 物性蛋白除了雞胸肉、鮭魚和鮪魚等,也佐以雞肝,以提供成貓蛋白質的營養基礎。脂質的部分, 則以雞油和魚油作為主要食材。主食罐內也加入維生素與礦物質,且額外添加必需胺基酸。此外,
加入洋車前子膳食纖維,以維護腸道蠕動機能。本產品內更添加 N-乙醯葡萄糖胺、左旋色氨酸、茶 胺酸、蔓越莓粉及 ω3 脂肪酸,並搭配天然抗氧化劑維生素 E 以預防及緩解貓下泌尿道症候群的發 生 13,期許能讓他們安穩的度過每一天。
By 獸醫研發部門負責人|Dr. Liang
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