2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

This study design did not use a standardized control food and therefore may have captured bias toward and/or away from the test food due to loyalty to owner's chosen food(s) or the novelty of the test food. Improvements in BUN are consistent with controlled studies where pets were transitioned onto a masked senior or control food. This study does provide a real world scenario reflecting the pet parent's overall positive experience in transitioning from their current food to the test food. Dogs benefitted from the test food as shown by the decrease in BUN, positive changes in appearance and aging-associated behaviors such as rising from rest, increased activity and interacting more with family members. Jewell. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, KS, USA Two out of 3 pet parents do not feed their older pet an ageappropriate food. In 2005 AAHA published guidelines for care of older cats which recommends focus areas for client education that includes wellness care and nutrition. Oxidative stress from free radicals and inflammatory processes are considered leading causes of degenerative diseases and cellular aging. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a food designed to counter these changes in senior cats compared to a non-nutritionally controlled cohort.