Hyperlipidemia

Question:

I would like to get some counseling on treating our dogs so that they do not get lipid build up. We feed raw in this house and the staple meat is chicken.  One of my dogs I took to our vet and had a complete blood panel performed showed a higher level than normal of lipid buildup. He is only 1+ years old. I can only assume that some of the others may also, particularly the older dogs. We have 12, 9 Pit Bulls two hounds and a white GSD.

I would rather avoid traditional pharmaceuticals if possible. With that said I turn to you for some guidance please.  Is there a supplement that I can add to reduce fat from the chicken?  Thank you,
Sylva S.

Response:

Hello Sylva,
Thank you for your inquiry to Holistic Pet Info. Incresed lipids or Hyperlipidemia is not primarily caused by diet, it is chiefly seen in purebred dogs that have a metabolic disorder where lipoprotein metabolism is markedly altered. I recommend having your dog’s bloodwork redone after at least a 12 hour fast. None of the dog breeds you have mentioned are known to have the genetic predisposition. 

The presence of hyperlipidemia may be of little clinical significance without the associated range of clinical signs:  1) Abdominal signs--anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea. 2) Acute necrotizing pancreatitis, which can cause the above signs as well as abdominal pain. 3) Ocular changes such as lipid keratopathy, arcus lipoides, stromal dystrophy, lipid in the aqueous humor, uveitis, blindness, and lipemia retinalis. 4) Dermatological manifestations such as cutaneous xanthomata, pruritus, and alopecia. 5) Central nervous system disturbances such as seizures, behavioral changes, neuropathies, and cerebral atherosclerosis. These signs do not usually occur until the triglycerides are >1000.

As long as your dogs are on a well-balanced diet that is moderate to low fat, chicken without the skin should be adequate. Since dogs do not have cardiovascular disease related to dietary fat, minimal lipid in the blood of a healthy dog is not a great concern. I recommend adding Omega 3 fatty acids (Super EPA by Thorne) to the diet which decreases cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as add extra fiber to decrease lipid absorption. Best of luck.
Sincerely,
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA