ABSTRACT

Iatrogenic malnourishment, or inadequate nutrient intake during hospitalization, is unfortunately a too common occurrence in veterinary patients. 1 Many hospitalized patients either will not eat voluntarily, or have illnesses referrable to the GI tract, such as vomiting and/or diarrhea, that prevent them from digesting, absorbing, or assimilating the nutrients that are fed to them. A common and easily reparable problem is that vague food orders are prescribed by the attending clinician. Decreased intake of calories, protein, and other essential nutrients can contribute to increased patient morbidity, depressed or delayed wound healing, suppression of the immune system, and possibly increased patient mortality.