The metabolism of diseased animals is accelerated to provide the building blocks for healing and immune system function, many of which are highly glucose dependant. Such hypermetabolism will increase the animal's nutritional requirement and if this increase isn't met, any shortfall will be compensated for by utilisation of glycogen reserves, fat and lean tissue leading to muscle wasting and weakness. The degree of hypermetabolism will depend on the part of the body undergoing assault, with illness or injury to the brain, septicaemia and severe burns causing the greatest increases. However, even routine minor surgery is detected by the body as an injury and so will trigger an estimated 10% increase in metabolic rate. It is therefore essential that appropriately increased nutrition is provided for all post-surgical patients