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ALFS 2 > CANINE & FELINE NUTRTION > Flashcards

CANINE & FELINE NUTRTION Flashcards

1
Q

How is the overall energy density of a diet (kCal/g) calculated?

A

Takes into account the energy provided by:
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Fat

Energy density is based on DRY MATTER weight of food, with most commercial diets being in the range 3.5-4.0 kCal/g

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2
Q

Define and explain the term BER, RER, MER and DER.

A

Basal energy requirements (BER)
- The energy needed for a healthy, unfed animal in a resting state in a thermo-neutral environment.

Resting energy requirements (RER)
- The total energy required for digestion of food in addition to resting in a thermo-neutral environment.
- Usually used for hospitalised animals
- 2-30kg patient, RER = 30xBW+70
- <2 or >30kg, RER = 70xBW^0.75

Maintenance energy requirements (MER)
- The energy required for an animal with a moderately active home life.
Usually:
- Dogs 1.2-1.6xRER
- Cats 1.2-1.4xRER

Daily energy requirements (DER)
- The energy required to support the animal’s lifestyle. This may be the same as MER, but working, pregnant, lactating or growing animals will have increased requirements above the MER.

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3
Q

Describe the functions of dietary fats and oils.

A
  • Lipids are high energy compounds, increase energy density of diet
  • Facilitate absorption of fat soluble vitamins ADEK
  • Improves palatability:
    Dog: Chicken > Pork > Beef fat
    Cat: Beef > Pork > Chicken fat

Used in the synthesis of:
- Cell membranes (phospholipids, glycolipids, sphingomyelin)
- Steroid hormones (cortisol, thyroxine)
- Cholesterol, bile acids
- Prostaglandins, eicosanoids (inflammation)
- Essential fatty acids (EFAs)

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4
Q

Explain what EFAs are.

A

Essential fatty acids are those that cannot be synthesised by the body. Often divided into Omega-3 & Omega-6, based on the location of the first double bond between C atoms.

Omega-3 (> in fish oils)
- α linolenic acid
- Required for brain & retinal functions, anti inflammatory

Omega-6 (> in vegetable oils)
- Linoleic acid; ϒ linolenic acid; Arachidonic acid (only essential in cats)
- Required for growth, reproduction & prostaglandin synthesis (pro-inflammatory)

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5
Q

Briefly explain the oxidation of fats.

A

Fat oxidation in food source leads to rancidity, decreasing palatability & vitamin absorption.

Oxidation of fats also occurs within adipose tissues of body, giving rise to steatitis, or pancreatitis if widespread.

Natural anti-oxidants to protect against this include vitamin E, C and citric acid etc.

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6
Q

Define and briefly explain the roles of vitamins.

A
  • An organic dietary compound that is not fat, protein or carbohydrate

Water soluble vitamins:
- Generally absorbed via active transport
- B12 Cobalamin requires intrinsic factors for absorption
- More prone to deficiency than toxicity

Fat soluble vitamins:
- ADEK
- Requires fat & bile salts for absorption
- Less prone to deficiency as stored in fat
- More likely to cause toxicity

Vitamin content of diets may be altered by:
- Storage
- Processing
- Inhibitory substances e.g. thiaminases in fish
- Interactions between vitamins e.g. high levels of vitamin E may inhibit absorption of vitamin K

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7
Q

Briefly explain the importance of dietary fibre.

A

Affects GI motility
- Rapidly fermentable fibres decrease GI transit time
- Slowly fermentable fibres increase GI transit time

Affects moisture content of the stool
- Soluble fibre increases water content of stool > insoluble fibre

Fermentation of fibre by colonic bacteria provides short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)
- Butyrate > acetate > propionate
- Acts as nutritional source for colonocytes

Affect nutrient absorption
- Soluble fibre particularly may affect absorption of some minerals

Dilute energy density of diet
- Insoluble fibre acts as a bulking agent, increasing feeling of satiety

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8
Q

Give a few examples of soluble, insoluble and pre-biotic fibres.

A

Soluble fibres
- Pectin, gums, mannans, mucilages

Insoluble fibres
- Cellulose, hemi-cellulose, lignin

Pre-biotic fibres
- Fructo-oligosaccharidesm, Mano-oligosaccharides (support growth of beneficial bacteria in colon)

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9
Q

What are prebiotics & probiotics?

A

Prebiotics
- Fibre sources that support the growth of beneficial bacteria in colon e.g. fructo-oligosaccharides, mano-oligosaccharides, galacto-olisaccharides

Probiotics
- Live bacteria populations that can be beneficial for GI health
- E.g. Lactobacilli, Biffidobacteria, Saccharomyces

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10
Q

Explain why cats require continued high protein level from diet.

A
  • The liver urea cycle enzymes (aminotransterases) that remove amino groups from amino acids constantly work at a high rate in cats, and cannot be down-regulated; in dogs, reduced protein intake or anorexia would result in down regulation of these enzymes
  • Protein is used for ongoing gluconeogensis regardless of absorptive or post-absorptive phase
  • Decreased intake leads to protein malnutrition, endogenous protein catabolism & metabolic acidosis
  • Animal protein is a source of essential & non-essential amino acids
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11
Q

Name the EAAs in both dogs & cats.

A

Arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine

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12
Q

Name the 2 conditionally EAAs in both dogs and cats.

A

Glutamine
Taurine (in dogs)

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13
Q

Name the one amino acid that is only essential in cats.

A

Taurine

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14
Q

What are Methionine & Cysteine essential for?

A

Hepatic metabolic pathway of amino-prophylation, trans-sulfuration, methylation;

SAMe is usually supplemented

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15
Q

Why is arginine the most important amino acid in cats?

A

Arginine is required for the urea cycle, as cats cannot synthesise precursors (ornithine & citrulline) in adequate amounts. Feeding even 1 meal without arginine results in a build-up of ammonia (as it cannot be adequately converted to urea), of which crosses the blood-brain barrier to give signs of hepatoencephalopathy (altered awareness, tremoring, behavioural disorders, salivation, seizures).

Arginine deficiency is rare but may occur in cats fed human, milk-based, critical care formulas

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16
Q

Explain the significance of the amino acid Carnitine in cats.

A
  • Synthesised in kidneys and require B vitamins & iron for metabolism
  • Carnitine supplementation results in increased hepatic lipid oxidation & faster recovery from hepatic lipidosis
  • Deficiency results in potential fatal hepatic lipidosis
17
Q

Explain the consequence of Taurine deficiency in cats.

A

EAA in cats since it cannot be synthesised efficiently from cysteine as it can in dogs. Cats have increased utilisation, as all bile acids are conjugated with taurine, whereas some can be conjugated with glycine in dogs.

Taurine is found in animal muscle but is absent in plants, thus cats fed a vegetarian diet, or cats fed on dog-food are at risk of taurine deficiency.

Taurine deficiency can manifest in 3 primary ways:
1. Blindness due to retinal damage
2. Reproductive abnormalities e.g. foetal deaths or resorption, developmental abnormalities
3. Dilated cardiomyopathy

18
Q

Name the water-soluble B vitamins that have increased requirement in cats.

A

Cats require 4x as much:

  • Thiamine B1
  • Niacin B3
  • Pyridoxine B6
  • Folic acid B9
  • Cobalamin B12

Cats are unable to synthesise these water-soluble vitamins - needed for several co-enzymes in many metabolic pathways.

  • Reduce intake if hyporexia/anorexia
  • Increase loss with polyuria/polydipsia (PUPD)
  • Increase turn-over with hyperthyroidism
19
Q

Describe the consequence of Thiamine B1 deficiency in cats.

A

Reduced levels may be the results of:
- Processing e.g. Overheating, Sulphites
- Raw fish/shellfish/yeasts containing Thiaminases

Thiamine deficiency manifests as:
- Neurological signs (ataxia, blindness of dilated pupils, head tilt, stupor, coma & seizures)
- Ventroflexion (bending towards floor)
- Opisthotonos (backwards arching of head, neck, spine)

Thiamine & mixed B vitamin deficiency can occasionally be seen in hyperthyroid cats resulting from their hypermetabolic state.

20
Q

Explain why Cobalamin B12 is the most easily deficient water soluble vitamin in cats?

A

Requires intrinsic factors that are only produced by pancreas in cats (but also in stomach for dogs & humans)

Higher requirement for co-enzymes

21
Q

Explain why cats are obligate carnivores relating to fat-soluble vitamins.

A

Vitamin A
- Cats cannot convert carotenoids (found in plants such as carrots) into the active form of vitamin A, thus the pre-formed vitamin is required (found in animal tissue).
- Vitamin A toxicity develops if cats consume a large amount of liver-based food, as vitamin A is stored in this organ, or in cats being supplemented with excessive amount of cod liver oil. Toxicity gives rise to excess bone deposition around the vertebrae esp. of the neck and also in limbs, leading to pain, inability, lameness and poor grooming

Vitamin D
- Cats cannot make this in their skin, so they eat the active form in meat

Vitamins E & K
- Become reduced with prolonged anorexia, hepatic disease or severe GI disease resulting in fat malabsorption
- Reduced vitamin E: lack of an essential anti-oxidant
- Reduced vitamin K: haemorrhage

22
Q

Why is omega-6 fatty acid important in feline diet?

A

Cats need arachidonic acid in their diet since they cannot synthesise it from linoleic acid. Lack of arachidonic acid leads to poor immunity, haematopoiesis & blindness.

23
Q

Explain the idiosyncrasies in CHO metabolism of cats.

A
  • Cats have no dietary requirement for CHO
  • Lack salivary amylase
  • Most adult cats are lactose intolerant
  • Excess CHO leads to bloating, diarrhoea, flatulence
  • Have hepatic hexokinases, but lack hepatic glucokinase, limits ability to metabolise large glucose loads
  • Gluconeogensis occurs from ketoacids, lactic acids, glycerol, proteins
  • Can use CHO as energy sources, but has limited ability to spare protein use
  • Dry diets tend to be high in CHO (kibbling process)
24
Q

Describe the kitten nutritional requirements.

A
  • Colostrum absorbed from 12-18 hours post kittening;
  • Average weight at birth = 100g
  • Weight gain should be 10-15g/day
  • Weaned at 3-4 weeks
  • Kitten food until ~ 10 months

SENSITIVE PERIOD = WEEKS 2-8

25
Q

State the main differences in mature and senior cat/geriatric cat.

A

Mature cat (7-10 yr)
- Generally healthy
- become less active
- prone to weight gain
- need less energy dense diet

Senior & geriatric cat (>15yrs)
- Impaired digestion
- May need more energy dense diet with higher protein (unless chronic kidney disease present)

26
Q

How do you convert as-fed basis to dry matter basis?

A

(100 - % moisture)/100 to give DM, then divide the % of each component by the DM to give % on a dry matter basis DMB.

E.g.
- 80% moisture in the diet gives DM of 0.2
- 13% protein in diet ‘as fed’ increases to 13/0.2 = 65% on DMB

27
Q

How do you calculate the amount to be fed to an animal?

A

You need to know:
1. Calories required by dog/cat (RER/MER/DER)
2. Energy density of diet on AS FED basis

(If energy density given as kCal/g on dry matter basis DMB, need to convert this to AS FED basis)

28
Q

What happens in case of energy density not given?

A
  • Estimate using % of protein, fat, and CHO contributing to energy density
  • Multiply percentage by Atwater factor to give kCal provided by that dietary component
  • Add all calories from 3 components together to give calories in 100g

Example Qs
Protein Atwater factor is 3.5, 8.5 for fat, 3.5 for CHO, and % dry matter DM for protein is 65, 17 for fat, 4.5 for CHO, what is the energy density in kCal/g?

(3.5x65) + (8.5x17) + (3.5x4.5) = 387 kCal in 100g
Tups 3.87 kCal/g

Then DMB calorie content is converted to as fed:
3.87x0.2 = 0.7kcal

ALFS 2 (5 decks)

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