Canine Ingredients and Rationing Flashcards
What is a nutrient?
component of the diet with a specific bodily function to aid growth and health
What are the functions of water?
Thermoregulation
Digestion
Transport of hormones, nutrients etc. to tissues
Waster removal
Lubrication of mucous membranes (aids olfaction)
Lubrication of lungs (aids gaseous exchange)
Protection of joints, brain, spinal cord
What are the sources of water?
voluntary water intake
food
metabollic water
What should the water be like?
clean and fresh
have extra
have one bowl per dog plus an extra bowl
Why do we compare wet and dry food?
moisture content levels of other nutrients show therefore must compare dry matter
What is protein and what are its functions?
-large complex molecules made up of amino acid
-Functions
Creation of tissue e.g. muscle, skin
Creation of hormones and enzymes
Energy
Palatability
What can the incorrect levels of protein cause?
Deficiency can impair Growth Maintenance of body weight/lean body mass Reproduction and performance Activity levels Immune response Digestion Excess Stored as fat and nitrogen excreted as urea
What are the essential amino acids?
- arginine
- leucine
- Phenylalanine
- tryptophan
- histidine
- lysine
- valine
- isoleucine
- methionine
- threonine
What is digestibility and what is it affected by?
Digestibility – quantity of crude protein that is not excreted in faeces
Digestibility affected by
Ingredient quality
Processing methods e.g. particle size
Cooking temperature
Companies are not required to provide digestibility measurements
What is the biological value of protein?
Biological value – a measure of the usability of the protein i.e. how much is incorporated into the body’s own tissue
Therefore crude protein does not necessarily indicate the useable amount
High BV if essential AA quantities closely match animals requirements
High BV sources are more expensive but less is needed
What are fats?
Made up of fatty acids Essential FA – linoleic acid Functions Energy Insulation Palatability Skin health Carry fat-soluble vitamins
How much fat should a dog have?
Minimum allowance in dog food
Fat 5-8% (g/100gDM)
Linoleic acid 1.3-1.5%
Excess
Weight gain due to increased energy density and palatability (texture/flavour)
Diarrhoea and fatty stools
Deficiency
Weight loss (decreased energy density and loss of palatability)
Dry, dull coat; hair loss; poor wound healing
Greasy skin susceptible to infection
What are carbohydrates and what are there functions?
Sugar Starch Fibre Functions Energy (protein-saving function) Gastrointestinal health (fibre) maybe listed as a nitrogen free extract (NFE)
How do you calculate how much carbohydrate a dog should have?
% CHO = 100 – (%protein +%fat + %moisture + %ash)
How much carbohydrate should we feed dogs?
Not strictly required IF protein and fat content sufficient in diet
Lack of carbohydrate can double protein requirement
Glucose requirement during foetal development – risks associated with carbohydrate-free and protein inadequate diet
Digestibility affected by
-Type e.g. lactose not well tolerated in adults
-Size of starch granules
-Heat treatment increases digestibility
What are minerals?
- Inorganic elements in food
- Measured as ash
- Approx. 18 required by mammals
- Macro-minerals
- Micro-minerals/trace elements
Where are minerals found and what do they do?
Many interactions between minerals thus balance needs to achieved
Calcium;phosphorus ratio
Bioavailability affected by source and other minerals
Less available in grains than animal sources due to phytate
High calcium levels reduce bioavailability of trace elements
High zinc levels reduce absorption of copper
What are vitamins?
Organic molecules that are required for life e.g. enzyme formation, but not used as a source of energy
Water soluble and fat soluble
Deficiencies are varied depending on individual function
Excess excreted (water soluble) or stored in liver (fat soluble - potential toxicity)
Interactions with minerals e.g. vitamin D and calcium
What is rationing?
Energy requirements determine how much of a food is fed
That quantity must also provide sufficient quantities of the other required nutrients
Average ME in commercial pet foods:
Fat = 8.5kcal/g
Protein = 3.5kcal/g
Carbohydrate = 3.5kcal/g
What are the energy requirements?
GROSS ENERGY
|
------FECAL ENERGY LOSS
|
DIGESTABLE ENERGY
|
-------GASEOUS AND URINARY ENERGY
|
METABOLIZABLE ENERGY
|
----------HEAT INCREMENT
|
NET ENERGY
/ \
MAINTENANCE PRODUCTIONWhat is Resting energy requirements?
Resting Energy Requirements (RER) or Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) - daily energy requirements of a dog, at rest in a thermoneutral environment when not digesting food.
What are daily energy requirements?
Daily Energy Requirements (DER) or Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER) –energy required for activity levels and life stage including gestation etc.
What must be labelled on dog food?
Calculations based on chemical analysis of nutrients Proximate Analysis or Typical Analysis Analysis data must be on food label Legal requirement Energy content cannot be on label
How do you ration?
- Work out dogs daily energy requirements (DER)
- Calculate what current diet is providing
- Compare current diet to:
i. Manufacturer’s recommendations
ii. Calculated daily energy requirement
iii. Calculated protein requirement
iv. Work out how many grams of food is needed to meet requirements IF not already met
