Cat & Dog Nutrition

Question 1

Dog and cats: Protein

Answer 1

10 essential AA

Good source is from milk, eggs, meat, soybeans and a poorer source is gelatine (doesn’t contain tryptophan) flour and wheat

Biological value of proteins (like digestability) =%protein absorbed and retained = utilised by the body

Question 2

Dogs and cats: Digestibility of dry food

Answer 2

~80%

Question 3

Dogs and cats: Digestibility of can food

Answer 3

~90%

Question 4

Why is crude protein requirements higher in cats than dogs?

Answer 4

Have move activity of AA catabolic enzymes in the liver
- For thick fur coat

Taurine (amino sulfonic acid) isn’t synthesized in cats requirement unique in cats

Often deficient in arginine - death

Question 5

Cats and dogs: Fats and oils

Answer 5

Effect palatability and large source of energy (from alcohols)

Linoleic acid major unsaturated fatty acid – converted to linolenic

Essential fatty acids > 1%

Arachidonic acid needed for cats

Helps absorb Vit A, D, E & K (rancid destroys vitamins and can cause digestive issues)

Sources

• Lard (pig fat)
• Suet (beef fat)
• Veg oils (better)

Question 6

Cats and dogs: Carbohydrates

Answer 6

o Little info
Dogs up to 65% and cats 35%

Starches need to be cooked

Fibre

• 1-8%
• Weight loss = 32%
• Helps prevent constipation

Question 7

Cats and dogs: Vit C

Answer 7

Synthesised from glucose

Question 8

Cats and Dogs - Ca: P ratio

Answer 8

1.2:2

Question 9

Rough estimate of how much to feed dogs and cats

Answer 9

20 - 30g DM per kg of BW