Cats B12

Question 1

Special cat metabolic disorders

Answer 1

Deficiencies of:
- arginine
- taurine
- essential FAs
- vit A
- niacin
- Mn

Question 2

Arginine deficiency in cats

Answer 2

• arginine = precursor of ornithine —> is essential for cats
• urea cycle is very intensive in cats (because they produce a lot of ammonia)

Hyperammonaemia:
- vomiting
- ataxia
- encephalopathy
- coma

Question 3

Taurine deficiency in cats

Answer 3

• cats can’t synthesise taurine from AAs (met, cys)
• needed for normal eye function, heart function, normal digestion, immune function and reproductive performance

Deficiency:
- blindness can develop due to retinal degeneration
- dilated cardiomyopathy
- taurine is needed for bile acids conjugation —> def: impaired fat digestion
- impaired immune response
- embryonic mortality, smaller litter size, weak viability

Question 4

Essential fatty acids deficiency

Answer 4

• linolenic, linoleic, arachidonic acids
• skin’s barrier, hair coat quality
• reproductive failure
• fatty liver
• poor growth
• reduced platelet aggregation

Question 5

Vit A deficiency in cats

Answer 5

• cats can’t convert beta-carotene to vitamin A
• skin, eyes, reproduction will be affected in def

Question 6

Niacin deficiency in cats

Answer 6

• can’t convert Trp to niacin
• damage of GIT and skin: 3D: diarrhea, dermatitis ,dementia; ulceration of the tongue

Question 7

Mn deficiency in cats

Answer 7

• cats req > dogs
• involves in reproduction (normal ovarian cycle) and lipid metabolism (choline deficiency)
• deficiency: decreased fertility and fatty liver

Question 8

Vitamin A toxicity in cats

Answer 8

• too much liver fed
• overdose with supplement
• increased calcium fixation around joint and vertebrae, nerves can be affected
• decreased movement, poor appetite, messy coat, lameness, lethargy
• diet should be changed !

Question 9

Skin diseases of dogs and cats

Answer 9

Nutrient deficiencies:
- vit A
- vit B (biotin, niacin, riboflavin)
- vit E + Se
- PUFAs
- ZN
- Met, Cys

Allergic dermatitis: grooming products, feed and environmental irritants

Question 10

What are most common food allergens in dogs and cats?

Answer 10

Dogs
- beef (!)
- dairy
- chicken
- wheat

Cat: beef and fish