FM2 Pt3-6 When Nutrition Goes Wrong Flashcards
What condition can taurine deficiency cause in cats’ eyes?
Taurine deficiency can lead to central retinal degeneration, which can result in blindness in cats.
How long does it take for retinal damage from taurine deficiency to develop in cats?
Retinal damage can take up to 6 months to develop, with complete blindness occurring after about two years of a deficient diet.
What heart condition is associated with taurine deficiency in cats?
Taurine deficiency can cause dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart muscle becomes thin and poorly contractile.
How has the commercial pet food industry addressed taurine deficiency in cats?
Commercial wet foods now contain 2-3 times more taurine compared to dry foods to prevent deficiencies.
What is nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP) in cats?
NSHP is a condition caused by calcium deficiency in the diet, leading to fragile bones due to poor bone mineralization.
Which type of diet is most likely to cause NSHP in cats?
NSHP is commonly caused by home-prepared, meat-only diets that lack sufficient calcium and have an improper calcium
ratio.
What is ‘yellow fat disease’ (pansteatitis) in cats, and what causes it?
Pansteatitis is caused by vitamin E deficiency, often linked to diets high in oily fish, leading to inflammation and damage to fat tissue in the body.
How does vitamin E function in a cat’s diet?
Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, preventing the oxidation of fatty acids and protecting against free radical damage.
What are the symptoms of pansteatitis in cats?
Symptoms include fever, extreme pain, inflammation of subcutaneous and abdominal fat, and painful lumps under the skin.
What is thiamine, and why is it important for cats?
Thiamine (vitamin B1) is essential for normal heart and brain function.
How can a cat develop thiamine deficiency?
Thiamine deficiency can develop from feeding raw fish, which contains thiaminase, or from the cooking and processing of food that destroys thiamine.
What are the symptoms of thiamine deficiency in cats?
Symptoms include salivation, dilated pupils, weakness, incoordination, inability to hold the head normally, and seizures.
How can thiamine deficiency be treated in cats?
Supplementing the cat’s diet with thiamine rapidly reverses the symptoms.
What causes vitamin A toxicity in cats?
Vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A) can result from long-term feeding of large amounts of liver, vitamin A supplements, or cod liver oil.
What are the symptoms of vitamin A toxicity in cats?
Symptoms include stiffness of the neck and forelimbs, pain from new bone deposition around the spine and joints, poor hair coat, and in kittens, protrusion of the eyes (exophthalmus).
Are the changes caused by vitamin A toxicity reversible?
Some changes are reversible with the correct diet, but marked bony changes are irreversible.
Why is potassium important for cats?
Potassium is essential for normal muscle function, and a deficiency can lead to general muscle weakness.
What condition can lead to potassium deficiency in cats?
Potassium deficiency can occur in cats with chronic renal disease due to potassium loss through the kidneys, which can be worsened by acidifying diets.
What is the most common cause of lower urinary tract disease in cats?
Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), where the bladder is inflamed but the cause is unknown, is a common cause of lower urinary tract disease in cats.
How do bladder stones form in cats?
Bladder stones form when urine contains high concentrations of minerals that crystallize and aggregate into stones.
Why are male cats at higher risk of urethral blockage?
Male cats have a longer and narrower urethra, which makes them more prone to blockage by crystals, stones, or mucus.
How does diet influence the formation of bladder stones in cats?
Diets high in magnesium and minerals can promote the formation of struvite crystals and stones, especially in alkaline urine.
How have cat foods been adjusted to prevent struvite crystals?
Cat foods are now formulated to acidify urine to reduce the risk of struvite crystal formation, though excessive acidification has risks.
What are the risks of diets that produce overly acidic urine in cats?
Acidifying diets can deplete potassium, compromise bone mineralization, and increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones.
