Illnesses that are impacted by nutrition Flashcards
why is it important to start your dog with a healthy diet right away?
poor nutrition is a contributing factor in many illnesses and junk food can cause your dog’s body to deteriorate over time
what are some body functions that are supported through a healthy diet?
healthy immune system, avoiding ailments, maintaining strong bones, normal cell function, growing healthy claws, and having healthy fur
obesity
one of the most common problems (~50% of dogs are overweight in the US)
characterized by excess body fat, linked to decreased lifespan and higher susceptibility to illnesses like diabetes and heart disease
make sure your dog exercises regularly and is fed an appropriate amount of a high-quality to prevent
pancreatitis
inflammation of pancreas leads to leakage of digestive enzymes causing the pancreas to start digesting itself (acute and chronic forms)
don’t give your dog unnecessary fats to prevent
diabetes
often triggered by obesity and chronic pancreatitis
diabetes mellitus: can be genetic or be caused by obesity/chronic pancreatitis
diabetes insipidus: rarer, idiopathic, occurs spontaneously
a high-quality diet can help control blood sugar levels
GI illness
can include GI distress, colitis, gastroenteritis, gastritis
good diet of high-quality digestible food is part of treatment
heart disease
two forms: congenital and acquired
congenital: present since birth, can’t be prevented, may be exacerbated by age/injury/diet
acquired: usually seen as mitral valve distress or dilated cardiomyopathy
grain-free diets could be a possible cause of cardiomyopathy
what is another thing that could happen related to heart disease from diet?
dogs can get heart disease caused by fat build-up in the arteries around the heart
fat deposits usually caused by lack of exercise or diet
cancer
causes vary and are difficult to diagnose
eating a healthy balanced diet lowers risk, being overweight increases risk
diet can also influence the progression of cancer and improve a dog’s quality of life
skin and fur conditions
diet lacking in essential fatty acids is reflected in the coat condition
dull brittle coats or dry flaky itchy skin are signs that your dog is not getting enough nutrients (other causes could be allergies or endocrine)
omega-3 fatty acids is most common for dogs to be deficient in (found in fish and flaxseed oils)
feeding a good diet will help strengthen skin barrier
reduced immunity
lack of proper nutrition means your dog is not getting what it needs to function at the highest level
one of the first things that will suffer is immune system
wounds and infections will take longer to clear up
bladder stones
may start out small but over time will grow in number and/or size which will cause issues such as urinary accidents, discolored urine, and straining
diets too high in calcium or phosphorus can increase risk
diarrhea
two main types: small bowel and large bowel diarrhea
small bowel: produce large amounts of soft stool just a few times a day
large bowel: abnormalities centered in colon, affected dogs will usually strain to produce small amounts of watery stool frequently throughout the day
high fiber diet good for large bowel and a bland, low fat, easily digested diet is good for soft bowel
wrong pet food
cats and dogs have different dietary requirements
cats require higher quantities of fat, protein, amino acid arginine, and vitamins niacin and pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
cats also lack enzyme glucokinase which makes some people believe they can’t digest carbs but they produce the enzyme hexakinase which does allow them to digest properly processed carbs
