Nutrients

Question 1

What is a carbohydrate?

Answer 1

• Molecules made up of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
• Two main types:
➢Complex
➢Simple
• Primary function = energy

Question 2

What are simple carbohydrates?

Answer 2

• Stripped of natural fibres and nutrients
• Easy to absorb
• Broken down quickly

Question 3

What are complex carbohydrates?

Answer 3

• Whole, unprocessed food
• Slow break down

Question 4

What are monosaccharides?

Answer 4

• Simple sugar
• Single sugar unit
• All have the same chemical formula
C6H12O6
• Glucose
• Fructose
• Galactose

Question 5

What are disaccharides?

Answer 5

• 2 monosaccharide units
• Dehydration reaction
• Sucrose = Glucose + Fructose
• Maltose = Glucose + Glucose
• Lactose = Glucose + Galactose

Question 6

What are polysaccharides?

Answer 6

• Long chain of monosaccharides
• Starch
➢Main form of carb storage in plants ➢Alpha-glucose
• Cellulose
➢Plant cell walls
➢Beta glucose
➢Not digested by most animals
➢Acts as fibre
➢Main source of energy for ruminants
• Glycogen
➢Store of energy
➢Created in body
➢Stored in liver and muscles
➢Any not used – converted into fat

Question 7

What carbohydrates are in dog and cat food?

Answer 7

• Dry feed: 30-70% carbohydrate
• Wild canines – 30% of diet
• Wild felines – 5% of diet

Question 8

Why is the carbohydrate percentage so high?

Answer 8

• Carbohydrates provide same energy as protein
• Carbohydrate sources cheaper than protein
• Energy requirements are met with carbs

Question 9

Why can obesity occur by carbohydrate ingestion?

Answer 9

➢More energy ingested than expended
➢Glycogen not broken down into glucose stored as fat
➢Linked to other health issues (i.e., with the heart)

Question 10

Why can diabetes occur by carbohydrate ingestion?

Answer 10

➢Can be due to genetics/immune disorders
➢Also due to high consumption of carbohydrates
➢Lack of insulin
➢Bladder/kidney/skin infections, cataracts, weakness and abnormal gait

Question 11

What is a protein?

Answer 11

• Essential components of all living cells
• Composed of amino acids

Question 12

What are amino acids?

Answer 12

• Small molecule
• Basic building blocks of
life
• 21 amino acids

Question 13

What are essential amino acids in dogs?

Answer 13

• Phenylalanine
• Methionine
• Valine
• Histidine
• Tryptophan
• Argenine
• Threonine
• Leucine
• Isoleucine
• Lysine

Question 14

What are the different amino acid combinations?

Answer 14

Peptide – short chain of amino acids
Dipeptide – 2 amino acids combined
Polypeptide – combination of 10+ amino acids

Question 15

What are the essential amino acids in cats?

Answer 15

• The same as for dog, except cats also require:
➢Taurine
• Inadequate levels of
Taurine can lead to:
➢Irreversible blindness
➢Heart problems
• Only obtained from animal protein

Question 16

What is the function of a protein?

Answer 16

• Regulate metabolism
• Source of dietary
energy
• Enzymes are proteins
• Structure of cell membranes
• Structure of muscle
• Tissue growth and
repair
• Main role in hormone production

Question 17

What happens if there is too much protein ingested?

Answer 17

• Negative effect: kidneys
• Excess nitrogen
• Weight gain
• Juveniles: quick weight gain – abnormal joint development

Question 18

What happens if there is too little protein ingested?

Answer 18

• Poor coat
• Stunted growth
• Weight loss
• Anaemic

Question 19

What are the different protein levels in manufactured animal feed?

Answer 19

• Puppy/ Kitten Food- high
• Maintenance diet (cat/dog)- medium
• Senior diet (cat/dog)- low
• Poultry layers pellets- high
• Poultry growers pellets- high
• Poultry maintenance pellets- medium

Question 20

What are essential amino acids?

Answer 20

➢Obtained from diet

Question 21

What are non- essential amino acids?

Answer 21

➢Synthesised in body
• Different species have different requirements

Question 22

What is the function of lipids?

Answer 22

▪Found throughout body
▪Form of energy
▪Insulation
▪Organ protection
▪Hormones and steroids composition
▪Cell membrane
▪Stores fat-soluble
vitamins
▪ Coat condition/waterproofing

Question 23

What is the difference between essential vs non- essential lipids?

Answer 23

▪ESSENTIAL
▪Obtained from diet
▪Omega-3 and Omega-6
▪NON-ESSENTIAL
▪Can be made in the body, not essential from diet
▪Stearic acid

Question 24

What is the structure of fatty acids?

Answer 24

➢Monomer = small unit from which larger units are made
➢Polymer = larger unit made up of monomers
▪Monomer = fatty acid
▪Polymer = lipid
▪Hydrocarbon
chain
▪Carboxyl group
▪2 types:
➢Saturated
➢Unsaturated

Question 25

What are the sources of lipids?

Answer 25

▪ Meat
▪Fish
▪Plant Oils
▪Excess carbohydrates are stored as fats

Question 26

Why is the structure of saturated fatty acids?

Answer 26

▪Fatty acid – no double bonds
▪Solid at room temperature
▪Unhealthy
▪Dairy and red meat

Question 27

What is the structure of unsaturated fatty acids?

Answer 27

Tail contains double bonds
▪Liquid at room temperature
▪Often made from seeds e.g., sunflower oil
▪Mono-unsaturated
➢Nuts, avocado, olive oil
▪ Poly-unsaturated
➢Vegetable oil, oily fish

Question 28

What is the lipid structure?

Answer 28

Head and tail
▪Tail = fatty acid
▪Head = carbohydrate
▪E.g., Triglyceride
➢3 fatty acids
➢Glycerol
➢Most common lipid
➢From diet + formed in liver

Question 29

What happens if there is a lack of essential fatty acids?

Answer 29

▪Impaired reproductive performance
▪Slower wound healing
▪Weak immune system
▪Dry coat
▪Scaly skin
▪Bacterial skin infections