Nutrition Flashcards
Define nutrition
Process of providing/obtaining food necessary for health and growth
What is the role of vet nurses in patient nutrition?
Educate owners
Feed in practice
Identify diet issues
Define nutrients
Components in the diet that have specific functions in the body
What is the difference between essential and non-essential nutrients?
Essential- can’t be synthesised by the body, need to be in diet
Non-essential- can be synthesised in body, dont need to be in diet
List the classifications of nutrients
Water Protein Carbohydrates Fats Vitamins Minerals
What is the function of water in the body?
Electrolyte balance
Temperature regulation
Homeostasis of internal environment
Chemical reactions
What are the inputs and outputs of water?
Inputs- drinking, food, metabolic water
Outputs- urine, faeces, saliva, sweat, vomiting
What is normal total water loss from the body?
50ml/kg/24hr
What is the main energy source in the body?
Carbohydrates
How are carbohydrates stored in the body?
Fat
Glycogen in muscle and liver
What is the function of carbohydrates in the body?
Energy
Fibre source
Bodily functions
When do carbohydrates cause problems in some patients?
Some cant easily be digested causing diarrhoea or GI problems
Obesity
What are the different types of fibre?
Insoluble- cellulose in veg and cereal grains
Soluble- pectin, fruit, vegetables, beans, oats, lentils
What is the functions of fibre?
Aid GI system
Make faeces softer and bulkier to pass easier
Prevent constipation and diarrhoea
Decrease calorie density
What are problems associated with fibre?
Too much can cause high fecal output
What are the functions of proteins?
Growth Repair Energy Metabolism Nitrogen source Hormone/enzyme production Metabolism regulation
List the 10 essential amino acids
Arginine Methionine Histidine Phenylalanine Isoleucine Threonine Leucine Tryptophan Lysine Valine
What is the additional essential amino acid required by cats and why is it essential for them?
Taurine
Is produced in conversion of methionine or cytosine but this process is too slow in cats
Why cant cats be vegetarian?
Taurine is found in animal protein
What can taurine deficiency in cats do?
Cause blindness and heart problems
Define biological value
Proportion of essential amino acids in protein and how easily available they are
What are sources of proteins?
Meat
Plants
Milk
Dairy
What happens to excess protein?
Broken down by liver and kidneys for excretion but can compromise their function
What are the signs of protein deficiency?
Weight loss Poor growth Dull coat Muscle atrophy Oedema
What are the functions of fats?
Carry fat soluble vitamins Source of essential fatty acids Energy Form cell membranes Improve coat condition Control water loss Insulation Hormone synthesis
What is the most important type of dietary fats?
Triglycerides
What are sources of fat?
Animal fat Vegetable oil Oily fish Red meat Dairy
What are the essential fatty acids?
Linoleic acid- essential for all animals
Linolenic acid- synthesised from linoleic acid
Arachidonic acid- synthesised from linoleic acid
Which species cant synthesised arachidonic acid so need it in their diet?
Cats
What are symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency?
Impaired reproductive function
Impaired wound healing
Dry coat and skin
What symptoms show excess fatty acids in the diet?
Obesity
Pansteatitis/yellow fat disease
List the fat soluble vitamins
A
D
E
K
What is the role of vitamins?
Metabolic processes
Energy metabolism regulation
Where are vitamins acquired from?
Diet
List the water soluble vitamins
B
C
What are the sources of vitamin A?
Carotenoids Fish oil Milk Liver Eggs
What are the sources of vitamin D?
Liver
Fish
Eggs
Sunshine
What are the sources of vitamin E?
Wheat gem
Soy
Beans
Oils
What are the sources of vitamin K?
Leafy plants
Fish
Liver
What are the sources of vitamin B?
Meat
Vegetables
Eggs
Dairy
What is the sources of vitamin C?
Glucose synthesis
What is the function of vitamin A?
Vision
Bone growth
Reproduction
Maintain epithelial tissue
What is the function of vitamin D?
Regulate calcium and phosphate
What is the function of vitamin E?
Antioxidant properties
What is the function of vitamin K?
Clotting cascade
What is the function of vitamin B?
Coenzyme for cellular enzymes involved in metabolism and tissue synthesis
What are the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency and excess?
Deficiency- impaired growth, skin disease, reproductive failure
Excess- skeletal abnormality
What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency and excess?
Deficiency- rickets, osteomalacia, secondary hyperparathyroidism
Excess- hypercalcaemia, bone reabsorption, soft tissue calcification
What are the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency?
Reproductive failure
Pansteatitus/yellow fat disease
What are the symptoms of vitamin K deficiency?
Increased clotting time
What are the symptoms of vitamin B deficiency?
CNS signs
Anaemia
Weight loss
What are minerals and what are their purpose?
Inorganic elements
Essential for metabolic processed
What is the differences between macrominerals and microminerals?
Macro- needed in large amounts
Micro- needed in small amounts
What is calcium and phosphorus important for in the body?
Skeleton and teeth
What controls calcium and phosphate levels?
Reactions
Parathyroid hormone
Calcitonin
Vitamin D
What are the symptoms of calcium and phosphate deficiency and excess?
Deficiency- eclampsia when nursing
Excess- skeletal abnormalities, OCD, hip displasia
What is the role of magnesium?
Normal heart
Skeletal muscle function
What are the sources of calcium and phosphate?
Calcium- milk
Phosphate- muscle meat
What are sources of magnesium?
Bone
Grains
Fibre
What are the symptoms of magnesium deficiency and excess?
Deficiency- muscle weakness
Excess- lower urinary tract disease, struvite orolith crystals
What is the role of sodium and chloride?
Major electrolytes
Regulate bodily fluids
What are the sources of sodium and chloride?
Fish
Eggs
What are the symptoms of sodium and chloride deficiency and excess?
Deficiency- excess fluid loss
Excess- oedema, increased fluid intake, hypertension, heart and kidney issues
What is the role of potassium in the body?
Maintain acid base balance
Aid transfer of nerve impulses
Aid muscle contraction
What are the sources of potassium?
Soya Rice Bran Grains Wheat
What are the symptoms of potassium deficiency and excess?
Deficiency- anorexia, lethargy, muscle weakness
Excess- bradycardia
What are trace elements in the body, what are there roles and what does deficiency cause?
Iron- haemoglobin, deficiency causes disease
Copper- RBC formation, pigmentation, deficiency causes poor reproduction, early foetal loss, hair depigmentation
Zinc- healthy skin and coat
Manganese- enzyme function and metabolic processes in fibre and fish
Iodine- thyroid hormones, reproduction, growth and metabolism, found in fish, eggs and poultry
Explain the requirements for puppies and kittens diets
Highly digestible Nutrient dense Avoid over feeding Low calcium in large breed puppies Feed complete diet 3-4 meals a day until 4-6 months
Explain the requirements for adults diets
Highly digestible Nutrient dense 1-2 meals a day Avoid overfeeding Balanced diet
Explain the requirements for seniors diets
Geriatric diet lower in calories
Avoid sudden changes
High quality protein
Explain the requirements for pregnant mothers diets
Highly digestible
Energy dense
Increase feeding after 5 weeks to 1.5 times RER
Feed little and often
Explain the requirements for lactating mothers diets
Enough calories to prevent weight loss
Feed 2-3 times RER
Reduce calories after 4 weeks
What are complete diets?
Canned
Dry food
Semimoist food
What diets are unadvised?
Raw diets
Homemade diets
What is meant by RER?
Resting energy requirements, energy used when sitting still
What are the calculations of RER?
Dogs 5-40kg- 30 x body weight + 70
Dogs less than 5 or more than 40kg- 60 x body weight
All animals- 70 x body weight ^0.75