Nutrition Flashcards
Define nutrition
process of providing or obtaining food necessary for health and growth
what are nutrients?
components in the diet that have specific functions within the body
what are essential nutrients?
those that cannot be synthesised by the body and so must be supplied by the diet
what are nonessential nutrients?
those that can be synthesised by the body
give the 6 main nutrient categories
water protein carbohydrates fats vitamins minerals
what is the most important nutrient?
water
what percentage of body weight is made up of water?
60-70%
what is the main component of CSF?
water
what is the main function of water in the body?
maintains electrolyte concentration in body fluids
provides a medium for chemicals to dissolve into
what should always be readily available to pets?
fresh drinking water
what key body function is water involved in?
homeostasis
what percentage of body water is located in the ICF?
40%
what percentage of body water is located in the ECF?
20%
what makes up the ECF?
transcellular fluid
plasma
interstitial fluid
what are the main input of water into the body?
drinking
food
metabolic water
what is metabolic water?
water produced by body during chemical reactions
what are the main outputs of water from the body?
urine
faeces
saliva
other (vomit, sweat etc)
what is the normal total fluid loss of an animal?
50ml/kg/24 hours
why is it important to be aware of the normal total fluid loss?
in order to maintain hydration
when calculating fluid therapy rate
what happens to total fluid loss in a dehydrated animal and what does it depend on?
increases - amount depends on deficit the animal has (e.g. vomiting or diarrhoea)
what are amino acids formed of?
carbon
hydrogen
oxygen
nitrogen
what are the constituents of proteins?
amino acids
what are amino acids bonded by?
peptide bonds
what are the functions of protein?
growth repair source of nitrogen energy metabolism
how many amino acids are there?
23
how many essential amino acids are there?
10
how many essential amino acids do cats need?
11
what extra amino acid is essential in cats?
taurine
what is an essential amino acid?
one which cannot be synthesised by the animal
why should cats not be fed dog feed?
will not contain taurine which commercial cat food does
how is taurine produced in dogs?
by conversion of methionine or cystine
why do cats require taurine in their diet?
cannot convert methionine or cystine quickly enough
where is taurine found?
animal protein
what can inadequate levels of taurine cause in cats?
blindness and heart problems
why should cats not be fed a vegan or vegetarian diet?
taurine comes from animal proteins which would not be found in a vegan or vegetarian diet
where can protein be found?
meat
plants
milk/dairy
what is biological value?
the proportion of essential amino acids in any protein source and how available they are
what does the quality of protein depend on?
number and amount of essential amino acids it contains
what must protein be in order to have high biological value?
acceptable/digestible/utilizable
what are excess levels of protein broken down by?
liver and kidneys and excreted from the body
in what patients is excess protein particularly harmful?
those with compromised hepatic or renal function
when may excess dietary protein be needed?
if the patient has a disease process causing increased protein loss
why may protein deficiency occur?
low levels of protein in the diet or insufficient levels of one amino acid
what are the signs of protein deficiency?
weight loss, poor growth, dull coat, muscle atrophy, oedema.
can lead to death
what are carbohydrates a source of?
energy
what do carbohydrates contain?
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
where do carbohydrates come from?
plant matter
what are the 3 main carbohydrate groups?
monosaccharides
disaccharides
polysaccharides
how can carbohydrates be stored in the body?
as fats or as glycogen for future use
what are the issues with carbohydrates?
not easily digested
possibility of diarrhoea in older animals
obesity
what are the two types of fibre?
insoluble
soluble
where are insoluble fibres found?
vegetables and cereal grains
where are soluble fibres found?
fruit, vegetables, oats, beans and lentils
what are the functions of fibre?
to aid control of faeces and helps to prevent constipation
how are faeces affected by a high fibre diet?
softer, increased in bulk and passed more frequently
how does fibre prevent constipation?
accelerates the transit time of faeces
how can fibre aid patients with diarrhoea?
slows down transit time
how does fibre decrease the calorie density of diet?
by making other nutrients less available for absorption
what are the adverse affects of fibre?
flatulence and increased faecal output
what are fats carriers for?
fat soluble vitamins
what are the fat soluble vitamins?
A, D, E and K
what are fats a source of?
essential fatty acids (EFA)
what are the functions of fats in the body?
increases palatability major energy source formation of cell membranes improves hair/coat condition controls water loss from skin
what is the most important type of fat in the diet?
triglycerides
what are triglycerides made up of?
3 fatty acids linked together
how many essential fatty acids are there?
3
what are the 3 essential fatty acids?
linoleic acid
linolenic acid
arachidonic acid
where is linolenic acid commonly found?
vegetable oil
how is linolenic acid produced?
synthesised from linoleic acid in dogs and cats so is not needed in their diet
how is arachidonic acid produced in dogs?
synthesised from linoleic acid
why do cats need arachidonic acid in their diet?
unable to synthesise it like dogs can
what are the 5 main sources of fat?
animal fat oils vegetable fats oily fish red meat dairy products
what are the effects of fatty acid deficiency?
impaired reproductive performance
impaired wound healing
dry coat
dry, scaly skin
where does fatty acid deficiency most commonly occur?
in dogs fed a low fat dry dog food
food that has been stored for too long
food stored in hot humid conditions
what does essential fatty acid excess cause?
obesity and so obesity related conditions (reduced mobility, ‘yellow fat disease’)
where is essential fatty acid excess common?
cats fed a diet high in red meat tuna
what are vitamins?
organic molecules required in the body’s metabolic processes
what does a vitamins absence cause?
deficiency
why must vitamins form part of the diet?
cannot be synthesised
what are vitamins used for within the body?
regulation of energy metabolism
involved in numerous biological reactions
are all vitamins essential for all species?
no
what are the 2 groups of vitamins
water soluble
fat soluble
what are the water soluble vitamins?
B complex vitamins
vitamin C
what are the fat soluble vitamins?
vitamin A
vitamin D
vitamin E
vitamin K
what is the function of vitamin A?
vision, bone growth, reproduction and maintenance of epithelial tissue
what are the sources of vitamin A?
caroteniods, fish oils, milk, liver and egg
what can vitamin A deficiency cause?
impaired growth, skin disease and reproductive failure
what can vitamin A excess cause?
skeletal abnormalities
what is the function of vitamin D?
helps to regulate calcium and phosphate
what is the D vitamin with the most nutritional importance in dogs and cats?
D3
when is vitamin D3 synthesised by the body?
when 7-dehydrocholesterol is exposed to light
where is 7-dehydrocholesterol found?
in the skin
where can vitamin D3 be obtained from?
the skin or consumption of animal products
what are the main sources of vitamin D?
liver, fish, egg , sunshine
what can vitamin D deficiency cause?
rickets, osteomalacia, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
what can vitamin D excess cause?
hyper calcaemia, bone reabsorption, soft tissue calcification
what are the properties of vitamin E?
antioxidant
what chemically related compounds is vitamin E a group of?
tocopherols and tocotrienols
what vitamin can the liver store small amounts of?
vitamin E
what are the main sources of vitamin E?
wheat germ, soy, bean oils
what can vitamin E deficiency cause?
reproductive failure, pancreatitis
what can excess vitamin E do?
nothing, it is non-toxic
what group of compounds is vitamin K a part of?
quinones
what are the main sources of vitamin K?
green leafy plants, some fish and liver
where is vitamin K synthesised?
large intestine
what is the role of vitamin K in the body?
active role in the clotting cascade
required for the synthesis of clotting factors 2, 7, 9, 10
what can vitamin K deficiency cause?
increased clotting time/bleeding
what can vitamin K excess cause?
no known problems
what are the 5 main B vitamins?
Thiamin - B1 Riboflavin - B2 Niacin Cobalamin - B12 Folic acid
What is the function of B vitamins?
act as co enzymes for specific cellular enzymes that are involved in metabolism and tissue synthesis
what are sources of B vitamins?
meats, vegetables, eggs, dairy
what are signs of B vitamin deficiency?
CNS signs, anaemia, weight loss
what are signs of B vitamin excess?
none as it is non-toxic
what is vitamin C also know as?
asorbic acid
where is vitamin C synthesised from?
glucose
what is vitamin C destroyed by?
oxidative processes
why do animals not require vitamin C in their diets?
capable of of producing adequate levels of endogenous vitamin C
what factors can affect vitamin requirements?
growth
reproduction
anorexia
renal failure
what are minerals?
inorganic elements that are essential for the body’s metabolic processes
how many minerals are essential?
more than 18
what are macro-minerals?
those needed in large amounts
what are micro-minerals?
those needed in smaller amounts
what are micro-minerals also known as?
trace elements
give 8 macro-minerals
calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, iron and sulphur
give 6 micro-minerals
cobalt, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine and selenium
what are the general functions of minerals?
cell function
nerve function
muscle contraction
what does iron assist with?
within haemoglobin carries oxygen around the body
why can excess of one mineral cause deficiency in another?
absorption of minerals is linked together
when is the linking of mineral absorption important to remember?
when clients are feeding pets a variety of mineral supplements
what is a good source of phosphorus?
muscle meat
what is a good source of calcium?
milk
what is a good source of micro-minerals?
vegetables
what is a good source of iron and other macro-nutrients?
meat and liver
what are calcium and phosphorus used for in the body?
skeleton and teeth
what are calcium and phosphorus levels controlled by?
complicated reactions
parathyroid hormone
calcitonin
vitamin D
what is the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus for growth?
1:1
what effect does excess of calcium and phosphorus have?
skeletal abnormalities (especially where over supplementation has occurred) e.g. OCD, canine hip dysplasia
what effect does deficiency of calcium and phosphorus have on queens/bitches?
eclampsia
what is magnesium required for?
normal function of heart and skeletal muscle
where is magnesium found?
bone, grains, fibre
what does magnesium deficiency cause?
muscle weakness
what can magnesium excess cause?
FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) and formation of struvite uroliths
where are sodium and chloride found in the body?
as electrolytes in body water
what is the role of sodium and chloride?
regulate other body fluids
where are sodium and chloride found within food?
fish and eggs
when does sodium and chloride deficiency occur?
in excessive fluid loss (e.g. vomiting or diarrhoea)
what does sodium and chloride excess cause?
animal to take in more fluid than normal and results in oedema, hypertension and heart/kidney problems
where is potassium found?
readily in cells throughout the body
what is the role of potassium in the body?
maintains acid base balance, aids transfer of nerve impulses, aids muscle contraction
where is potassium found in food?
soya, rice, bran, grains, wheat
what is potassium deficiency known as?
hypokalaemia
what does potassium deficiency cause?
anorexia, lethargy, muscle weakness
what is potassium excess known as?
hyperkalaemia
when does potassium excess occur?
when potassium excretion is impaired (e.g. during FLUTD)
what does hyperkalaemia lead to?
bradycardia
what is the role of iron in the body?
haemoglobin and myoglobin
what does iron deficiency arise from?
chronic blood loss
what does iron deficiency from chronic blood loss lead to?
anaemia and fatigue
when is iron deficiency possible in kittens or puppies?
if they are fed only milk for a prolonged period
what is copper important for?
formation of RBC and pigmentation of hair and skin
what does copper deficiency cause?
poor reproductive performance
hair depigmentation
early foetal loss
what does breed predisposition to inherited copper toxicity cause?
liver cirrhosis
what is zinc necessary for?
healthy skin and coat
what does zinc deficiency cause?
sparse hair and poor coat
in what species is manganese essential?
birds
what is manganese essential for in birds?
enzyme function and metabolic processes
where is manganese found in food?
fibre and fish meal
what is iodine a major constituent of?
thyroid hormones
what is iodine involved with?
vital to thyroid hormone production thermoregulation reproduction growth metabolism
what foods are rich in iodine?
fish eggs and poultry
what vitamin does selenium function in conjunction with?
vitamin E
is selenium deficiency common in small mammals?
not often reported
why may nutrient and energy levels vary between animals?
depends on life stage or disease process that the animal may have
what are the 4 life stages of animals that require different nutritional needs?
puppies/kittens
adult
pregnancy and lactation
senior
how many meals should puppies/kittens be fed a day?
3-4 meals until they are 6 months old
what are the nutritional needs of puppies and kittens?
highly digestible and nutrient dense foods
fed to support a lean body condition
what care should be taken when feeding large breeds?
reduce the calcium intake
in what ratio should calcium and phosphorus be fed to growing puppies/kittens?
1:1
what should be avoided when feeding all animals?
overfeeding
what should not be added to a complete/balanced diet?
and extra nutrients
how many meals a day should be fed to adults?
1-2 a day
what are the nutritional needs of adult animals?
highly digestible and nutrient dense
feed to support lean body condition
what number on the body condition score is ideal?
4 or 5
describe 4 on the body condition score
ribs easily palpable with minimal fat covering. waist easily noted, viewed from above. Abdominal tuck evident
describe 5 on the body condition score
ribs palpable without excess fat covering. waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above. Abdominal tucked up when viewed from the side
when should feeding be increased in pregnancy?
after the 5th week
what sort of food should be fed to pregnant and lactating dams?
highly digestible and energy dense
how should pregnant dams be fed?
little and often
how much should feed during pregnancy increase above RER?
1.5 times RER
how much should feed during lactation increase above RER?
2-3 times RER
when should feeds be reduced during lactation?
after 4 weeks
what are the extra nutritional requirements of senior animals?
high quality protein
diet specially formulated for geriatrics
when necessary provide a therapeutic diet to manage or treat disease
what are the types of food available in commercial diets?
canned foods
dry foods
semi-moist foods
what is the water content of canned foods?
68-80% water
what is the water content of dry foods?
6-10% water
what is the water content of semi-moist foods?
24-40% water
which are the most energy rich and therefore cost effective food?
dry foods
what is a disadvantage of a raw diet?
no evidence that is is preferable to commercial cooked diets, there is high risk of illness of both animal and humans in the household due to the bacteria present in raw meat
what are the ingredients that are often included in homemade diets?
meat, offal, fish, eggs, milk, cereals and vegetables
why is cooking always advised?
to kill bacteria and parasites
why do owners need to be wary of overcooking?
it destroys the nutrients in the food
why is homemade food often nutritionally unbalanced?
as owner can’t calculate the correct ratio of nutrients needed
when is energy balance achieved?
when expenditure matches intake
what is resting energy requirement defined as?
the amount of energy expended when sitting quietly in a comfortable environment
what does RER not consider?
work or exercise
what is the best RER formula for dogs from 5-40kg?
RER=30 x BWT + 70
what is the RER formula suitable for animals of any bodyweight?
70 x (BWT)to the power 0.75
what is the formula RER = 60 x BWT used for?
animals under 5kg or over 40kg in weight
why should RER be recalculated daily in the hospitalised patient?
to take weight change into account
how can the quantity of food in grams to be fed be calculated using RER?
RER should be divided by kcal/gram of the chosen food
