Nutrition and Health Flashcards
1
Q
What is nutrition for companion animals
A
- designed to achieve a long, active and healthy life for the animal and to minimize/avoid health problems
- “nutrition for life”
2
Q
providing a healthy diet
A
- A healthy diet is dependent on providing the animal with a balanced diet,
~ i.e. optimum nutrient levels that allows no net gain or loss of nutrients. - A balanced diet will supply the key nutrients needed to meet the requirements of the animal and a sufficient quantity of energy balanced with consideration of the life stage of the animal.
3
Q
differences in dog and cat dietary needs
A
- Dogs are omnivores and are able to consume a wide range of food of animal and vegetable origin.
- Cats have essential requirements for nutrients that are found in adequate levels in meat (low in plant foods) = requirement for food of animal origin = obligate carnivores.
- Cats require dietary sources of arginine, taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin D, A and B2
4
Q
Practical feeding
A
- Feeding dogs and cats is now comparatively easy for owners as good quality commercially manufactured pet foods are now widely available
- diets are guaranteed to be nutritionally appropriate for their intended purpose and quality and safety of the food is high.
- typical commercially available pet food is considered to be a “complete food” which is designed to provide a balanced diet when fed alone.
- supplementing these carefully designed complete diets may result in an imbalance being created
- which can lead to over-supplementation/interference between certain nutrients leading to under-utilization and deficiency.
(can hinder how other nutrients are digested and broken down, absorbed, how utilised)
5
Q
Raw feeding
- about
A
- The feeding of raw meat-based diets (RMBD) is a much discussed/many opinions on the validity of this style of feeding.
- Based on the idea that eating a raw diet is more “natural”.
- RMBD are available in commercially-produced forms and owners will also develop their own “home-made” diets.
- Anecdotal accounts of the benefits of raw feeding do exist
- lots of papers but no significant research-based scientific evidence in support of such a diet.
6
Q
raw feeding
- risks (identified from papers)
- veterinary proffesions released statements as high risk
A
- Infectious disease
- Nutritional imbalance
- Physical dangers such as bone ingestion
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
- Animal Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
- Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
The AVMA states that there is “no properly documented evidence of health benefits (for RMBDs), but well-documented risks”.
7
Q
Life stage nutrition
A
- Most pet owners recognise the importance of feeding a specially-formulated diet for a young animal and to change the diet once the animal becomes an adult.
- However, it is also important to consider the senior animal whose requirements will also be significantly different as it ages.
8
Q
Young animal diets
- importance
- consequences if incorrect nutriton
A
- Nutrition during the growth phase is vital and commercial puppy and kitten foods are manufactured to take account of the specific requirement of growing animals which includes higher energy, protein and calcium levels than an adult.
- Feeding with a quality commercial puppy or kitten food will supply all necessary nutrients in appropriate amounts.
- Incorrect nutrition during the growth phase can lead to serious medical conditions that can persist e.g. bone abnormalities.
- Supplementation with bovine milk often considered important by owners
= not necessary or recommended as the higher lactose content compared with the mother’s milk can lead to osmotic diarrhoea.(pull of fluid into gut)
9
Q
Adult animal diets
- recomend time feed
- what factors affect diets
- cat feeding owner asumption vs reality
A
- recommended that adult dogs are fed twice daily with a good-quality commercial adult maintenance diet.
- Requirements will vary dependent on
~ breed size,
~ exercise levels
~ physiological state. - Cats are often considered by owners to be able to moderate their own food intake and so are often fed ad-libitum,
~ however the increase in obese cats seen in veterinary practice in the UK would suggest that controlling intake in some individuals would be appropriate.
10
Q
Senior diets
- when to use
A
- Many owners unaware that their animals are considered to be senior when they reach the final third of their anticipated life span.
- Older animals experience many body changes that affect how nutrients are utilized and also require a lower energy intake both of which should be taken into account when feeding the older pet animal.
- For many popular breeds of dog this means that an animal should be fed a senior diet from the age six/seven years,
(even though the activity levels/appearance suggest still adult) - Cats may be considered to be geriatric from the time of 7/8 years of age.
- Older animals are, generally, less active and therefore need less calories.
- Food should be highly palatable and digestible.
11
Q
What nutrients/ingredients should senior diets have and why
A
- Increased levels of vitamins A, B1, B6, B12 and E due to digestive system changes.
- Increased fatty acids and Zn to help coat quality.
- Increased lysine to encourage immuno-competence.
- Increased levels of vitamin C to help counteract arthritis.
- Reduced protein, phosphorous and sodium due to renal and cardiovascular changes.
appropriate feeding older animal can extend and improve quality of life
commercial diet provide all nutrients nessasary = dont need to make our own
12
Q
Physiological stage feeding: pregnancy
- dog
A
- Foetal growth rate in the dog only increases significantly during the third trimester of pregnancy
- so the bitches’ dietary intake does not need to be increased until week five or six of gestation.
- Many owners of pregnant bitches feed ad-lib during this period as the increased uterine size will impact on the volume of food that the animal is able to eat and little and often feeding is common.
- Feeding ad-lib potentially leads to a risk of overeating and obesity
~ although limitations in the volume of food that the animal can eat along with the increased energy requirements and the short period of the final trimester usually means that obesity is not a great problem.
13
Q
Physiological stage feeding: pregnancy
- cat
A
- Unlike the bitch, the queen will increase her food intake from the beginning of pregnancy.
- Feeding ad-libitum during this period will normally ensure that the queen receives appropriate nutrition without over-eating.
14
Q
Physiological stage feeding: lactation
A
- Lactation places a significant metabolic stress on a female
- for the first few weeks after parturition the mother will need to eat enough food to provided maintenance energy for herself and all her offspring.
- up to four times her normal daily intake by three to four weeks post-parturition
~ although this will reduce as the young start to eat solid food. - Feeding ad-libitum during this period is recommended.
- unlikely to get overweight
15
Q
Physiological stage feeding: inactive, ill or recovering animal
A
- It has been estimated that up to 50% of hospitalised small animal patients are malnourished.
- Inactive, ill or recovering animals that are eating less due to illness require a diet with a higher energy level than maintenance diets.
