Nutrition from breeding to weaning Flashcards
Breeding to weaning - what does it take?
genetic soundness, facilities, nutrition, committment
What is considered when analyzing top health and well-being?
health status and body condition
What leads to a good health status?
- physical exam
- vaccinations
- clear of parasites
How is body condition assessed?
Ideal body score
- important management tool for nutrition
- palpate adipose and muscle tissue (adipose = squishy; muscle = firm) and across lumbar
If bitches are thin (under condition) prior to breeding, they have an increased risk of?
- misconceptions
- small litters
- reproductive or lactation failure
Bitches that are heavy (over condition) prior to breeding have an increased risk of?
- dystocia (difficulty whelping)
- puppy mortalities
Which stage of life influences life span of animals?
gestation and early development
% maintenance required prior to and just following whelping?
150%
% maintenance required at peak of lactation?
300% - slowly work down to maintenance level around weaning
How much of gestation requires the same energy requirement?
2/3
As milk production decreases, what happens to energy requirements?
they also decrease
Which nutrients are the most important to a puppy between 26-36 days gestational age?
protein, EFA and B-complex vitamins
Which nutrients are the most important to a puppy between 40-52 days gestational age?
protein, EFA and glucose
Which nutrients are the most important to a puppy between 54-62 days gestational age?
protein, EFA, glucose, minerals
What is the purpose of maternal nutrient depletion?
reduction of maternal nutrient stores (tissues) to meet the nutritional requirements of the developing/nursing offspring
- use of fat/lean tissue to support development and lactating periods
Effect of maternal nutrient depletion on number of litters?
more litters –> status linearly declines
Where must EFAs be obtained from?
the diet (omega 3’s and 6’s)
Where are non-essential FAs obtained from?
the diet or produced by the body
How can EFA status be assessed?
can look at plasma, but good indicator is the lipid bilayer
- tissue is longterm, blood is short term unless animal is actively mobilizing fat
Effects of reproduction on maternal EFA status
- prefer to see no EFA change during gestation
BUT there is a big mobilization in energy stores and nutrients into milk so it is almost impossible to avoid nutrient deficiency in mammals during gestation
Positive benefits of optimal omega 6: omega 3 ratio (5:1)
- maternal EFA status
- promote litter size
- less still births
Where to look for adjusted 6:3 ratio?
fish ingredients (salmon, trout), some ocean products (not widely available), algae (only some approved strains) = suggested lower ratio
A guaranteed 6:3 ratio is required for which life stages?
gestation, lactation, puppies
- want to make sure diets are testing and guaranteeing
sources of puppy nutrition
mom’s milk and non-milk products
Is there a substitute for wholesome bitch’s milk?
No
milk replacer may be required for?
orphans and large litters
Role of protein in bitch’s milk for puppy development:
BIOACTIVE ANTIBODIES
- gastrointestinal tract development
- nutrient digestion and absorption
- defence against disease affecting the bacteria in gut
How can the quality of protein be assessed?
puppies poo - colour/odor
The diet provided to the lactating bitch should contain an:
optimal, highly digestive protein source “ideal protein” - in terms of AA profile
What must be considered regarding a bitch’s diet?
- protein level and source
- fat level and composition
- density
- vitamins/minerals
Which maternal diet nutrient profile guarantee is the most beneficial at optimizing weaning weight?
30% protein, 20% fat (higher levels)
Does maternal dietary fatty acids have a direct/indirect effect on neonatal EFA status?
Direct
Roles of DHA
cognitive important and observed increase in graduation rate of puppies from service organization
Optimal diet for a lactating bitch
energy density = >4400 kcalME/kg fat = 45% of calories protein = 27% of calories carbohydrate = 28% of calories fiber =
What is the problem with diet supplements?
Easily altered by the addition of certain foods
- -> Alters Ca:P ratio
- addition of more P into diet (cottage cheese, liver)
- could lead to milk fever (depletion of calcium stores)
–> higher energy/protein requirement - supplement with more food rather than food perceived to be a good energy/protein source
What is the fastest way to dry a bitch up?
decrease caloric intake
What drives milk synthesis?
milking - milk producing cells are triggered by pressure in the gland
What is the most critical period in a puppies life?
the first week
- ~28% of puppies will die
When should solid food be introduced into a puppies diet?
3-5 weeks
- high performance ration used for mom soaked in warm water–> gruel consistency
Relationship between mothers milk and dry food delivery?
Negative association - decrease mothers milk as dry food increases
At what age should puppies be eating completely solid food?
42 days
Do large breed puppies require a special food following weaning?
Yes
- one that is specially designed for large breed puppies
Can a dam be fed large breed puppy food?
No
- Ca:P ratio isn’t appropriate
- could lead to milk fever
Macronutrient breakdown for puppies
Protein 28-32% - animal based
Fat 17-22% - optimal balance of 6:3 (5-10:1)
Carb 20-30% - high GI (e.g. rice)
What can be altered to improve longevity?
Calorie (NOT nutrient) restriction
- nutrients are at a higher proportion/kcal
What does over condition affect?
- performance
- grooming
- reproduction/lactation
- osteoarthritis
- diabetes/insulin resistance
- cardiovascular/respiratory function
- immune function
- chronic renal failure
- feline hepatic lipidosis
- predictor of morbidity/mortality
veterinary visits more likely in
- obese cats for non-bite lameness, diabetes, non-allergic skin disease
- muscle loss in cats with diarrhea
What should be done to ensure diet is being maximized?
weight frequently and assess daily (even more in first week or two)
During gestation/lactation, when does % maintenance energy requirement peak? And what level does it reach?
300% between 2-5 weeks of lactation
What is the EFA status and what happens to maternal EFA status as she has more litters?
EFA status = essential and non-essential FAs that the mother requires
- as the number of litters increases, her EFA status declines
What are some active ways to make sure puppies achieve optimal health?
- colostrum ingestion
- suckling reflex and observe nursing
- check hydration daily (gum check and skin tenting)
- weigh daily and keep record
What are some strategies around weaning and how to decrease milk production?
- remove puppies from bitch (reduced pressure due to sucking decreases milk production)
- decrease bitch’s caloric intake which will decrease milk production
When considering a diet specific to protein and fat composition, which percentage is most beneficial (30% P and 20% F OR 27% P and 12%F). Explain how it related to puppy weaning weight and maternal body fat stores at weaning?
30:20 - average weaning weight and maternal body fat stores were maintained
–> a much more similar ratio in terms of fat and protein is beneficial
What is the optimal omega 6:3 ratio for a lactating bitch?
5-10:1
How will a high 6:3 ratio affect litter size and # of stillbirths?
- litter size will decrease
- # of stillbirths will increase
Which nutrient did we discuss as the most problematic when supplementing the lactating bitch’s diet with items such as cottage cheese and beed liver? What effect does adding these ingredients have on this nutrient and what is a potential problem that could arise?
Calcium
- Ca:P ratio (which is guaranteed in commercial diets)
- when separate foods are used to supplement the ratio is altered
- could lead to milk fiver –> removal of calcium reserves –> decreased milk production
Provide 3 reasons why wholesome bitch’s milk is superior to feeding milk substitutes?
- natural milk has an optimal AA balance
- nutrient digestion/absorption - bitch’s milk is highly bioavailable for puppies
- bitch’s milk enhances defense against disease in puppies due to bacterial transfer of immunoglobulins
What is “agalactia” and what are the possible problems association with lactation and their solutions
No milk
- lactation is very demanding for the bitch
- this is secondary to some other causes such as (stress, poor nutrition, premature whelping, infections, psychological)
- solutions include better nutrition (best tool), oxytocin nasal spray (helps milk let down), light sedation may help young, nervous bitches
