NUTRITION - Small Animal Nutrition Flashcards
How many essential amino acids are required in a dog diet?
10 essential amino acids
How many essential amino acids are required in a cat diet?
11 essential amino acids
Which extra essential amino acid is required in a cat diet compared to dogs?
Taurine is an essential amino acid required in cats compared to dogs
Where is taurine found?
Taurine is found only in animal tissue
List three consequences of taurine deficiency in cats
Feline central retinal degeneration
Feline dilated cardiomyopathy
Poor reproduction and growth
What does it mean if a protein has a high biological value?
A protein with a high biological value means the protein closely matches the animals requirements and are highly digestible
What is a food that has an 100% biological value for protein
Egg has an 100% biological value for protein
How much more dietary protein do cats need compared to dogs?
Cats need two times the amount of dietary protein compared to dogs
Which enzymes in the liver convert amino acids into glucose as an energy source in cats?
Transaminase and deaminase enzymes
What are the risks of feeding an older animal a high protein diet?
High protein diets can be damaging to patients with kidney problems, therefore, an excess of dietary protein should be avoided in older pets where kidney disease is more prevalent than in younger animals
Which molecule makes up dietary fats?
Triglycerides make up dietary fats
Why is dietary fat the most efficient source of energy?
Dietary fat has 2.25 times as much energy per gram compared to carbohydrates or proteins
What are the two essential fatty acids required in dogs?
Alpha linoleic acid
Linoleic acid
What are the three essential fatty acids required in cats?
Alpha linoleic acid
Linoleic acid
Arachidonic acid
What are the main consequences of inadequate fat intake in animals?
Poor growth
Weight loss
Poor reproductive performance
Poor skin and coat condition
What are the three main groups of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Polysaccharides
Is there a minimum requirement for carbohydrates in the diet?
No, there is no minimum requirement for carbohydrates in the diet
Why do cats require a low carbohydrate diet?
Cats require a low carbohydrate diet due to having few glucokinase enzymes which limits the ability to metabolise large amounts of simple carbohydrates
What are the main benefits of fibre in the diet?
Fibre maintains colon health, preventing constipation and diarrhoea
What is one way to treat idiopathic colitis in dogs and cats?
Idiopathic colitis can be treated through increasing the fibre quantity in the diet
What are the three non-energy producing nutrients?
Vitamins
Minerals
Water
What is calcium required for in the small animal diet?
Calcium is required for skeletal and dental formation
What are some of the consequences of excess calcium intake?
Hip dysplasia
Skeletal abnormalities
What are two important diseases that can be caused by excess phosphorus intake?
- Nutritional secondary Hyperparathyroidism
- Renal secondary Hyperparathyroidism
An increase in which mineral has shown to increase the progression of renal disease?
Increased phosphorus has shown to increase the progression of renal disease
What is the best diet to feed a dog in renal failure?
Low phosphorus, low protein and high digestibility
What is sodium required for in the small animal diet?
Sodium is required for the regulation of fluid balance
What are some of the consequences of excess sodium intake?
Hypertension
Cardiac and renal disease
What are some of the consequences of a sodium deficiency?
Vomiting and diarrhoea due to excess fluid loss
What are the four fat soluble vitamins?
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamine E
Vitamin K
What are the two water soluble vitamins?
Vitamin B
Vitamin C
Why do cats require pre-formed vitamin A in their diet?
Cats require pre-formed vitamin A as they lack β-carotene dioxygenase which converts β-carotene into vitamin A
Do cats and dogs require a dietary source of vitamin C?
No, dogs and cats can synthesise their own vitamin C from other dietary sources
Why is vitamin E important in the diet?
Antioxidant
For cell membrane integrity
What are the benefits of antioxidants in the diet?
Antioxidants prevent disease by preventing cellular damage by free radicals and thus boost the immune system
Give four examples of dietary antioxidants
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Cobalt (Co)
Selenium (Se)
What are prebiotics?
Prebiotics are a non-digestible food ingredient that promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines/gut
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that when ingested are intended to exert beneficial effects beyond that of their nutritional value
What is a ‘complete’ diet in manufactured pet food?
A ‘complete’ diet is a nutritionally adequate diet that can be fed alone
What is a ‘complimentary’ diet in manufactured pet food?
A ‘complimentary’ diet is a diet which does not meet nutritional requirements alone and is intended as a mixer or a snack
Why should the percentage of nutrients in manufactured foods be calculated on a dry matter basis rather than on an ‘as fed’ basis?
The percentage of nutrients in manufactured foods should be calculated on a dry matter basis as this displays the nutrient content of food without the moisture factor
What is the calculation used to calculate nutrient percentage on a dry matter basis?
(% Nutrients as fed / % Dry matter) x 100
What should be considered before feeding a pet a home prepared diet?
A home prepared diet needs to be formulated carefully and researched thoroughly as there is a danger of nutrient imbalance if done incorrectly
What are some of the risks of vegetarian/vegan small animal diets?
Lower digestibility
Risk of amino acid and vitamin deficiencies
Define resting energy requirement (RER)
The resting energy requirement (RER) is the energy required by a normal animal at rest in a thermoneutral environment
How do you calculate the resting energy requirement (RER)?
RER = (30 x Body weight (BW) in kg) + 70
Define energy maintenance requirement
Energy maintenance requirement is the amount of energy used by a moderately active adult animals in thermoneutral conditions on a daily basis
What is the ideal body condition score for a dog?
Between 4 and 5
What are some of the consequences of obesity in small animals?
Predisposition to other diseases
Decreased quality of life
Effect on lifespan
Decreased physical activity
What are some of the ways that obesity can be prevented?
- Discussion about proper feeding and body condition scoring with owners
-Yearly wellness visits noting body condition score and body weight
What is the most important nutrient for lactation?
Water is the most important nutrient for lactation
