Smallies Nutrition Flashcards
What kind of calorie restriction gives better results than eating to satiety?
Mild-moderate
Deficiency of which two amino acids causes brown coat in cats?
Tyrosine or phenylalanine
How many times the recommended tyrosine or phenylalanine must cats eat to prevent brown coat?
Twice
What does MER vary with in dogs?
Surface area
What does MER vary with in cats?
Weights
What kind of cats have a lower MER?
Large breeds
What do cats use as a primary energy source?
Protein
When do other species use protein as a primary energy source?
In times of need
When is energy requirement the largest?
During lactation
How many times does the MER increase during lactation?
4
How many times does the MER increase during growth?
2-3x
How many times does the MER increase during pregnancy?
1.1-1.6x
What five deficiencies are common in vegetarian dogs?
Zn, protein, Ca, Vitamin D, B12
In what diets in Zn deficiency especially common?
High-phytate cereal diets
In which animals are you most likely to see clinical signs of deficiencies?
Growing
Which 6 deficiencies are often seen in vegan cats?
Taurine, Zn, Vitamin A, iodine, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid
Which 4 deficiencies are sometimes seen in vegan cats?
Ca and Vitamins D, E and B
How do cats produce glucose?
Post-prandial gluconeogenesis from protein
Why do canned diets need more taurine?
High fat so stimulate more bile acid secretion
Which ingredients do cats have an absolute requirement for?
Arachidonic acid and preformed vitamin A
What does vitamin A toxicity cause in cats?
Neck calcification
What foods will give cats vitamin A toxicity?
Liver and cod liver oil
Why are cats not designed to deal with carbohydrates?
Less enzymes with lower activity
Which kind of dogs will usually not overeat?
Small ones eg Yorkies
What must be given on pet food packaging instead of an energy requirement?
Feeding guide
Why can’t an energy requirement be given?
Don’t know how much energy is available to the animal
Why must hunting/working dogs have a small meal before work?
To prevent hypoglycaemia
What are three consequences of being underweight at mating?
Fail to conceive, abort, small young
What are two consequences of being overweight at mating?
Stillbirths and dystocias
Which diets should be restricted during a dog’s pregnancy?
Protein restriction and acidifying
When should you increase energy intake during pregnancy in the bitch?
Last 3rd only
How much should you increase energy at parturition in the bitch?
60%
For how long in a bitches pregnancy should energy intake be normal?
First 5 weeks
After week 5, how much should you increase energy by per week during a bitches pregnancy?
15% per week
What is weight gain like in queens during pregnancy?
Very large
What happens to a queens weight after parturition?
Don’t eat and end up lower weight than they started
What happens to bitches weight after parturition?
Stays constant
What is the weight gain made of during queen pregnancy?
Weight gain
Which diet should be avoided during a cats pregnancy?
Acidifying
What should you feed a bitch during the last trimester?
A puppy diet with extra Omega 3
Why do you give a bitch Omega 3 during pregnancy?
For brainier puppies
Which kind of meals should be given during lactation?
Frequent, energy dense
Which kind of dogs may need dried food during lactation?
Large breed
When should cats especially get ad lib food during lactation?
Overnight
How often should you feed puppies and kittens?
Every 2 hours
How long should you stroke the anogenital area of puppies and kittens?
3 weeks
Until what age is a newborn?
First hours
Until what age is nursing?
Up to four weeks (all nutrition from mother)
Until what age is weaning?
Week 3/4 - week 6/8
Until what age is growing?
Week 8 - adult
What is the minimum age for selling a puppy?
8 weeks
After how many hours does colostrum transfer cease?
16
How does puppy and kitten weight change in first week?
Doubles
Approx how much do kittens weigh?
100g
By what age are males heavier than females?
6 weeks old
From what age can you introduce solids?
3 weeks
What should the first solids you live be like?
Palatable, high energy, moisted or soaked
How many meals a day should you give when weaning?
4
Which kind of breeds show the worst consequences if there is a dietary imbalance? Why?
Large breeds - faster growth
What is puppy and kitten MER like compared to adults?
2x
What is puppy and kitten protein, Ca and P requirement like compared to adults?
2x
Which kind of dogs have the highest risk of MBD?
Large breed
What three things increase risk of MBD in dogs?
Excess Ca, poor Ca/P ratio, too much energy
In which breeds is protein restriction dangerous?
Giant
At what age do large breeds occasionally get iron deficiency?
3-4 weeks
Why do cats have high dietary protein requirement?
Increased nitrogen catabolising enzymes which they can’t downregulate
Which species has an alternative gluconeogenic pathway from serine?
Cat
Why do cats have a constant arginine requirement?
They can’t produce it whereas dogs and man can
How common is arginine deficiency in cats?
Rare
What happens if cats are deficient in arginine?
Can’t make ornithine in the intestine
Which kind of amino acids do cats have a high requirement for?
Sulphur-containing
What % of cat AA intake is used for fur?
30%
What are four consequences of taurine deficiency in cats?
Retinal degeneration, dilated cardiomyopathy, poor reproduction, poor growth
Why do cats require taurine in the diet?
Can’t make it from cysteine
What do cats conjugate bile acids with?
Taurine
Why do canned diets need more taurine?
Because they have more fat
Why do canned diets cause taurine loss?
More bacterial growth so more bile acid breakdown
Where is taurine only found?
In animal tissues
What does taurine do to a membrane?
Regulates calcium flux
What happens to excess vitamin A in cats?
Fat soluble so excess stored
Which species cannot make nicotinic acid from tryptophan?
Cats
What is the cat nicotinic acid requirement like in cats compared to dogs?
4x higher
What do cats convert tryptophan to instead of nicotinic acid?
Glutamate
At what age do most breeds reach adult weight?
6 months
At what age do Dachshunds reach adult weight?
9 months
At what age do Newfoundlands reach adult weight?
18 months
What is the energy requirement of weaning pups like compared to the adult MER?
2x
