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
What is the energy requirement of pups at 40% of their adult weight like compared to the adult MER?
1.6x
What is the energy requirement of pups at 80% of their adult weight like compared to the adult MER?
1.2x
For how long should you feed pups 4 meals a day?
Until 50% of their adult weight
After they reach 50% of their adult weight, how many meals a day should you feed a puppy?
Two
How many kcal/kg/day should you feed kittens until they reach 6 months old?
160
By what time will kittens reach 75% of their adult weight?
6 months
Above what age is the weight gain in kittens not skeletal?
6 months
What are three advantages of calorie restriction during growth in dogs?
Reduces MBD, reduces obesity, increases life expectancy
What causes MBD in dogs?
High levels of calcium
What does a lack of calcium cause in dogs?
Nutritional secondary hyperPTH
In large breeds, what % of the diet should be calcium?
0.7-1.2%
In small breeds, what % of the diet should be calcium?
1.7%
Do cat need more or less calcium than dogs?
Less
What should the Ca:P ratio be in large breeds?
1.1 : 1.5
What should the Ca:P ratio be in small breeds?
1.1 : 1.8
What should the Ca:P ratio be in cats?
0.65 : 1
Is calcium excess or deficiency more common?
Excess
Which kind of diets are often calcium deficient?
100% meat OR vegetarian
What are two reasons why a dam’s diet must not be too high in calcium?
Pups will passively absorb it AND can’t absorb less than 40% of the calcium they ingest
In working dogs, how much does energy use increase for each hour worked or 5k run?
10%
What kind of diet should working greyhounds have?
High carb
Which kind of metabolism do huskys do?
Aerobic fatty acid metabolism
Which diet should working huskys have?
High fat, even zero carbohydrates
How many calories can huskys burn in a long distance race?
11,000 calories per day
How much do husky plasma lipids rise in the winter?
50%
Why do huskys have a lower BER than other dogs?
Lower BMR and good insulation
Why is carbohydrate loading bad in working dogs?
Increases exertional rhabdomyolysis
Why should stress be avoided before work?
Increases protein, vitamin C and vitamin D requirements
Why are dried kibble best for working dogs?
Slow GI transit
What is old age in cats and small/medium dogs?
9-12 years
What is old age in large dogs?
7-9 years
What is old age in giant breeds?
6-8 years
How does ability to digest change in old dogs?
It doesn’t
What happens to weight in old dogs?
Stays the same
What happens to girth in older dogs?
Increases
What happens to lean body mass in old dogs? What is the problem with this?
Reduces - so depletes rapidly in illness
What happens to body fat in older dogs?
Increases
What happens to energy requirements in old dogs?
Decreases
How much less should you feed an old dog than an adult?
20%
What should you limit in renal disease in older dogs?
Phosphate and protein
How does protein restriction affect renal disease?
No evidence that it slows it
Which vitamins/minerals do old dogs require extra of?
Zinc and vitamin E
What happens to lean:fat ratio in old cats?
No change
What happens to weight in old cats?
Lose weight
What happens to digestibility in old cats?
Reduces
How much should you reduce calories in old cats?
Shouldn’t
What is the best way to analyse food adequacy?
Animal feeding trials
Which three protocols should you use in animal feeding trials?
Maintenace, growth, “all stages”
What can reduce zinc availability?
Phytate
What causes increased vitamin K requirement in cats?
Proteins
What increases taurine requirement?
Fibre and fat
Does meat in pet food have fat or carbohydrate?
Fat
What is meat and fish in pet food low in?
Calcium, vitamin A and vitamin D
What is meat in pet food high in?
Iron and some B vitamins
What is the fat % in white fish?
<2%
What must you do to ensure white fish has enough calcium?
Feed it with bones
What % fat is fatty fish?
5-18%
What is fatty fish a good source of?
Vitamin A and D
What parts of fatty fish are an especially good source of vitamin A and D?
The Liver
What food is a good source of iodine?
Fish
Why must you cook fish in pet food?
To kill parasites and thiaminase
What causes Chastek’s paralysis?
Thiamine (B1) deficiency due to eating raw fish
What causes pansteatitis?
Only eating raw fish which doesn’t have enough vitamin E
Are meat/fish or dairy/eggs higher in protein?
Dairy/eggs
What 6 nutrients are eggs high in?
Iron, riboflavin, folate, B12, vitamin A, vitamin D
What is the problem with avidin in raw egg white?
Can cause biotin to become unavailable
What is the problem with cereals in pet food?
Aren’t palatable and poorly digestible unless ground or cooked
What are cereals in pet food for?
Energy
Which part of the cereal contains starch and gluten?
Endosperm
Which part of the cereal contains cellulose, polysaccharides and phosphorus?
Bran
How much cereal shoud you feed dogs?
12g/kg
How much cereal should you feed cats?
<5g
Where can you find linoleic acid?
Vegetable seed oils (50%) and fish oils (20%)
Where can you find arachidonic acid?
Some animal fats
Which vitamin do seed oils contain?
E
Which vitamins do fish oils contain?
A and D
What are leafy vegetables a good source of?
Fibre
What are cooked peas and beans a good source of?
Energy, protein and B vitamins
What % protein is soya?
50%
What % CHO is soya?
30%
What % fat is soya?
2%
What % fibre is soya?
5%
What % minerals is soya?
5%
After the oil is extracted, why are the remains of the soya bean cooked?
To inactivate trypsin inhibitors and haemagglutinins
Which animals are allowed to be used in pet food?
“Acceptable” e.g. no horse
How much moisture do wet food contain?
72-85%
What % of dog and cat foods does wet food make up?
> 50% dog, 90% cat
What is digestibility of wet food like compared to dry?
Higher
What is energy density of wet food like compared to dry?
Lower
What is animal protein, fat and carbohydrates of wet food like compared to dry?
Higher animal protein and fat BUT lower carbohydrates
What are wet foods usually fed with?
Cereal as mixer and minerals
What’s the problem with using wet food as a primary energy source?
Wasteful of protein
Why is extra thiamine added to wet food?
Lost in processing
What % moisture do semi-moist diets contain?
15-30%
What % of dog and cat foods are semi-dry?
<1%
What is animal protein like in a semi-dry compared to a dry diet?
Higher
What is digestibility like in a semi-dry diet?
High - 80-85%
Why are semi-dry diets contraindicated in diabetes and obesity?
High disaccharide content and calorie density
How do semi-dry diets have such a long shelf like?
Reduce water availability, use humectants and preservatives to prevent bacteria and yeast growth
What % moisture are dry diets?
5-12%
What % of dog and cat foods do dry diets make up?
50% of dog and 10% of cat
How do you increase palatability of a dry diet?
More fat
What is energy density of dry food compared to canned?
Higher
What is an important energy source in dry diets?
Cereal
Why do dry diets produce less faeces?
Lower in fibre and fat
What are mixer biscuits made almost entirely of?
Cereal
What is reduced in badly stored dried diets?
EFAs
What do quality dried diets add extra of?
EFAs
What is digestibility of dried diets like compared to canned?
Lower
What is the trade association for pet food companies in the UK?
PFMA
How much of the market does PFMA have?
90%
How many pieces of legislation do PFMA have?
Over 50
What 4 things must the principal display panel include?
Product ID, brand product name, species, main ingredient/flavour
How is the ingredient statement ordered?
Descending order by weight
What 3 things must the typical analysis show?
% of protein, oil, fibre and ash, % moisture if over 14%, min % of any ingredient
What three things must the product description state?
Species and life stage, complete or complementary, additional food needed
Which vitamins/minerals must be declared on pet food if added?
A, D, E, copper
What four things must the label also include?
Best before, batch number, net weight, name and address of company
Which genetic changes do dogs have for sharing an environment with an owner?
Carbohydrate digestion and metabolism
What info about vitamins/minerals must be included?
Total amount and stability
What is the most common problem with raw diets?
Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
Are cats or dogs more resistant to nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism?
Cat
What does nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism cause?
Severe skeletal deformities
What toxicity is seen in raw feeding in dogs?
Vitamin D
What toxicity is seen in raw feeding in cats?
Vitamin A
What are five potential pathogens in raw diets?
Campylobacter, salmonella, toxoplasma, echinococcus, E coli
What kind of diet do dogs with IBD need?
Single protein
What is the problem with using raw diets in dogs with IBD?
High in fat
What must be restricted for dogs and cats with chronic renal failure to live longer?
Phosphate
Why is a raw diet not suitable for dogs and cats with chronic renal failure?
Phosphate is carried in protein and this must be restricted
Why are home prepared diets problematic in diabetic patients?
Calorie content varies even if ingredients are weighed
