(T2) Lecture 7a - Nutrient requirements of working dogs and behaviour Flashcards
Muscles in dogs are adapted to use what?
FAT
- most muscle fibers are highly oxidative
- metabolize more free fatty acids
- dogs are really good at beta-oxidation in the mitochondria (LCFA go into mito, where there is B-oxidation to create energy)
What metabolic process is used for fat oxidation?
Beta-oxidation
Generally, what are the nutrient requirements of working dogs?
Have higher requirements for energy, but also protein, minerals and vitamins
What do nutrient requirements of working dogs depend on?
- environment (temp and humidity)
- duration (mins, hrs)
- intensity of exercise (sprinting, endurance)
- stress level
- dog’s body composition and temperament
What is the rule of thumb for MER of working dogs?
1.5 to 2.0 x MER of adult dog at maintenance
Requirement = maintenance + exercise
What is the energy requirement for sled dogs vs greyhounds?
Sled dogs
- in kennels and thermoneutral enviro: same energy needs as adult dogs at maintenance
- at -20, slight increase to 215 kcal ME from 130 due to energy needed to maintain body temp
Energy for movement is proportional to distance traveled rather than speed!!!!
- Greyhounds: racing over 500m 2x/wk = ~143 kcal ME x BW0.75
- Sled dogs: racing for 3 days
~1,003 kcal ME x BW0.75
What is the water requirement for sled dogs vs greyhounds?
Sled dogs
- water increases from 1 L/d w/o exercise to 5L/d during a race
Greyhounds
- dehydration before race rather than after (dogs kept in pens w/o water before race) then given access immediately after
- why? lighter and a reward
What are the nutrient requirements of sled dogs vs greyhounds?
Sled dogs
- require high fat (>50% of energy), high protein (>30-40% of energy) diet
- less minerals and vitamins per unit energy bc of higher food intake
- higher level of antioxidant vitamins (E, C) for antioxidant effect
Greyhounds
- moderately high fat (30-50% of energy), moderate protein (24% of energy) diet
Why do sled dogs require less minerals and vitamins per unit of energy because of higher food intake?
- we express requirements per unit of energy
- for sled dogs energy requirements skyrocket, 6-8x more
- but the requirement for vitamins and minerals does NOT increase 6-8x = reduce the ratio of vit/min to energy
4 points about feeding behaviour in dogs
- dogs hunt in packs and are omnivorous
- prior to domestication - dogs eat fewer, larger, more variable meals/day than cats
- Dogs adjust food intake to diet energy density
- Dogs drink more water/kg BW than cats
Why is it difficult to assess normal behaviour in dogs?
domestication
How do dogs respond to food variety?
Response to food variety
- Preference for specific types of foods (taste, texture)
- Prefer novel foods and flavors to familiar foods (risk: overeating and obesity)
Eating too rapidly (social facilitation)
- perhaps leftover of competitive behaviour
Garbage eating
- Normal? Could be attention seeking or attracted to decomposing food waste
- Preference of decomposing food
- Health consequences: mild gastroenteritis or serious intoxication
- Prevent access to garbage
Grass eating
- Dogs naturally would eat herbivore prey
- Viscera of prey often eaten first
- Contains partially digested vegetable material
- Dogs like taste and texture of plants
Begging for food
- Whining, barking, nudging and scratching
- Increases with age
- Good training
