Unit 10-Nutritional management - Canine Flashcards
Explain what constitutes a high-quality pet food.
-nutritionally adequate
-fixed formula. Foods which do not have a fixed formula can change ingredients from batch to batch, causing intestinal upset to the animal.
-acceptable (the animal will eat it) and digestible (the animal is able to digest and use the nutrients)
Describe how differences in digestive anatomies dictate differences in nutritional requirements.
Anatomical differences and variation in digestive physiologies are also important in diet selection. A cow should not be fed an all-meat diet; similarly, a cat should not be fed an all-grain diet.
Identify the different life stages that may alter nutritional requirements of the dog and the cat.
Name the two types of feeding regimes and explain when each would be most appropriate.
-Meal Feeding : the food is only left for a certain period of time; whatever food was not eaten within that time is removed
-Free choice feeding : the animal has access to food at all times of the day.
Explain how the wild ancestors of both the dog and cat are important to our understanding the feeding behaviors and nutritional requirements of the domestic animal.
The canine has evolved from a strict carnivore diet to one that is omnivorous (eating a combination of plant and animal).
Feeding behaviours such as Rapid eating behavior, For example, many domestic dogs bolt their food as soon as their bowl is filled; this is often due to the presence of another dog. The bolting, and subsequent choking, can sometimes be avoided if the animal is fed alone
Identify the specific nutritional requirements of the reproducing dog or cat.
Fetal growth in the first two trimesters is minimal (25-30%) but there is enormous growth in the last 3 to 4 weeks. For this reason, the bitch’s intake should be gradually increased starting at about the 4th or 5th week of pregnancy, so that by whelping time she is receiving 25-50% more than her customary maintenance level.
Define when and why the nutritional demands of the lactating animal are at their peak.
for a healthy litter, the mother must be fed appropriately before, during and after pregnancy and nutritional requirements vary depending on the stage of reproduction the mother is at.
Explain the importance of colostrum and proper nutrition in the first few days of the life of a puppy or kitten.
When a puppy is born, it requires its mother’s milk and in the first 24 hours of its life, it is essential that it receives colostrum. Colostrum is the special milk the mother passes; it contains the immunity (disease-fighting ability) which the newborn requires.
the mother’s milk contains her own antibodies which the puppy is able to absorb and use as needed. Puppies are only able to absorb and use these large proteins during (approximately) the first 24 hours after birth, so it is imperative that they nurse and receive colostrum during that period.
Describe the proper weaning procedure for the puppy and kitten.
The amount of food the mother should consume during lactation will increase over the first four weeks and then gradually decrease as the puppies begin to wean. Initially, depending on litter size, the mother should ingest about 1.5 to 2 times her normal maintenance diet level. This can rise to as much as 4 times in the fourth week as the puppies grow and require ever-increasing volumes of milk.
As the puppies begin to wean, it is important to begin decreasing the mother’s food intake. When the puppies are receiving supplementation from a growth diet, their milk requirements decrease; subsequently the mother’s needs are reduced as well.
Identify the different energy and protein requirements of the growing animal as
compared to the full-grown dog or cat
Most puppies are ready to be introduced to solid food at the age of about 4 weeks.
The first food introduced to the puppy should be a very high-quality growth food either dry or canned, prepared to the consistency of gruel and served in a shallow bowl that the puppy can easily eat from.
Explain the importance of an accurate Calcium to Phosphorus ratio in a growing animal.
The growth diet for large breed puppies should not contain more than 1.8% (484 mg/kg/day) calcium and 1.6% (396 mg/kg/day) phosphorus. For smaller breed puppies, they can have up to 2.5% calcium in their diets. Calcium should be at a minimum of 1.25, regardless of the breed of puppy. Supplementing these extra minerals not only disrupts the correct ratio, but it also has been shown to actually reduce growth rates and cause skeletal defects.
List the special considerations required when attempting to raise orphan animals.
Cow’s milk is a substitute which should never be used when attempting to nurse orphan puppies. The protein level is lower and the lactose level is higher than the puppy requires. When feeding an orphan, commercially prepared canine milk replacers should be the only substitute for bitch’s milk. The formula must be warmed before feeding and the most appropriate temperature is 38oC.
One option for feeding the puppy is with a small nursing bottle rather than a dropper or syringe. Droppers and syringes present excess air into the stomach.
Tube Feeding is the most effective way to ensure the orphan is receiving adequate nutrition.
One of the main causes of death in young puppies is from becoming chilled. Another motherly duty which must be performed for orphan puppies is stimulation for defecation and urination. The mother dog would have licked the puppy’s genital area to stimulate the puppy to urinate and defecate;
Describe the different types of diets available
The amount of energy required by the adult dog is approximately 130 kcal/kg/day and the amount of protein required is in the range of 15-20% DM
3 types of maintenance diets: dry; semi-moist, and canned
Dogs do not require variety in their diets, in fact, variety could be detrimental. Being fed a high-quality, nutritionally balanced maintenance food and evidence of good health are the only requirements, along with a constant supply of fresh, clean water.
Identify the proper procedure to follow whenever an animal’s diet must be changed.
If an animal must be fed a different diet because of illness or a change in life stages, the shift should be made gradually, usually over a period of 7-10 days.
initially make up about 75% of the meal, with the addition of 25% of the new diet
Describe the unique requirements of the working or stressed animal.
The chief dietary requirement of the working and/or stressed animal is an increase in energy. Sled and racing dogs, as well as those living in extreme climates, must expend from 2 to 5 times the amount of energy of the normal maintenance animal.
