Animal Nutrition Exam 3

What is a nutritional carnivore?

an animal that can thrive without carbohydrates

Why can’t cats eat an all meat diet?

It has too much protein and not enough calcium

What does it mean where cats have evolved to a high degree of gluconeogenesis?

They require greater amounts of AA to maintain their normal rates of metabolism.

In cats, what leads to an increased requirement for protein and energy?

Cats have fast rates of trans/de-amination to convert AA→glucose

What causes the pH of a cats urine to be more acidic?

rapid metabolism of AA increase the amount of CO2 production and loss of urine

Animals make taurine for their own use. Why don’t cats make enough?

Because of their rapid AA metabolism, so they have to eat more in their diet

What is taurine?

A type of AA called beta-sulfonic AA. Used for digestion of fats. Its a critical element of opsin (protein involved in eye function)

How much taurine should be in a cats total diet?

0.5%

Can cats utilize AA from plant proteins?

As long as taurine levels are good

Can cats cleave beta-carotene to make 2 vitamin A molecules?

No, has to be fed from ingredients or supplements

Cats require a larger amount of what?

Vitamin B6

What is Vitamin B6?

Involved in amino acid metabolism — transamination (moving amine groups to make proteins) and deamination (breaking down amino acids for glucose or energy).

Why is the mineral content of a cats urine an issue?

It’s more acidic and doesn’t drink a lot of water

What causes feline struvite urolithiasis (FUS)?

interactions between urinary pH, ammonia, magnesium, and phosphorus, forming struvite crystals — which cause 70–90% of feline urinary blockages. Struvite formation increases above pH 6.8.

How can struvite formation in cats be prevented?

reducing urinary pH and levels of Mg, P, and NH₃. A balanced diet (no excess protein), free-choice feeding (ad libitum), and plenty of water

What is colostrum?

name given to first milk, or the milk produced
in the first few hours of the puppy’s life.

Why is colostrum special?

nutritionally richer in protein and fat and contains specialized types of proteins called immunoglobins which provide immunity against the diseases and infections that the mother has been exposed to

What is active immunity?

transfer of immune protection from the mother to young through milk

What is the nutrients amount in puppy milk?

34% protein, 35% fat and 31% lactose

What is the best way to feed dogs an efficient digestion meal?

~4 times per day each with ¼ of the nutrition the animal needs

In dogs, what happens If the Ca:P ratio is <1?

The body can’t make bone

In dogs, what happens If the Ca:P ratio is >7:1?

leads to hardening of the arteries,diminishing the life span

How much does it take to slowly over feed your dog?

Only 100 kc/day (1/2 dog food) extra is 1 kg in 2 months and 6 kg of extra body weight in 1 year

How long would a safe weight loss take?

150 days (~2% of BW/week)

What are some diet adjustments for performance dogs? (Racing dogs, hunting, police, etc.)

High digestibility, higher ME, higher fat and protein and lower fibe

When dogs are gestating, how much more food should they intake?

10-15% more, 25% for small breeds

When dogs are lactating, how much more food should they intake?

300%

What should the diet be like for senior dogs?

When they reach 7 and have decreased activity, you need to decrease food availability

What is renal damage in dogs?

Consumption of more Na, K, phosphorus and
Mg causes greater blood flow through the kidneys to
remove these ions (decreases the rate of normal kidney function)

What is steatorrhea?

The presence of elevated levels of fat in stool

What causes steatorrhea?

feeding to much, feeding indigestible fat, due to feeding
too much milk, garbage consumption, raw fish consumption or rapid changes in the animals diet

If your dog is eating commercial food, does it need supplements?

No, it’s nutritionally adequate already

What are the pros to commercial dog food?

Already made up just serve it up as needed

Less work involved in making or formulating a diet

Familiar

What are the cons to commercial dog food?

Not natural for your cat and dog

Can have allergies to components in the diet

Artificial additives or non food grade sources of ingredients including

disease products, molds and other contaminants

Lot of fillers and waste products

What are some pros for home prepared dog food?

Easier to digest

More natural ingredients

Better skin, coat, and weight

What are some cons for home prepared dog food?

Too much grain/carbohydrate (cause gas)

Not cheap

Time consuming

What are some pros for raw dog food?

Fresh diet

Reduce allergies

Cleans teeth

Less stool

What are some cons for raw dog food?

Difficult to formulate balanced diet

High in protein, low in Ca, P, Fe, etc

E Coli/salmonella

Can be expensive

What is AAFCO?

Association of American Feed Control Officials

Are rabbits ruminates?

No, they are herbivores

What do rabbits need? (Diet wise)

Fiber and a low energy diet. Without fiber, hairballs can get stuck in stomach.

In rabbits, what does the digestive system have?

They have a cecum replete with bacteria to break down cell walls. excess volatile fatty acids are absorbed through the cecal wall. (Similar to a horse)

How are rabbits digestive system unique?

Have a circular-shaped cecum with specialized nervous physiological (during day, microbial activity is normal with normal fecal pellets. During night, they form cecotropic pellets)

What are cecotropes in rabbits?

fecal pellets that consist of an enriched
population of microbes

Why is cecotropes beneficial?

Slower gut motility at night allows bacteria, populations to build to provide a high % of crude protein and lower in fiber

How do rabbits eat cecotropes?

Rabbit passes the cecotropes as waste, consumes this waste and then digests them.

What is coprophagy?

Consumption of feces

What is cecotrophy?

Consumption of cecotrope

Why do rabbits undergo cecotrophy?

allows the rabbit to live in environments/seasons when only low protein fibrous plants are available.This adaptation also requires a rabbit to be fed a high fiber diet to maintain normal circadium rhythm

What is the primary source of nutrients in rabbits?

Forage

What is the basic reproduction info for rabbits?

4-10 kits, gestation time is 32 days, and energy requirements will increase by 10-25%

What are trichobezoars? Why are they dangerous?

Hairballs- rabbits can’t vomit

5, 7, 9, 11,19?, 21, 25, extra credit: 24 why is methane exhaled, *3 vfa and why they are important*

Lecture 15 slides to remember /write down

Why do rodents eat feces?

Eat feces for all the nutrients- first pass is soft and rich in nutrients, then second time are pellets

What are gerbils susceptible to?

Magnesium deficiency on diets made of only fruits and vegetables. Leads to seizures

What do guinea pigs absolutely need?

Vitamin C- they could get collagen connected tissue

What are two key nutritional characteristics of hamsters that do not require vitamin D in their diet?

They don’t need vitamin D if the Ca:P ratio is 2:1 and dietary calcium is above 0.6%

*Very sensitive to cholesterol + develop atherosclerosis*

What is fermentation?

conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts and/or bacteria under anaerobic conditions.

What is the environment of the rumen?

Bacteria, Protozoa, and yeasts/fungi (anaerobic)

What are the 3 microbial functions?

Synthesis of high quality proteins, synthesis of proteins from NPN, and synthesis of B vitamins

What is exhaled in anaerobic digestion?

Methane

What are VFAs? (Volatile fatty acids)

short-chain fatty acids produced by fermentation of carbohydrates in the rumen, providing a major energy source

What are the 3 VFAs?

acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid

What is the VFA Acetic Acid?

Generates ATP and source of acetyl CoA

What is the VFA Propionic Acid?

Major substrate for gluconeogenesis (critical for ruminant bc no glucose reaches small intestine)

What is the VFA Butyric Acid?

comes out as a ketone (beta-hydroxybutyric acid) used in tissues for energy production