Macronutrients

6 classes of nutrients

carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water

macro nutrients that provide energy

carbohydrates, proteins, fats

positive energy balance

weight gain increases

neutral energy balance

weight stable

negative energy balance

weight loss

pyramid for nutrients

gross energy → digestible energy → metabolizable energy → net energy

loss in gross energy

feces

loss in digestible energy

fermentation gas, urine

loss in metabolizable energy

heat

deficiency

when the minimum requirement for a nutrient has established, clinical signs may result if the minimum is not met

toxicity

when the maximum tolerable level for a nutrient has been established, clinical signs may result if maximum is exceeded

examples of protein source

meat, poultry, eggs, organ meats, fish, seafood/aquatic foods, dairy

plant based protein source examples

provides proteins and carbs, legumes (beans, lentils, peas), gluten

animal based fats

meats, poultry, eggs, fish, seafood, dairy

plant based fats

seed, nut, vegetable oils

examples of carbohydrate sources

vegetables, grains, potatoes, squashes, legumes, fruits, concentrated fiber supplements (psyllium husk)

complete diet

the diet contains all essential/required nutrients for a particular species/ life stage

balanced diet

the diet contains all essential/required nutrients in the correct ratios for a particular species/life stage

parts of nutritional adequacy

feeding trial, formulation and analysis, formulation

forages

edible parts of plants, other separated grain, that can provide feed for grazing animals, or that can be harvested for feeding

concentrates

low-fiber, high-energy feeds when compared to forages, variable protein content; used to increase energy content of the ration, used to complement forages

water soluble b vitamins

required as enzymatic cofactors for proper function of all metabolic pathways

nucleotide metabolism

DNA carries the genetic code for specific proteins, RNA consists of nucleotides codes that are translated into amino acid sequences

pentose phosphate pathway

synthesis of ribose-5-P to produce nucleotides

genesis

production

lysis

breakdown

ATP

adenosine triphosphate

lipogenesis

production of triglyceride from glucose

beta-oxidation

break down of fatty acids to produce energy (ATP)

amino acid metabolism

production of nonessential amino acids, cellular proteins, and urea from ammonia

glycolysis

converts glucose to pyruvate produces energy

gluconeogenesis

formation of new glucose from glycerol, lactate, amino acids

cat gluconeogenesis

never turns off, need constant source of protein

glycogenolysis

breakdown of glycogen stores into glucose

glycogenesis

production of glycogen stores from glucose

citric acid cycle

connects glucose, and fatty acid metabolism through acetyl-CoA, produces ATP

acetyl CoA

consistent point of entry for all macronutrients

electron transport chain

group of proteins and organic molecules found in the inner membrane of mitochondria, transfers electrons in series of oxidation-reduction reactions to form proton gradient that drives ATP production, primary source of ATP

dog diet

meals are larger and tend to consume food rapidly, in feral environments are scavenging rather than hunting

cat diet

10-20 meals daily, distributed between light and dark periods, feral diets include mice, rats, birds, etc

neophobia

fear of new environments or stressful situations, different foods, etc

special cat amino acid

taurine

dog protein

lower minimum, and adaptive to lower protein intakes, gluconeogenesis switches off, urea cycly enzymes correlate with dietary protein

cat protein

higher protein minimum, requires taurine, nonadaptive to lower protein intakes, gluconeogenesis is constantly on, urea cycle enzymes are always one

dog arginine

lower arginine minimum, capable of synthesis but not sufficient to meet needs, very bad if low arginine, needed for urea cycle

cat arginine

double the minimum, synthesis is very limited, very bad if low in diet

dog delta-6-desaturase

can produce a small amount of arachidonic acid from linoleic acid, cannot produce enough EPA and DHA from alpha-linoleic

cat delta-6-desaturase

lack sufficient enzyme activity, unable to convert linoleic acid to arachidonic acid or alpha linoleic acid to EPA and DHA

sources of delta-6-desaturase

corn oil, animal fat, flaxseed oil, cold water fish/algae

rapidly fermentable

prebiotic fibers, affects composition of microbiota, short chain fatty acids produced (energy for GI), as fermentation increases, GI transit and fecal bulk decrease, causes gas, soft stool, diarrhea

slowly fermentable

bulking fibers or roughage, energy density is low,, digestibility is low, colonic distension stimulates motility, causes fecal impaction, obstication