Animal Nutrition: Components, Energy, Vitamins, Minerals, and Feeding Strategies

What are the 3 components that affect the life of an animal?

Genetics, environment, & nutrition.

What are the 3 energy producing nutrients?

Proteins, carbohydrates, & fats.

What are the 3 non-energy producing nutrients?

Vitamins, minerals, & water.

Through what process does the body obtain energy from nutrients?

Oxidation.

What type of biochemical reaction requires energy?

Anabolic reaction.

What type of biochemical reaction releases energy?

Catabolic reaction.

What is a kilocalorie?

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by 1°C.

What is digestible energy?

The food's gross energy minus the energy that is nonabsorbable and lost in feces.

What is gross energy?

The total amount of energy available in the food.

What is metabolizable energy?

The amount of energy that is actually available to the pet's body for metabolism after digestion and absorption. The food's gross energy minus the energy lost in feces and urine.

What is net energy?

Metabolizable energy minus energy used in digesting, absorbing, and using food.

What are the adjusted gross energy Atwater factor values for proteins and carbohydrates?

3.5 kcal/g.

What is the adjusted gross energy Atwater factor value for fats?

8.5 kcal/g.

What makes an amino acid essential?

It cannot be synthesized by the body and must be supplied in the diet.

How many essential amino acids do dogs require?

10.

How many essential amino acids do cats require?

11.

What is biological value?

A measurement used to determine protein quality based on the quantity of essential amino acids.

What organ can be overloaded when protein is supplied in excess?

Kidneys.

What is ammonia used for within the rumen?

It can be used by the rumen microorganisms for the synthesis of protein.

What is the minimum requirement of carbohydrates within a dog's diet?

There is no minimum requirement.

How can the digestibility of raw carbohydrates be increased?

By grinding or cooking them.

How are excess soluble carbohydrates stored in the body?

As glycogen or fat.

What type of pet may benefit from a diet with a higher level of insoluble carbohydrates?

Overweight or obese animals.

What nutrient is considered the primary energy source for most pets?

Fats.

Which essential fatty acid can dogs synthesize from linoleic acid but cats cannot?

Arachidonic acid.

What are common signs of fat deficiencies in dogs and cats?

Dermatologic changes, such as delayed wound healing, dry hair coat, scaly skin, & pyoderma.

What are the fat soluble vitamins?

E, A, K, & D.

What are the water soluble vitamins?

C & B complex.

Which vitamin type is most likely to have a toxicity?

Fat-soluble vitamins.

Which vitamin type is most likely to have a deficiency?

Water-soluble vitamins.

From what are cats unable to synthesize vitamin A?

Beta-carotene (present in plants).

From what are cats unable to synthesize vitamin B niacin?

Tryptophan amino acid.

How are minerals classified?

As macrominerals & microminerals (trace minerals).

What mineral is important for calcium to have a proper relation to?

Phosphorus.

What does calcium toxicity in puppies/kittens cause?

Delayed growth & maturation.

What is the main extracellular cation?

Sodium.

What is the main intracellular cation?

Potassium.

Which mineral contributes to struvite urolith formation?

Magnesium.

What nutrient is the most important to the body?

Water.

What supplement may assist in weight management?

L-carnitine.

What is considered the 5th vital sign?

Nutritional status.

Which feeding method is the most recommended?

Portion-controlled feeding.

Which feeding method is most likely to lead to obesity?

Ad lib (free) feeding.

What four things do nutritional assessments consider?

The animal, its diet, feeding management, & environmental factors.

Amino acid?

Building blocks of protein

Assisted feeding?

To supply adequate nutrition to sick or hospitalized patients that will not or can not eat on their own, usually done by feeding tube.

Atwater Factors?

Standard energy values assigned to carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for calculating total food energy.

Average daily gain?

The desired or ideal amount of weight that an animal increases per day.

Biological value?

Measurement used to determine protein quality based on essential amino acid quantities.

Body condition score?

Subjective portion of the physical exam used to help determine if the pet is at an ideal weight; evaluating the fat coverings at the ribs, top line, tail base, & abdominal tuck.

Calorie?

(or kilocalorie (Kcal)) measurement of nutritional energy described as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Complete feeds?

Type of livestock feed that are typically mixtures of roughage (80%) and concentrate (20%), manufactured by grinding the food and formulating it into pellets.

Concentrates?

Typically cereal grains that may or may not have supplemental protein, minerals, and vitamins; they are high in energy (> 50%) and less than 18% crude fiber.

Digestible energy?

The food's gross energy minus the energy that is non-absorbed and lost in feces.

Digestion?

Bodily process of breaking down ingested food and converting nutrients into an absorbable form.

Energy density?

The amount of energy (or calories) per gram of food.

Esophagostomy tube?

Type of feeding tube that is placed into the esophagus through a surgical incision in the neck.

Fatty acid?

Building blocks of fat; essential fatty acids (e.g., linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids) are necessary components of cell membranes, responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins, and for the control of epidermal water loss.

Forage?

Plant-based essential nutrients; fiber-forage structural carbs, cellulose, and hemicellulose.

Gross energy?

Total amount of energy available in food.

Kilojoule?

Metric unit of energy.

Lipid?

Fatty compounds that function as energy storage and are used for other biological processes.

Metabolizable energy?

Digestible energy minus energy lost in urine and feces.

Metabolizable (maintenance) energy requirement?

Amount of metabolizable energy needed to maintain organ function, body weight, etc.

Net energy?

Metabolizable energy minus energy used in digesting, absorbing, and using food.

Nonprotein nitrogen (source)?

Non-protein nitrogen containing compounds that can be converted into protein by rumen microbes; e.g., urea, ammonia, and free amino acids.

Nutrient?

Chemical compounds in food essential for the body and its processes.

Palatability?

Measure of how well an animal likes a food.

Resting energy requirement?

How many calories an animal should be fed to maintain its weight in a controlled environment; formula: 70 times (ideal body weight in kg) to the 0.75 power = RER.

Daily energy requirement?

RER times LIfestyle number.

Roughage?

Livestock feed including grasses and forage legumes cut for hay that are low in energy and > 18% crude fiber.

Total digestible nutrients?

Measure of energy content in animal feed from the total sum of the digestible portions of all nutrient sources.

Why is proper nutrition important for animals?

It is fundamental to good health in both small and large animals.

What percentage of dry matter in a dog's or cat's diet is used for energy?

Approximately 50% to 80%.

How does the body obtain energy from nutrients?

By oxidation of the chemical bonds found in proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

What is metabolizable energy (ME)?

The food's gross energy minus the energy lost in feces and urine.

How is protein quality assessed in pet food?

By its digestibility and amino acid profile.

What effect does grinding or cooking carbohydrates have on pet food?

It increases their digestibility in cats and dogs.

Which mineral is required in the largest amount in a pet's diet?

Calcium.

What is the relationship between water requirement and energy requirement for dogs and cats?

Water requirement in milliliters per day is roughly equivalent to the animal's energy requirement in kilocalories per day.

What should owners be educated about regarding vitamin/mineral supplements for pets?

Supplements may create a vitamin or mineral imbalance if the pet's diet already contains adequate minerals.

What should be incorporated for every pet at every visit?

A nutritional assessment and specific dietary recommendation.

What is a potential downside of the ad lib feeding method?

It may lead to higher calorie consumption and obesity in pets.