Nutrition Exam 1

Good nutrition =

maximum health

Decreased Nutrition Consults =

Disease

Increased Vet tech nutrition consults =

increased owner compliance = better health

What are some reasons why treats are often given?

• Rewards

• Medications

• Emotional feeding

What are some risks with giving too many treats?

• Excess calories

• Not nutritionally complete

• May interfere with disease management

List three important questions to ask about a pet’s diet

Commercial or homemade?

Brand consistency?

Is human food added?

What percentage of the diet can be fed as treats?

Less than 10%

Identify two historical risk factors and two physical risk factors for nutritional problems.

Historical: GI disfunction, existing medical conditions, raw/home/vegetarian diet, treats> 10% of total calories, inadequate feeding management

Physical: abnormal MCS/BCS, poor coat, dental issues, Weight loss/gain >10%

What are some good questions to ask about the household for diet history?

• Who feeds the pet?

• Other pets in household?

• Indoor or outdoor?

• What is a pet’s role?

What are some things to note on physical examination for a nutritional consult?

• Accurate weight

• Body composition - BCS, MCS, Fat vs. Lean Mass

• Signs of malnutrition

What are some physical signs of malnutrition?

• Skeletal malformation

• Coat/skin changes

• Eye health

What does Body Condition Score measure?

% body fat by species and gender

BCS focuses on what?

Fat, not lean mass

What are the focus areas for BCS?

• Ribs

• Abdomen

• Pelvis/Hips

• Thoracic/Lumbar region

List the 4 scores for MCS

Normal muscle mass

Mild muscle loss

Moderate muscle loss

Severe muscle loss

What are the focus areas for the MCS?

• Temporal muscles

• Scapula

• Lumbar vertebrae

• Pelvis

MCS focuses on what?

lean muscle mass, not fat

What is “Overcoat Syndrome,” and why is it important to recognize in sick cats?

• Fat hides muscle loss 

• Common in sick cats

What is the difference between an AAFCO adequacy statement based on formulation and one based on feeding trials?

Formulation means that the pet food just follows a recipe. Feeding trials means that the food has actually been fed to real animals and has measured feeding outcomes

List the steps the veterinary technician should perform during a nutrition consult.

1. Assessment and History

2. Determine Ideal weight 

3. Calculate food dose 

4. Make specific recommendations 

5. Recheck monthly

6. Follow-up

What organizations regulate pet food labels in the U.S.?

FDA, AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), State government

What are the top purchasing factors for pet food?

• Food quality

• Nutritional information

• Ingredient quality

• Brand name

What does the FDA require?

• Product identification

• Ingredients properly listed

• Net quantity displayed

• Manufacturer information - name and address

What does AAFCO do?

• More specific than FDA

• Label formatting

• Nutrient adequacy

• Caloric statement

What are the risks of excess protein in the diet?

• Excess uric acid = gout

• Kidney stress

What are the risks of excessive fats & carbs?

• Important energy sources

• Obesity risk

• Hepatic lipidosis risk

What vitamins are especially important for guinea pigs?

Vitamin C (cannot create it)

What vitamins are especially important for reptiles?

• Vitamins A

• Vitamins D3 - UV rays

• Calcium: phosphorus ratio - brittle bone disease

What diet types are available for birds?

• Seeds - contains lots of unsaturated fats

• Pellets - best nutritional content

• Fresh fruits & veggies - high sugar content

What are common issues with avian nutrition?

• Malnutrition

• Obesity - seeds

What is the key place to examine for body condition for a bird?

Keel bone

What do lorikeets eat?

Nectar

Gut loading insects

• Feed the insects nutritous meals so when the reptile eats it they take in their nutrients

What should you dust insects with for reptiles?

Calcium

What are some common issues in reptiles caused by nutrition deficency?

• Metabolic bone disease (Ca:P imbalance)

• UVB light deficiency

• Constipation - low exercise, poor diet (tortoises)

Cecotropes

Special dropping from the end stage of fermentation in the caecum that rabbits consume that allows all the digestible products in the diet to be absorbed by the rabbit

What is a ferrets diet like?

• Obligate carnivores

• High protein/low fat and carbs

Insulinoma

Tumor on your pancreas or liver called on insulinoma, it makes extra insulin; causes blood sugar levels to drop

What is a common issue with small animal nutrition?

Enterotoxemia (overeating disease) caused by overgrowth of clostridum perfringens in an animal’s intestine - excessive sugary treats

What food is foundational for rabbits?

Hay (fiber)