Small Animal Nutrition

What are vitamins and why are they needed?

To enable the body to make used of macronutrients. Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in adipose tissues and the liver, whereas water soluble vitamins cannot be stored.

What are minerals and why are they needed?

This includes macrominerals, microminerals/trace elements and electrolytes which are needed to maintain fluid balance, nerve and muscle function and pH levels

What is the difference between essential and non-essential amino acids?

Essential amino acids cannot be synthesised, so are required in the diet. Conditionally essential amino acids can only be synthesised in limited quantities and under certain conditions.

What are the different categories of carbohydrates?

Simple sugars - monosaccharides and disaccharides. Complex carbohydrates - starch, glycogen, cellulose, lignin

What are essential fatty acids?

Omega 3 and Omega 6 - they cannot be synthesised and must be ingested.

Why is it hard to feed cats a vegetarian diet?

Taurine, pre-formed Vitamin A, and arachidonic acid are hard to obtain from non-animal sources. They can be added synthetically, but they are not necessarily bioavailable in this case.

What are the risks of raw diets?

• Pathogens exist in raw food that can cause illness and death in both cats and dogs.

• Nutritional inadequacy. When analysed, raw diets have been found to not be complete.

• Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism – raw diets are low in calcium and high in phosphorous. Even if bones are fed, the calcium in them is not bioavailable. This causes loss of calcium from bone and increases the likelihood of fractures

• If the owner is feeding bones, there is a risk of obstipation (severe constipation).

• Thyroid toxicosis (hyperthyroidism) has been reported when animals ingest the thyroid gland of other animals.

• Public health risk

What is nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism?

Metabolic bone disease. This occurs when a diet is deficient in calcium. This stimulates Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) release, which causes calcium to be leached from bones, causing osteopenia.

How can you calculate the nutrient components of a diet?

DM basis = (% nutrient / % DM) x 100

What are the nutrient requirements of pregnant bitches?

Small, frequent meals in the 3rd trimester as puppies grow very quickly and take up lots of abdominal space.