Lecture 3 - Feeding Healthy Pets

Nutrition of a pet can vary depending on...

-Life stage

-Activity level

-Environment

-Reproductive status

-Breed

-Health status

What is RER?

-Resting energy requirement

-Energy required to maintain body weight at rest, fasted, in a thermoneutral environment

What are the two equations for calculating RER?

-70 x wt (kg) ^0.75

-30 x wt (kg) + 70 (only for patients between 2-25 kg)

What is MER/DER?

-Maintenance/daily energy requirement

-Adjust RER to account for life stage, activity, environment, neuter status

What is the equation for DER/MER?

DER = coefficient x RER

What factors affect energy needs?

-Species

-Genetics

-Activity

-Age

-Sexual status

-Environment

Dogs have what type of feeding behavior?

Omnivorous

What are some characteristics of the omnivorous nature of dogs?

-Can meet most nutrient needs with minimal animal products, besides B12

-No requirement for carbohydrate for maintenance

When is the most weight gained in a dog’s gestation?

Towards the end - 75% of weight gain is from day 40-55

How long is canine gestation?

63 days (9 weeks)

What are some clinical issues that can occur is nutrient needs aren't met during gestation?

-Eclampsia

-Small litter size

-Increased puppy mortality

What nutrients need to be increased during gestation/lactation?

-Carbs

-Proteins/AA

-Fat/omega 3

-Ca2+

-P

-Vitamin D

What are some considerations for diets during gestation?

-Want to optimize BCS prior to breeding

-Need carbs in late gestation

-Highly digestible and nutrient dense

-Multiple small meals per day or ad libitum during late gestation

What are some considerations for diets during lactation?

-Feed ab libitum

-Need carbs

-Adequate calories

-Lots of water

-4-8x RER

When should solid food be offered to puppies? Why?

-3-4 weeks of age

-Provides additional nutrients for rapid growth and reduces stress on the dam

Complete weaning occurs at what age for puppies?

6-8 weeks

What are some clinical risks if nutrient needs are not met for growing dogs?

-Stunted growth

-Bone fractures/abnormalities

-Developmental orthopedic disease

What are nutrients that need to be increased during growth of puppies?

-Protein/AA

-Fat/omega 3

-Ca2+

-P

-Fe

What are some things to avoid when feeding large breed puppies? Why?

-Overfeeding: need bone growth before fat gain, increased strain and skeletal abnormalities

-High Ca2+: cannot regulate intake less than 6 months, leads to developmental orthopedic disease

What can cause developmental orthopedic disease?

-Environmental or genetic factors

-Diet: excessive calcium, rapid growth/overweight

What are some examples of developmental orthopedic disease?

-Hip/elbow dysplasia

-Panosteitis

-Angular limb deformities

-Osteochondrosis

-Hypertrophic osteodystrophy

For health adult dogs at maintenance, focus on...

Calories and feeding a diet that meets essential nutrient needs

What is important when feeding senior dogs?

-Treat/feed the pet and not the age

-Aged animals lose muscle and may gain fat

-Feeding high quality protein can help maintain lean mass

What is sarcopenia?

Loss of muscle tissue as a natural part of the aging process

What is cachexia?

Muscle wasting due to severe chronic illness

What are some characteristics of cats that are important in regards to feeding?

-May have whisker sensitivities

-Avoid bitter, can't taste sweetness

-Strong texture preferences

-Naturally eat many small meals

When choosing cat food, in general should select for...

-Fat

-Peptides

-AA

-Higher moisture

What are characteristics of fat in a cat's diet?

-They can tolerate high amounts

-High palatability and energy density, obesity risk

-They lack enzyme activity to create essential fatty acids such as arachidonic acid and EPA

What are characteristics of protein in a cat's diet?

-Higher protein needs than most domestic animals, N and AA

-Can adapt to a wide range of intakes

-Require taurine and arginine in every meal

Do cats need carbs? Why or why not?

-No, they have minimal glycogen storage and active gluconeogenesis

-They can digest and metabolize dietary glucose but they have less enzymes

-Cannot metabolize fructose

-If protein/fat needs are met, it can be used as an energy source

What micronutrients do cats need that their body does not produce?

-Retinal vitamin A

-Niacin

-Vitamin D

Why is it important to optimize BCS prior to breeding?

-Overweight increases dystocia risk

-Underweight reduces litter size and lactation success

How do queens gain weight throughout gestation?

Linearly throughout, but greatest in last 1/3 (days 42+)

How should cats be fed during gestation?

-1.6x at breeding with gradual increase to 2x at parturition

-Avoid excessive gain

-Feed free choice or multiple small meals in late gestation

How should cats be fed during lactation?

-Most cats consume placentas and may not eat 1-2 days after parturition

-Queens tend to lose weight

-Feed diet labeled for repro, high energy density

-Increase meal frequency or feed ad libitum

-Increase amount each week of lactation

When should kittens be offered food? What type?

-3-4 weeks

-Reproduction/growth food

How long does lactation last?

Up to 9 weeks

What nutrients need to be increased during gestation/lactation in cats?

-Water

-Protein/AA

-Fat/omega 3

-Ca2+

-P

-Mg2+

What are some risks if nutrient needs aren't met during gestation/lactation in cats?

-Small litter size

-Increased kitten mortality

How much should kittens gain a week?

50-100g

When should kittens be fully weaned?

8-10 weeks

What nutrients need to be increased for kittens?

-Protein/AA

-Fat/omega 3

-Ca2+

-P

-Mg2+

What are some risks if kitten nutrient needs are not met?

-Poor growth

-Bone abnormalities

After neutering, how should kittens be fed?

-Increases food intake but decreases energy needs

-Measured meal feeding and monitor BCS

What are key nutritional factors for an adult cat?

-Water

-Protein/AA (taurine)

-Essential micronutrients

-Calories

How might diet change in geriatric cats?

-May need higher calorie, more highly digestible diets

-Frequently underweight with muscle wasting

-Reduced digestive efficiency