General Nutrition

What is a nutrient?

Any food component that helps support life.

What are essential nutrients?

Nutrients that cannot be made by the body and must come from diet.

What are nonessential nutrients?

Nutrients that can be made by the body or obtained from diet.

What are the six major nutrient categories?

Water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins.

Is energy considered a nutrient?

No. Energy is vital to diet but is not a nutrient.

What is energy used for in animals?

Growth, maintenance, reproduction, and physical activity.

What is the most common energy imbalance in dogs and cats?

Excessive energy intake.

What can high-energy diets cause in growing puppies?

Hip dysplasia and osteochondrosis.

What happens when young animals consume too little energy?

Reduced growth rate and compromised development.

What happens when adult animals consume too little energy?

Weight loss and muscle wasting.

Which animals commonly have inadequate energy consumption?

Hard-working dogs and pregnant or lactating animals.

In what form is energy primarily stored in animals?

Fat.

What is energy density?

Calories per serving divided by food weight.

What is gross energy?

The total energy contained in food.

What is digestible energy?

Energy that can cross the intestinal mucosa.

What is metabolizable energy?

Energy usable by the body and tissues.

What unit measures energy in animal nutrition?

Kilocalorie (kcal).

How many calories are in 1 kilocalorie?

1,000 calories.

What are the major functions of water?

Reactions, transport, metabolism, temperature regulation, digestion, and waste elimination.

What is the most common way animals lose water?

Urinary excretion.

How can animals lose water through the respiratory tract?

Through evaporation, such as panting.

What happens with 5% water loss?

Sluggishness and an overall unwell patient.

What happens with 10% water loss?

Serious illness.

What can 15% water loss result in?

Death.

What are the three main sources of water?

Food, drinking water, and metabolic water.

How much water may dry food contain?

As little as 7%.

How much water may canned food contain?

Over 80%.

What factors influence drinking water intake?

Food type, environmental conditions, activity level, and disease.

Do cats and dogs have a minimum carbohydrate requirement?

No.

How many kcal does carbohydrate provide per gram?

4 kcal per gram.

What are carbohydrates used for?

Supplying calories, providing fiber, and improving palatability.

What is the least expensive ingredient in a diet?

Carbohydrates.

What is a common source of carbohydrates?

Cereal grains.

How are carbohydrates classified?

Soluble and insoluble.

What are soluble carbohydrates?

Simple sugars, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

What happens to excess soluble carbohydrates?

Stored as glycogen and fat, leading to obesity.

What are soluble carbohydrates also known as?

Nitrogen-free extract.

What helps digest soluble carbohydrates?

Enzymes.

What are examples of enzymes that digest carbohydrates?

Maltase, sucrase, and lactase.

What are insoluble carbohydrates also known as?

Dietary fiber.

What are examples of insoluble carbohydrates?

Cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.

How do monogastric animals break down insoluble carbohydrates?

Key bacterial flora help break down the fibers.

Which animals should avoid high insoluble carbohydrate diets?

Working, stressed, pregnant/lactating, or high-energy animals.

Who may benefit from insoluble carbohydrates?

Overweight patients, to aid weight loss.

When will protein generally not be used for energy?

When enough carbohydrates are consumed to meet energy needs.

How many kcal does fat provide per gram?

9 kcal per gram.

What is another name for dietary fat?

Lipids.

What are the three categories of lipids?

Simple lipids, compound lipids, and derived lipids.

What is the most common fat found in the diet?

Triglycerides.

What can triglycerides contain?

Fatty acids.

What are the three types of fatty acids?

Saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated.

What is a saturated fatty acid?

A fatty acid with no double bonds.

What is a monounsaturated fatty acid?

A fatty acid with one double bond.

What is a polyunsaturated fatty acid?

A fatty acid with two or more double bonds.

Which usually contains more saturated fat: animal or plant fats?

Animal fats.

What is the body's favorite form of stored energy?

Fat.

Where is fat stored in the body?

Under the skin, around vital organs, and around intestinal membranes.

What does fat provide for the body?

Insulation and protection against physical energy.

What role does fat play in nerve function?

It surrounds myelinated nerve fibers and helps transmit nerve impulses.

Where are phospholipids and glycolipids found?

In cell membranes.

How does fat protect the skin?

It helps protect the skin from water loss.

Which vitamins require fat for transport?

Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

What are some fatty acid sources?

Linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid.

Why is fat considered a concentrated source of energy?

It provides more energy per gram than protein and carbohydrates.

What is a benefit of fat compared with protein and carbohydrates?

Fat is more digestible as an energy source.

Why can high-fat diets cause overeating?

Fat increases palatability and energy content.

What are signs of fat deficiency in animals?

Delayed wound healing, dry hair coat, scaly skin, and pyodermas.

What is protein's role as a dietary source?

It serves as a dietary nitrogen source.

What are some things protein is an essential component of?

DNA, RNA, hemoglobin, antibodies, plasma proteins, enzymes, and hormones.

What is protein a primary component of?

Body tissues.

How many kcal does protein provide per gram?

4 kcal per gram.

How many essential amino acids do dogs have?

10.

How many essential amino acids do cats have?

11.

Which amino acid do cats specifically require?

Taurine.

What determines protein quality?

Digestibility, amino acid profiles, and biological value.

Is excess protein stored in the body?

No.

What happens to excess protein?

It is converted into energy or wasted as urine.

What can excess protein increase?

The workload of the kidneys.

What are the essential amino acids listed for dogs and cats?

Arginine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, taurine in cats, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

What are the fat-soluble vitamins?

Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

What are the water-soluble vitamins?

B-complex vitamins.

What are the functions of vitamin A?

Vision, bone growth, reproduction, and epithelial tissue maintenance.

What does vitamin A help with besides bone growth?

Tooth development.

Where does vitamin A originate from?

Carotenoids.

Where is vitamin A stored?

In the liver.

What foods are high in vitamin A?

Fish oil, milk, liver, and egg yolk.

What is special about vitamin A in cats?

Cats must have a preformed dietary source.

What is the main function of vitamin D?

Regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism.

What form of vitamin D is thought to be most nutritional for dogs and cats?

Vitamin D3.

Do dogs and cats need a dietary source of vitamin D?

Yes.

What is the main function of vitamin E?

Antioxidant.

What are sources of vitamin E?

Wheat germ, corn oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil.

What is vitamin K important for?

Blood clot formation.

What are sources of vitamin K?

Spinach, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, liver, egg, and certain fish meal.

Which animal must have a dietary source of vitamin C?

Guinea pigs.

What can vitamin C deficiency cause?

Scurvy, delayed wound healing, capillary bleeding, anemia, and improper bone formation.

What do antioxidants do?

Delay or prevent oxidation (breakdown) of other substances.

What are examples of antioxidant vitamins or minerals?

Vitamin E and selenium.

What are carotenoids?

Provitamins and antioxidants typically found in colorful vegetables.

What is choline?

A compound that acts like a B-vitamin and is synthesized in the liver.