Veterinary Nutrition Test 1

What is veterinary nutrition?

clinical science of providing appropriate diets to animals to optimize health & well being

What does veterinary nutrition consider?

nutrient/energy requirements, digestion & nutrient availability, species/life stage, diet, health/disease

What are nutrients?

components of the diet that provide energy and support normal body functions

fat, water, protein, minerals, carbohydrates, vitamins

essential nutrients: body cannot make (need in diet)

non essential nutrients: body can make

Nutrient availability

Nutrient is present in a chemical form that can potentially be absorbed and used

Digestibility

proportion of a nutrient that is digested and absorbed by the GI tract

Bioavailability

proportion of the absorbed nutrient that is available for use by the body

Monogastric

single compartment stomach

enzymatic digestion

nutrients absorbed in SI

limited fermentation

Ruminant

multi compartment stomach

microbial fermentation

fermentation provides VFAs, microbial protein, vitamins

GI tract functions

digestion, absorption, excretion, protection, immune support

GI Digestion

converts nutrients in food into forms for absorption & use by the body

mechanical: chewing, mixing, movement

chemical: enzymatic breakdown

Sites of enzymatic digestion

luminal: inside, digestive enzymes, microbial fermentation

epithelial: surface, brush border enzymes

GI Absorption

reabsorption of bile salts, water electrolytes

GI Excretion

gut motility, secret mucus & enzymes, excrete undigested food residues & metabolic waste

GI Protection

protect agains microbes & toxins

physical barrier b/w gut & bloodstream

acid, mucus, peristalsis, & normal microbiota provide defense

Mouth

initial site of mechanical digestion

carnivores: sharp teeth for tearing

herbivores: flat teeth for grinding

Salivary glands: secrete saliva to lubricate food (no chemical amylase digestion)

tongue: positions food for swallowing, stimulate appetite & digestive secretions

Olfactory system

food recognition & acceptance

detect aromas

Trigeminal system

texture, burn/cool, irritation

Esophagus

muscular tube lined with stratified squamous epithelium

moves food to stomach

gastroesophageal sphincter prevents backflow

Stomach

temporary food storage

mechanical & chemical digestion (HCL denatures proteins & activates pepsin for protein digestion)

regulates food delivery to SI

secrete mucus to protect lining from acid

Accessory organs

Liver: produces bile to emulsify fats, stores glucose as glycogen

Gallbladder: store bile before release into SI

pancreas: secrete digestive enzymes into SI, bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid, produce insulin & glucagon to regulate blood glucose

Small Intestine

less acidic

duodenum: chemical digestion, gets chyme from stomach & mixes with bile to emulsify fat, digestive enzymes break down food into small pieces

Jejunum & Ileum: nutrient absorption across intestinal epithelium, villi & microvilli increase surface area

Large Intestine

cecum, colon, rectum

absorb water and electrolytes, forms feces to rectum

Large Intestine Microbial fermentation

ferments undigested components (fiber)

produces short chain fatty acids

synthesizes vitamin K & B

Energy needs is measured in what

kilocalories

always comes first

What is BCS (body condition score)

subjective assessment of body fat

9 point body scale ( 4-5 is ideal)

IBW formula (ideal body weight)

IBW = current weight/ BCS division factor (1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc)

Ideal BCS 5/9 is (1.0) 100% any point above adds 10%

BCS division factors

• 1/9 = 0.6

• 2/9 = 0.7

• 3/9 = 0.8

• 4/9 = 0.9

• 5/9 = 1.0

• 6/9 = 1.1

• 7/9 = 1.2

• 8/9 = 1.3

• 9/9 = 1.4

What is RER?

Resting Energy Requirement: energy needed for normal body functions in an awake, resting, thermoneutral animal.

What is the RER formula?

RER = 70 × (BWkg)^0.75

What is MER?

Maintenance Energy Requirement: energy needed for normal daily life.

What is the MER formula?

MER = RER × MER factor

What determines the MER factor?

activity, body size (smaller need more food), breed, environment, neuter status (intact eat less & have higher metabolism), life stage

How do puppies and kittens compare to adults in energy needs?

Their energy needs per kg are approximately 2–3× adult needs

How much can energy needs increase during gestation/lactation?

They may increase 2–6×

How does neutering affect energy requirements?

Neutered pets have lower energy requirements. Food intake may increase, increasing obesity risk

Senior MER factors

dogs decreases with age

cat increase after 10-13 years

What is true MER?

The actual daily caloric intake of a pet maintaining a stable, ideal body weight.

pet specific

What is the ME equation? (metabolizable energy/ available energy)

ME = GE − fecal energy loss − urinary energy loss

What is energy density?

The amount of metabolizable energy (ME) per weight or volume of food, such as kcal/kg or kcal/cup.

What happens when energy density increases/decreases?

increases: less food is needed

decreases: more food is needed

What is the gold standard for determining ME?

Direct measurement through feeding trials

What are the modified Atwater factors?

• Protein = 3.5 kcal/g

• Fat = 8.5 kcal/g

• Carbohydrate = 3.5 kcal/g

What is the modified Atwater equation?

ME = 10[(3.5 × CP) + (8.5 × CF) + (3.5 × NFE)] kcal/kg

What is NFE?

Nitrogen-free extract, representing the carbohydrate component used in the energy calculation

What is the NFE formula?

NFE = 100 − protein − fat − fiber − ash − moisture

What are the guaranteed-analysis adjustments?

• Protein: +1.5%

• Fat: +1%

• Fiber: −0.7%

• Moisture: −4%

• Ash: use 6% if not listed

How do you calculate how much food to feed?

Energy requirement ÷ energy density of food