Ch 13 Notes
ANIMAL NUTRITION
Explain the general principles in animal nutrition:
maintenance requirements - dietary needs of an animal in a resting state; comfortable environment
increased activity = increased nutritional requirements (race horses, hunting dogs)
increased expended energy = increased nutritional requirements (cold wet conditions)
others = growing animals, lactating animals, certain metabolic conditions
resting energy rate (RER)- amount of energy required by an animal at rest at a comfortable environment
maintenance energy requirement (MER) - RER plus any additional energy required for normal activity of the animal
Methods of Feeding:
free choice - good quality feed available at all times
requires least work
beneficial for animals with high nutritional requirements
difficult to monitor intake in multiple pet households (sick pets)
high risk of obesity
time restricted - unlimited amount of feed available at certain times of day
allows greater control over amount consumed
requires more time
pet may beg more in between meals
quantity restricted - specific quantities of food are measured and distributed at certain times
best way to monitor food intake
healthiest way for animals to digest properly
requires most work
FREE ACCESS TO WATER SHOULD BE PROVIDED AT ALL TIMES!!!!!
PET FOOD LABELS
Describe the important features found on pet food labels and compare/contrast the nutritional requirements for dogs and cats.
3 types of food: moist, semi-moist, dry
Moist/Canned
75% water
more palatable and digestible
most expensive
must be refrigerated
can ruin teeth
Semi-moist
15-35% water
very palatable
costs almost as much as moist
no refrigeration needed
may still ruin teeth
Dry
10-15% water
most commonly used
least expensive
no refrigeration
Pet Food Label Requirements
Product name (Meow Mix)
Species to be fed
Net weight
manufacturer name and address
purpose of food (puppy, overweight, etc)
guaranteed analysis (food minimum and maximums)
ingredients (listed in descending order)
Body Condition Score
1-5
1=emaciated
2=underweight/lean
3=ideal
4=overweight
5=obese
CANINE NUTRITION
-Primary ingredient should always be a protein (meat) products.
-Always feed some or all dry food to avoid dental problems.
-Refer to packaging for specific amounts as sizes vary so much.
-NEVER feed meat with small bones such as chicken.
FELINE NUTRITION
-True carnivores; require 2x protein than dogs
-10% of diet should be fat
-Feed some or all dry food to avoid dental problems.
-Avoid feeding meat with bones still intact.
RABBIT NUTRITION
-Feed pellets made from timothy hay
-Free access to timothy grass hay.
-Corn, oats, oatmeal, carrots, apples, bananas
-NEVER feed leafy greens; high moisture content = diarrhea and dehydration
GUINEA PIG NUTRITION
-Special guinea pig pellets
-Alfalfa hay
-Leafy greens, kale, carrots, apples, pears, cucumbers
-MUST provide Vitamin C
FERRET NUTRITION
-Carnivores
-High protein ferret food
-Can also feed kitten food
-Limited meat scraps
EQUINE NUTRITION & FIBER DIGESTION
Discuss the horse’s ability to digest fiber and its role in equine nutrition:
How they eat....
-Wild horses spend 18 hours a day grazing.
-Grazing provides a regular input of small meals; delivering nutrients to the intestinal tract throughout the day.
-Once acre of pasture supports one horse.
-Domestic horses are not allowed as much grazing.
-Higher workload (nutritional demands) results in addition of grains to diet.
-Fed larger meals fewer times a day.
What they eat...
-Roughages (hay) should comprise 1/2 the diet.
-Concentrates (grain) should be energy or protein sources.
Ex: oats, wheat, corn, linseed, soybean
How they digest...
•Takes 70 hours for food to pass through the digestive tract
•Small stomachs (2-4 gallons)
•Most of the concentrate is digested in the stomach and small intestine.
•Fiber is fermented in the cecum.
•Fermentation = digestion of materials by bacteria
Principles of feeding...
•Rations should be adapted to needs of individuals.
•Sensitivity to feed quality. (Moldy or stale feed results in respiratory problems or colic)
•Small meals due to small stomach.
•Teeth must be floated to ensure no sharp edges.
•Grazing animals = high risk of intestinal parasites.
•Confined animals develop bad habits (cribbing)
RUMINANT NUTRITION & FIBER DIGESTION
Detail the ruminants ability to digest fiber and the role in ruminant nutrition
How they eat...
-Graze in shorter time spans.
-Rumination (chewing cud)
What they eat...
-Forage and grain combination.
-Depends on the energy requirement (milking vs. rest)
-Total mixed ration = all feed ingredients combined and blended together.
How they digest...
•Food is regurgitated from rumen for re-chewing.
•Produce 40-50 gallons of saliva daily
•Microbes in rumen digest plant material.
•Most efficient in digestion due to rumination.
Principles of feeding...
•Rations are adapted to herd needs.
•pH balance is very important; microbes can be destroyed if pH is off.
CLINICAL PRACTICE
Link the clinical significance of the academic material to veterinary practice
Obesity
Most common nutritional disorder in dogs and cats.
Contributes to other diseases like arthritis.
Adds stress to circulatory and respiratory systems.
Makes diabetes difficult to control
Toxicity
Theobromine and caffeine (chocolate) are toxic at high levels.
Effects CV and CNS.
Vomiting, diarrhea, excitability, seizures, coma, death.
Onions are toxic to cats.
Cause a defect in RBC’s.
Anemia and kidney damage result.
Laminitis
Inflammation of the third phalanx (coffin bone)
Results from too much grain being fed.
Can result in permanent lameness or detachment of the hoof.