Small Animal Nutrition

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Small Animal Nutrition
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What is nutrition?

• Nutrition refers to the animal receiving a
  proper and balanced food and water ration so that
  is can grow, maintain its body, reproduce, and
  supply or produce the things we expect form it.

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Unhealthy Diet Unhealthy Animal

• 35 of the total pet population is overweight
• Overweight pets are at risk for heart disease,
  diabetes and arthritis
• One extra pound on a Chihuahua is equal to 38
  pounds on an average woman

• One ounce of cheese for a 20-pound dog is equal
  to a human eating one and a half hamburgers
• One cup of milk for a 10-pound cat is equal to a
  human eating five chocolate bars
• About 41 of dogs are obese

Interview about Pet Health http//www.youtube.com/
watch?vC5aBXjr-B_4safety_modetruepersist_safet
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6 Essential Nutrients

• Water
• Proteins
• Carbohydrates
• Fats
• Vitamins
• Minerals

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Nutrition

• Usually a brand name pet food contains a complete
  and balanced diet for pets, and recommendations
  for proper amounts to feed are included in the
  labeling.

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Nutrition

• Deficiencies usually do not occur among animals
  fed properly formulated diets.
• Most problems occur from feeding table scraps or
  homemade diets.

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Water

• The most important nutrient.
• Makes up 55-65 of an animals body and is
  located in every cell of the animal.

• Absorbed into the body through the walls of the
  stomach

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Water

• Supports biochemical reactions in the body
• Respiration the process by which oxygen is
  supplied to the cells and tissues in exchange for
  carbon dioxide breathing
• Digestion the breakdown of food materials and
  the absorption of nutrients
• Assimilation converting food into a form that
  can be absorbed in the body

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Water

• 2. Transports other nutrients
• 3. Helps maintain body temperature
• 4. Helps give the body its form
• 5. Carries waste from the body

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Proteins

• Complex nutrients made of carbon, hydrogen,
  oxygen, and nitrogen
• Broken down into Amino Acids during digestion

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Proteins

• Develops and repairs body organs and tissues,
  such as muscles, nerves, skin, hair, hooves, and
  feathers
• Aids in producing milk, wool, and eggs
• Assists in development of the fetus

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Proteins

• 4. Generates Enzymes- necessary for biochemical
  reactions
• 5. Generates Hormones- influence body actions,
  releases from glands
• 6. Develops Antibodies- neutralize the effects of
  microorganisms toxins in the body

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Proteins

• 7. Transmits DNA- Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid,
  genetic materials that carries hereditary codes

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Proteins

• There are 25 amino acids found in animal feeds.
• 10-11 are considered essential
• Essential amino acids- cannot be produced by the
  animals body and therefore have to be supplied
  in food
• Nonessential amino acids- not needed or can be
  synthesized in the body

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Carbohydrates

• Used to
• Support bodily functions such as breathing,
  digestion, and exercising.
• Produce heat to keep the body warm.
• Store fat.
• Provide energy.

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FATS

• Made up of the same chemical elements as
  carbohydrates but in different combinations
• They contain 2.25 times as much energy as same
  amount carbohydrates and proteins

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FATS

• Essential in the diet for the following
• Provides energy
• Aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
• Provides fatty acids (most animals require less
  than 3)

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Vitamins

• Organic substances required in very small amounts
• Used to
• Regulate digestion.
• Develop normal vision, bone, and external body
  coverings such as hair and feathers.
• Forms new cells.
• Protect against disease.
• Develop and maintaining the nervous system.

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Vitamins

• Classified on their basis of solubility- capable
  of being dissolved
• Fat soluble- can be stored in the body (Vitamins
  A, D, E, and K)
• Water soluble- stored in limited amounts
  (Vitamins C, B Complex)

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Vitamin A

• Required to prevent poor vision, respiratory
  ailments, digestive problems, and reproduction
  difficulties
• Green leafy plants contain carotene which animals
  can convert to Vitamin A

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Vitamin D

• Used with calcium and phosphorus in the body
• Animals deficit in this vitamin usually have weak
  legs
• Exposing to sunlight usually takes care of this
  vitamin
• If an animal is kept in confinement, you will
  need to supplement.
• Good, quality hay is a good source

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Vitamin E

• Important for successful reproduction and muscle
  development
• Feeding a good rationed diet will usually take
  care of this vitamin

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Vitamin K

• Necessary for maintenance of normal blood
  coagulation (good clotting)
• Green forages, seeds, and good hay can provide
  sufficient amounts

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Vitamin C

• Also called ascorbic acid (think of citrus
  fruits)
• Produced in the digestive system of most animals
  and is therefore not needed to supplement
• Guinea Pigs must have this added to diet
• Deficiency symptoms are diarrhea, rough coat, and
  coat loss

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Vitamin B- Complex Group

• Vitamins in this group are thiamine, riboflavin,
  niacin, pantothenic acid, cobalamin, choline,
  folic acid, biotin, inositol, para-amino benzoic
  acid, and pyridoxine
• Used for
• Metabolism of carbs
• Digestive assistance
• Normal growth and reproduction
• Healthy coats
• Transportation of fatty acids

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Minerals

• Essential in supporting and maintaining animal,
  but do not contribute to tissue development
• Supply materials to build skeleton and produce
  body regulators

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Macrominerals

• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Sodium
• Sulfur
• Chlorine
• Magnesium

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Macrominerals- Calcium

• Required by vertebrates in larger amounts than
  any other mineral
• 99 in the body is found in the teeth and bones
• Essential for bone, teeth, and eggshell
  formation blood coagulation, and milk production

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Macrominerals- Calcium

• Deficiency- retarded growth and deformed bones
• Rickets- soft, flexible bones
• Osteoporosis- bones lose their density and become
  porous and brittle
• Osteomalacia- softening of the bones
• Good sources- limestone, oyster shell, bone meal,
  etc.

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Macrominerals- Phosphorus

• Closely associated with calcium
• 75 in the body is found in teeth and bones
• Essential for bone development and biochemical
  reactions
• Deficiency symptoms are similar to calcium
• Good sources- fluorine phosphates and bone meal

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Macrominerals- Potassium

• Required for many body functions (osmotic
  relations, acid-base balance, and digestion)
• Deficiency symptoms- decreased appetite, slow
  growth, stiffness, and weight loss
• Most grains and feeds are sufficient so no
  supplements are needed

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Macrominerals- Sodium and Chlorine

• Necessary in the formation of digestive juices,
  control of body fluid concentration, control of
  body fluid pH, and in nerve and muscle activity
• No deficiency symptoms
• Supplemental salt usually provides with enough
  (blocks, loose or free choice salt, spools in
  cages, or in a mineral mix)

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Macrominerals- Magnesium

• Necessary for many enzyme systems and for proper
  function of the nervous system
• Most feeds are sufficient so no deficiency
  systems are noticed

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Microminerals

• Iron
• Iodine
• Copper
• Cobalt
• Fluorine
• Manganese
• Zinc
• Molybdenum
• Selenium

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Microminerals- Iron

• Necessary in formation of hemoglobin- component
  of blood that is responsible for transporting
  oxygen
• Deficiencies show early in life- low content in
  milk
• Anemia- disease associated with deficiency.
  Animal will have loss of appetite and become
  weak.

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Microminerals- Copper

• Necessary for proper iron absorption, for
  hemoglobin formation, enzyme systems, and in
  synthesis of keratin for hair and wool growth
• Most feeds contain enough
• Deficiencies would be similar to iron
  deficiencies

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Microminerals- Iodine

• Necessary for production of thyroid gland
• Most water and feeds contain sufficient amounts
• Common symptoms of deficiency would be swelling
  of neck, hairlessness, infected navel, and
  weakness

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Microminerals- Cobalt

• Necessary for growth of B vitamins
• Symptoms of deficiency include poor appetite,
  weakness, anemia, decreased fertility, slow
  growth, and decreased milk/wool production

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Microminerals- Fluorine

• Associated with calcium and phosphorus
  utilization
• Most feeds are usually sufficient in this
  nutrient and not a major concern in diets

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Microminerals- Manganese

• Involved with the enzyme systems that influence
  estrus, ovulation, fetal development, udder
  development, milk production, growth, and
  skeletal development
• Deficiencies in this mineral affect fetal growth,
  deformed young, poor growth, abortions, etc.
• Most feeds contain adequate amounts of this

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Microminerals- Zinc

• Necessary to promote general thriving and growth,
  wound healing, and hair/wool growth
• Most feeds are adequate in this mineral

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Microminerals- Molybdenum

• Necessary component for digestion and enzyme
  development
• Sufficient in most feeds

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Microminerals- Selenium

• Necessary for the absorption and utilization of
  Vitamin E
• Deficiency symptoms are similar to Vitamin E-
  heart failure, paralysis, poor growth, low
  fertility, and muscle problems