Small Animal Nutrition

1. Small Animal Nutrition DeeDee Schumacher CVT, VTS(ECC), M.Ed

2. Energy Producing Nutrients • Protein (built of amino acids) • Carbs • Fat • Fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K • Stored in liver and fat • Water soluble vitamins B complex, C • None stored in the body

3. Non-energy Producing Nutrients • Water • Minerals • Macro (Ca, Phos, K+, Na, Mg) • Micro (Fe, copper, Zn, Iodine) • Vitamins

4. Feeding protocols • Free feed • Available at all times • Animal decides when and how much to eat • Time restricted • Unrestricted amount of food available for specific amount of time (10-30 mins) • Can be repeated throughout the day) • Food restricted • Specific quantity of food offered at specific times during the day • “Best” feeding method

5. Factors that Affect Energy Requirements • Growth • Lactation • Stress • Physical exertion • Breed • Environmental conditions • Age

6. Types • Cats are true carnivores • Protein are their primary energy source • Need taurine (amino acid) • Dogs are omnivores • Carbs are their primary energy source

7. Body Conditioning Score Chart • Body conditioning score chart should be used • Scoring chart range may be from 1-5 or 1-6 • 1=thinnest • 5 or 6= fattest

8. Terminology • RER=resting energy requirement aka BER (base energy requirement) RER=30 x (weight in kg) + 70 • MER=maintenance energy requirement MER= RER x illness factor

9. Factors to Consider • Illness factor can also be known as IER illness energy requirements • RER can also be multiplied by a factor to account for different life stages of the animal • Examples • Puppies 3 x RER=MER • Kittens 2.5 x RER=MER • Gestation 3 x RER=MER • Lactation dogs 4 to 8 x RER=MER • Lactation cats 2 to 6 x RER=MER

10. Factors to Consider Cont. • Trauma, illness, stress and sepsis will increase an animal’s metabolism, thus increasing the animals energy requirement • The body eats 24 hours a day regardless if the gut is fed or not • The simplest method for administering nutrition should be chosen

11. Enteral Nutrition • Coaxing and warming • Drugs to stimulate appetite • Force feeding/syringe feeding • Orogastric intubation • Nasograstric/nasoesophageal intubation • Esophagostomy tube feeding • Gastrostomy tube feeding • Enterostomy tube feeding

12. Parenteral Nutrition • Direct IV infusion with basic constituents of dextrose, crystalline amino acids, and lipid emulsions • Should be introduced gradually • 1/3 total calories per day on day 1 • 2/3 total calories per day on day 2 • Total calories on day 3

13. Pet Food Label • Product name • Designation (Dog or cat) • Net weight • Name and address of manufacturer • Guaranteed analysis • Ingredient panel • Nutritional adequacy statement or purpose of product • Feeding guidelines • Date of mfg and expiration

14. Pet Food Label Cont. • Regulated by FDA • AAFCO=American Association of Feeding Controls Officials, the regulating body of pet food manufacturers in the USA

15. Guaranteed Analysis • Minimum or maximum % of certain nutrients • Crude protein • Crude fat • Crude fiber • Moisture • Don’t use GA to compare foods • Only indicates mins and max not exact amounts • Also includes moisture content therefore nutrient value is diluted in moisture so canned food may appear to have a lower % than dry food • Should convert nutrients to dry matter to compare foods • Allows for a more accurate comparison of foods

16. Ingredients Panel • Listed descending order by weight • High water content will appear higher on list due to water weight • Manufacturers can alter ingredients so can appear higher or lower on list as they desire • Don’t use as a mode of comparison • Cannot determine quality or digestibility

17. Recommendations • Should recommend products that have undergone feeding trials • Nutritional adequacy statements are based on feeding trials or through calculation method • Statements about meeting or exceeding standards without feeding trials are based on a chemical analysis and do not verify the digestibility or true adequacy of the product. • Snacks, treats and therapeutic diets do not require nutritional statements

18. Nutritional Requirements of Each Life Stage Cont. • Gestation and lactation • Similar to the neonate • Young dogs (neonates and puppies) • Colostrum • milk that provides maternal antibodies • First 24-48 hours after parturition • Provides passive immunity

19. Nutritional Requirements of Each Life Stage Cont. • Neonates should be weighed daily for first 2 weeks • Puppies should gain 2-4 g/day/kg or 1-2 g/day/lb • Growth fed for first year • Large breed puppies • Overfed • High Ca levels (can cause retarded bone volume and other bone probs) • Adult dogs (1-7 years) • Treats or snacks should not exceed 10% diet (MER)

20. Nutritional Requirements of Each Life Stage Cont. • Geriatric dogs • Organs can not tolerate nutrient excesses or deficiencies • CDS • Diet should include • Reduced fat calories • Decreased Na, protein and phos (reduces workload of cardiovascular system and kidneys) • Increased EFAs and zinc for skin and coat • Increased fiber (slows GI tract and improves absorption) • Increased antioxidants (CDS)

21. Nutritional Requirements of Each Life Stage Cont. • Young cats (kittens) • Similar to puppies • Adult cats • By nature nibblers so should leave MER amount available throughout the day • Cats are not born finicky, they are made finicky (consistency is the key) • Geriatric cats (around 6 years)

22. FLUTD • 1%-6% cats seen in hospitals • Clinical signs • PUPD • Hematuria • Urethral obstruction • Inappropriate urination • Dietary management important

23. Obesity • 25%-44% companion animals obese • Obese is 20% over ideal body weight • Overweight is 10% over ideal body weight • Should include diet and exercise program • Goals should be realistic and achievable • Charting of weight loss is important to keep clients motivated

24. Questions?