Nutrition Flashcards
(210 cards)
1
Q
Define nutrition
A
process of providing or obtaining food necessary for health and growth
2
Q
what are nutrients?
A
components in the diet that have specific functions within the body
3
Q
what are essential nutrients?
A
those that cannot be synthesised by the body and so must be supplied by the diet
4
Q
what are nonessential nutrients?
A
those that can be synthesised by the body
5
Q
give the 6 main nutrient categories
A
water protein carbohydrates fats vitamins minerals
6
Q
what is the most important nutrient?
A
water
7
Q
what percentage of body weight is made up of water?
A
60-70%
8
Q
what is the main component of CSF?
A
water
9
Q
what is the main function of water in the body?
A
maintains electrolyte concentration in body fluids
provides a medium for chemicals to dissolve into
10
Q
what should always be readily available to pets?
A
fresh drinking water
11
Q
what key body function is water involved in?
A
homeostasis
12
Q
what percentage of body water is located in the ICF?
A
40%
13
Q
what percentage of body water is located in the ECF?
A
20%
14
Q
what makes up the ECF?
A
transcellular fluid
plasma
interstitial fluid
15
Q
what are the main input of water into the body?
A
drinking
food
metabolic water
16
Q
what is metabolic water?
A
water produced by body during chemical reactions
17
Q
what are the main outputs of water from the body?
A
urine
faeces
saliva
other (vomit, sweat etc)
18
Q
what is the normal total fluid loss of an animal?
A
50ml/kg/24 hours
19
Q
why is it important to be aware of the normal total fluid loss?
A
in order to maintain hydration
when calculating fluid therapy rate
20
Q
what happens to total fluid loss in a dehydrated animal and what does it depend on?
A
increases - amount depends on deficit the animal has (e.g. vomiting or diarrhoea)
21
Q
what are amino acids formed of?
A
carbon
hydrogen
oxygen
nitrogen
22
Q
what are the constituents of proteins?
A
amino acids
23
Q
what are amino acids bonded by?
A
peptide bonds
24
Q
what are the functions of protein?
A
growth repair source of nitrogen energy metabolism
25
how many amino acids are there?
23
26
how many essential amino acids are there?
10
27
how many essential amino acids do cats need?
11
28
what extra amino acid is essential in cats?
taurine
29
what is an essential amino acid?
one which cannot be synthesised by the animal
30
why should cats not be fed dog feed?
will not contain taurine which commercial cat food does
31
how is taurine produced in dogs?
by conversion of methionine or cystine
32
why do cats require taurine in their diet?
cannot convert methionine or cystine quickly enough
33
where is taurine found?
animal protein
34
what can inadequate levels of taurine cause in cats?
blindness and heart problems
35
why should cats not be fed a vegan or vegetarian diet?
taurine comes from animal proteins which would not be found in a vegan or vegetarian diet
36
where can protein be found?
meat
plants
milk/dairy
37
what is biological value?
the proportion of essential amino acids in any protein source and how available they are
38
what does the quality of protein depend on?
number and amount of essential amino acids it contains
39
what must protein be in order to have high biological value?
acceptable/digestible/utilizable
40
what are excess levels of protein broken down by?
liver and kidneys and excreted from the body
41
in what patients is excess protein particularly harmful?
those with compromised hepatic or renal function
42
when may excess dietary protein be needed?
if the patient has a disease process causing increased protein loss
43
why may protein deficiency occur?
low levels of protein in the diet or insufficient levels of one amino acid
44
what are the signs of protein deficiency?
weight loss, poor growth, dull coat, muscle atrophy, oedema.
| can lead to death
45
what are carbohydrates a source of?
energy
46
what do carbohydrates contain?
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
47
where do carbohydrates come from?
plant matter
48
what are the 3 main carbohydrate groups?
monosaccharides
disaccharides
polysaccharides
49
how can carbohydrates be stored in the body?
as fats or as glycogen for future use
50
what are the issues with carbohydrates?
not easily digested
possibility of diarrhoea in older animals
obesity
51
what are the two types of fibre?
insoluble
| soluble
52
where are insoluble fibres found?
vegetables and cereal grains
53
where are soluble fibres found?
fruit, vegetables, oats, beans and lentils
54
what are the functions of fibre?
to aid control of faeces and helps to prevent constipation
55
how are faeces affected by a high fibre diet?
softer, increased in bulk and passed more frequently
56
how does fibre prevent constipation?
accelerates the transit time of faeces
57
how can fibre aid patients with diarrhoea?
slows down transit time
58
how does fibre decrease the calorie density of diet?
by making other nutrients less available for absorption
59
what are the adverse affects of fibre?
flatulence and increased faecal output
60
what are fats carriers for?
fat soluble vitamins
61
what are the fat soluble vitamins?
A, D, E and K
62
what are fats a source of?
essential fatty acids (EFA)
63
what are the functions of fats in the body?
```
increases palatability
major energy source
formation of cell membranes
improves hair/coat condition
controls water loss from skin
```
64
what is the most important type of fat in the diet?
triglycerides
65
what are triglycerides made up of?
3 fatty acids linked together
66
how many essential fatty acids are there?
3
67
what are the 3 essential fatty acids?
linoleic acid
linolenic acid
arachidonic acid
68
where is linolenic acid commonly found?
vegetable oil
69
how is linolenic acid produced?
synthesised from linoleic acid in dogs and cats so is not needed in their diet
70
how is arachidonic acid produced in dogs?
synthesised from linoleic acid
71
why do cats need arachidonic acid in their diet?
unable to synthesise it like dogs can
72
what are the 5 main sources of fat?
```
animal fat oils
vegetable fats
oily fish
red meat
dairy products
```
73
what are the effects of fatty acid deficiency?
impaired reproductive performance
impaired wound healing
dry coat
dry, scaly skin
74
where does fatty acid deficiency most commonly occur?
in dogs fed a low fat dry dog food
food that has been stored for too long
food stored in hot humid conditions
75
what does essential fatty acid excess cause?
obesity and so obesity related conditions (reduced mobility, 'yellow fat disease')
76
where is essential fatty acid excess common?
cats fed a diet high in red meat tuna
77
what are vitamins?
organic molecules required in the body's metabolic processes
78
what does a vitamins absence cause?
deficiency
79
why must vitamins form part of the diet?
cannot be synthesised
80
what are vitamins used for within the body?
regulation of energy metabolism
| involved in numerous biological reactions
81
are all vitamins essential for all species?
no
82
what are the 2 groups of vitamins
water soluble
| fat soluble
83
what are the water soluble vitamins?
B complex vitamins
| vitamin C
84
what are the fat soluble vitamins?
vitamin A
vitamin D
vitamin E
vitamin K
85
what is the function of vitamin A?
vision, bone growth, reproduction and maintenance of epithelial tissue
86
what are the sources of vitamin A?
caroteniods, fish oils, milk, liver and egg
87
what can vitamin A deficiency cause?
impaired growth, skin disease and reproductive failure
88
what can vitamin A excess cause?
skeletal abnormalities
89
what is the function of vitamin D?
helps to regulate calcium and phosphate
90
what is the D vitamin with the most nutritional importance in dogs and cats?
D3
91
when is vitamin D3 synthesised by the body?
when 7-dehydrocholesterol is exposed to light
92
where is 7-dehydrocholesterol found?
in the skin
93
where can vitamin D3 be obtained from?
the skin or consumption of animal products
94
what are the main sources of vitamin D?
liver, fish, egg , sunshine
95
what can vitamin D deficiency cause?
rickets, osteomalacia, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
96
what can vitamin D excess cause?
hyper calcaemia, bone reabsorption, soft tissue calcification
97
what are the properties of vitamin E?
antioxidant
98
what chemically related compounds is vitamin E a group of?
tocopherols and tocotrienols
99
what vitamin can the liver store small amounts of?
vitamin E
100
what are the main sources of vitamin E?
wheat germ, soy, bean oils
101
what can vitamin E deficiency cause?
reproductive failure, pancreatitis
102
what can excess vitamin E do?
nothing, it is non-toxic
103
what group of compounds is vitamin K a part of?
quinones
104
what are the main sources of vitamin K?
green leafy plants, some fish and liver
105
where is vitamin K synthesised?
large intestine
106
what is the role of vitamin K in the body?
active role in the clotting cascade
| required for the synthesis of clotting factors 2, 7, 9, 10
107
what can vitamin K deficiency cause?
increased clotting time/bleeding
108
what can vitamin K excess cause?
no known problems
109
what are the 5 main B vitamins?
```
Thiamin - B1
Riboflavin - B2
Niacin
Cobalamin - B12
Folic acid
```
110
What is the function of B vitamins?
act as co enzymes for specific cellular enzymes that are involved in metabolism and tissue synthesis
111
what are sources of B vitamins?
meats, vegetables, eggs, dairy
112
what are signs of B vitamin deficiency?
CNS signs, anaemia, weight loss
113
what are signs of B vitamin excess?
none as it is non-toxic
114
what is vitamin C also know as?
asorbic acid
115
where is vitamin C synthesised from?
glucose
116
what is vitamin C destroyed by?
oxidative processes
117
why do animals not require vitamin C in their diets?
capable of of producing adequate levels of endogenous vitamin C
118
what factors can affect vitamin requirements?
growth
reproduction
anorexia
renal failure
119
what are minerals?
inorganic elements that are essential for the body's metabolic processes
120
how many minerals are essential?
more than 18
121
what are macro-minerals?
those needed in large amounts
122
what are micro-minerals?
those needed in smaller amounts
123
what are micro-minerals also known as?
trace elements
124
give 8 macro-minerals
calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, iron and sulphur
125
give 6 micro-minerals
cobalt, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine and selenium
126
what are the general functions of minerals?
cell function
nerve function
muscle contraction
127
what does iron assist with?
within haemoglobin carries oxygen around the body
128
why can excess of one mineral cause deficiency in another?
absorption of minerals is linked together
129
when is the linking of mineral absorption important to remember?
when clients are feeding pets a variety of mineral supplements
130
what is a good source of phosphorus?
muscle meat
131
what is a good source of calcium?
milk
132
what is a good source of micro-minerals?
vegetables
133
what is a good source of iron and other macro-nutrients?
meat and liver
134
what are calcium and phosphorus used for in the body?
skeleton and teeth
135
what are calcium and phosphorus levels controlled by?
complicated reactions
parathyroid hormone
calcitonin
vitamin D
136
what is the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus for growth?
1:1
137
what effect does excess of calcium and phosphorus have?
```
skeletal abnormalities (especially where over supplementation has occurred)
e.g. OCD, canine hip dysplasia
```
138
what effect does deficiency of calcium and phosphorus have on queens/bitches?
eclampsia
139
what is magnesium required for?
normal function of heart and skeletal muscle
140
where is magnesium found?
bone, grains, fibre
141
what does magnesium deficiency cause?
muscle weakness
142
what can magnesium excess cause?
FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) and formation of struvite uroliths
143
where are sodium and chloride found in the body?
as electrolytes in body water
144
what is the role of sodium and chloride?
regulate other body fluids
145
where are sodium and chloride found within food?
fish and eggs
146
when does sodium and chloride deficiency occur?
in excessive fluid loss (e.g. vomiting or diarrhoea)
147
what does sodium and chloride excess cause?
animal to take in more fluid than normal and results in oedema, hypertension and heart/kidney problems
148
where is potassium found?
readily in cells throughout the body
149
what is the role of potassium in the body?
maintains acid base balance, aids transfer of nerve impulses, aids muscle contraction
150
where is potassium found in food?
soya, rice, bran, grains, wheat
151
what is potassium deficiency known as?
hypokalaemia
152
what does potassium deficiency cause?
anorexia, lethargy, muscle weakness
153
what is potassium excess known as?
hyperkalaemia
154
when does potassium excess occur?
when potassium excretion is impaired (e.g. during FLUTD)
155
what does hyperkalaemia lead to?
bradycardia
156
what is the role of iron in the body?
haemoglobin and myoglobin
157
what does iron deficiency arise from?
chronic blood loss
158
what does iron deficiency from chronic blood loss lead to?
anaemia and fatigue
159
when is iron deficiency possible in kittens or puppies?
if they are fed only milk for a prolonged period
160
what is copper important for?
formation of RBC and pigmentation of hair and skin
161
what does copper deficiency cause?
poor reproductive performance
hair depigmentation
early foetal loss
162
what does breed predisposition to inherited copper toxicity cause?
liver cirrhosis
163
what is zinc necessary for?
healthy skin and coat
164
what does zinc deficiency cause?
sparse hair and poor coat
165
in what species is manganese essential?
birds
166
what is manganese essential for in birds?
enzyme function and metabolic processes
167
where is manganese found in food?
fibre and fish meal
168
what is iodine a major constituent of?
thyroid hormones
169
what is iodine involved with?
```
vital to thyroid hormone production
thermoregulation
reproduction
growth
metabolism
```
170
what foods are rich in iodine?
fish eggs and poultry
171
what vitamin does selenium function in conjunction with?
vitamin E
172
is selenium deficiency common in small mammals?
not often reported
173
why may nutrient and energy levels vary between animals?
depends on life stage or disease process that the animal may have
174
what are the 4 life stages of animals that require different nutritional needs?
puppies/kittens
adult
pregnancy and lactation
senior
175
how many meals should puppies/kittens be fed a day?
3-4 meals until they are 6 months old
176
what are the nutritional needs of puppies and kittens?
highly digestible and nutrient dense foods
| fed to support a lean body condition
177
what care should be taken when feeding large breeds?
reduce the calcium intake
178
in what ratio should calcium and phosphorus be fed to growing puppies/kittens?
1:1
179
what should be avoided when feeding all animals?
overfeeding
180
what should not be added to a complete/balanced diet?
and extra nutrients
181
how many meals a day should be fed to adults?
1-2 a day
182
what are the nutritional needs of adult animals?
highly digestible and nutrient dense
| feed to support lean body condition
183
what number on the body condition score is ideal?
4 or 5
184
describe 4 on the body condition score
ribs easily palpable with minimal fat covering. waist easily noted, viewed from above. Abdominal tuck evident
185
describe 5 on the body condition score
ribs palpable without excess fat covering. waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above. Abdominal tucked up when viewed from the side
186
when should feeding be increased in pregnancy?
after the 5th week
187
what sort of food should be fed to pregnant and lactating dams?
highly digestible and energy dense
188
how should pregnant dams be fed?
little and often
189
how much should feed during pregnancy increase above RER?
1.5 times RER
190
how much should feed during lactation increase above RER?
2-3 times RER
191
when should feeds be reduced during lactation?
after 4 weeks
192
what are the extra nutritional requirements of senior animals?
high quality protein
diet specially formulated for geriatrics
when necessary provide a therapeutic diet to manage or treat disease
193
what are the types of food available in commercial diets?
canned foods
dry foods
semi-moist foods
194
what is the water content of canned foods?
68-80% water
195
what is the water content of dry foods?
6-10% water
196
what is the water content of semi-moist foods?
24-40% water
197
which are the most energy rich and therefore cost effective food?
dry foods
198
what is a disadvantage of a raw diet?
no evidence that is is preferable to commercial cooked diets, there is high risk of illness of both animal and humans in the household due to the bacteria present in raw meat
199
what are the ingredients that are often included in homemade diets?
meat, offal, fish, eggs, milk, cereals and vegetables
200
why is cooking always advised?
to kill bacteria and parasites
201
why do owners need to be wary of overcooking?
it destroys the nutrients in the food
202
why is homemade food often nutritionally unbalanced?
as owner can't calculate the correct ratio of nutrients needed
203
when is energy balance achieved?
when expenditure matches intake
204
what is resting energy requirement defined as?
the amount of energy expended when sitting quietly in a comfortable environment
205
what does RER not consider?
work or exercise
206
what is the best RER formula for dogs from 5-40kg?
RER=30 x BWT + 70
207
what is the RER formula suitable for animals of any bodyweight?
70 x (BWT)to the power 0.75
208
what is the formula RER = 60 x BWT used for?
animals under 5kg or over 40kg in weight
209
why should RER be recalculated daily in the hospitalised patient?
to take weight change into account
210
how can the quantity of food in grams to be fed be calculated using RER?
RER should be divided by kcal/gram of the chosen food
