Nutrition and Digestion

Companion Animals

Chapter 6

Nutrition

• Intake of a properly balanced diet so animals will grow, maintain, reproduce and supply or produce. • Work• Egg, Milk, Meat Production• Offspring (purebreds) • Fur, Pelts• Championship

Nutrient

• Single food group with the same general chemical composition that supports life

• Body does not function without proper amounts- pets will suffer without proper diet!

• Basic Nutrients1. Water2. Carbohydrates3. Fats4. Proteins5. Minerals6. Vitamins

Water

• Contained in every cell in the body!

• 55-65% of animal body is made up of water

• 90% of blood is water

• 72-78% of muscle is water

Water

• Necessary for: • Biochemical reactions in the body

• Respiration, digestion etc.

• Transport of other nutrients

• Maintains body temperature

• Give body form/shape

• Carry waste from body

What happens if water is lost?

• Loss of water from blood• Failure of proper circulation• Decrease Oxygen carrying capacity• Tissues become dehydrated• Body becomes overheated• Basically:

• Cells are starved of oxygen• Slows regular body functions• Resistance to disease decreases

How is water absorbed?

• Water is absorbed through the walls of the stomach• Helps medicine absorption to the bloodstream

• Bacteria that can cause disease or illness

Proteins

• Composed of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen

• Protein in feeds are broken down into amino acids during digestion• AA are then transported by blood to the rest of

the body

Protein

• Necessary for: • Repair and development of body organs and

tissues, muscles, nerves, skin, hair, hooves, and feathers

• Production of milk, meat, eggs

• Development of fetus

• Generation of hormones

• Development of antibodies (defense)

Amino Acids

• Building blocks of protein

• 25 types found in feeds- 2 categories• Essential

• Cannot be produced by body, must be supplied – 10-11 AA

• Nonessential• Not needed in diet- body can manufacture

• Animals require various amounts of AA depending on life stage

Carbohydrates

• Contain C, H, O

• Necessary for: • Bodily functions

• Breathing, digestion, exercise

• Production of heat to warm body

• Storage of energy

• Made up of sugars, starches and fiber

Fats

• Made up of CHO- in different combinations• Contain 2.25 times as much energy as the

same amount of CHO or protein• Necessary for:

• Energy• Absorption of fat-soluble vitamins• Source of fatty acids- essential in animal diets

• Most animals require less than 3% in diet

Vitamins!

• Organic substances required in very small amounts

Vitamins!

• Necessary for: • Regulation of digestion, absorption and metabolism

• Development of normal vision, bone, external coverings (hair, feathers)

• Regulation of body glands

• Formation of new cells

• Protection against disease

• Development of nervous systems

Classification of Vitamins

• Based on solubility• Fat-soluble

• Can be stored and accumulated in the liver or other fatty tissue

• A, D, E, & K

• Water- soluble• Limited amounts can be stored anywhere in the

body

• C, B1, B2, Niacin, Folic Acid

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin A• Prevents poor vision

• Carotene converts to

• Vitamin D• “Sun vita”

• Aids in Ca and P absorption

• Dairy products

• Vitamin E• “Reproduction Vita”• Prevents abortions,

miscarriages, and low fertility

• Required in many animals for proper gestation and sterility

• Vitamin K• Blood coagulation!!

Water Soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin C• Naturally produced in

digestive system

• Monkeys and Guinea pigs need extra to prevent scurvy

• Vitamin B1 “Thiamin”• Decrease appetite, weak

muscles, paralysis

• Source- whole grains

• Vitamin B2 “Riboflavin” • Poor hatchability,

crippled young, eye problems in rabbits

• Sources: Quality hay, green forages

Water Soluble Vitamins

• Niacin• Digestive disorders and

stunted growth

• Supplementation sometimes required

• Folic Acid• “pregnancy”

• Required for normal cell development

• Most formulated feeds good source

Minerals

• Essential to support the animal, but do not contribute to tissue development

• Main function • Build skeleton • Produce enzymes and hormones

• Classification of minerals• Macro-mineral• Micro-mineral

Minerals

• Macro-mineral• Needed in the largest

quantity

• Most likely to be lacking in diet

• Generally must be added

• Examples• Calcium

• Phosphorus

• Potassium

• Salt (Sodium/chloride)

• Micro-mineral• Needed in trace

amounts and can be found in diet

• Examples• Selenium• Iron• Cobalt• Iodine• Zinc• Manganese