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