Pet NutritionSmall Animal ManagementMs. Boyt

What is Nutrition?

Refers to the animal receiving a proper & balanced food and water ration so that it can grow, maintain itsbody, reproduce, and supply or produce the things we expect from it

Essential Nutrients

WaterProteinCarbohydratesFatsVitaminsMinerals

Water

In EVERY cell of the bodySupport the body’s biochemical

reactions Transport other nutrientsAid in body temperature

maintenanceHelp give the body its formCarry waste from the body

Importance of Water

Most important nutrient Loss impedes circulation, results in

dehydration, slows body functions Carries medications for disease control

Makes up about 55 to 65 percent of an animal’s body

Protein

Develop and repair body organs and tissues

Produce milk, wool, and eggs Develop the fetus Serve as building material for enzymes

and hormones Develop antibodies Transmit DNA

Importance of Proteins Broken into amino acids during digestion

Animals must consume essential amino acids Ruminants can create all amino acids

Amino acids contribute to animals’ health 25 amino acids are found in animals feeds

Of these, 10 or 11 are considered essential and the others are nonessential

Essential are those that can’t be produced by the animal’s body & must be supplied in ration (feed)

Function and growth determine animals’ amino acid needs

CarbohydratesSupport bodily functionsProduce heat to warm the bodyStore fat

Importance of Carbohydrates Converted by animals into energy Made of sugars, starches, and crude

fiber Completely digested sugars and starches

are nitrogen-free extracts Crude fiber is mostly non-digestible bulk

or roughageLarge amounts of crude fiber better

handled by some animals (ruminants)

FatsProvide energyAid in absorption of fat-soluble

vitaminsProvide fatty acids

Importance of Fats

Contain 2.25 times as much energy as equivalent amount of carbohydrates and proteins

Essential in the diet, though at less than 3 percent

Vitamins Regulate digestion, absorption,

and metabolismDevelop normal vision, bone, and

external body coveringsRegulate body glandsForm new cellsFight disease and strengthens

immune systemDevelop and maintain nervous

system

Importance of Vitamins Classified on the basis of their solubility

Fat or Water Soluble Fat Soluble

Vitamins A, D, E, and K Water Soluble

Vitamin C and B-complex

Minerals Inorganic elements that are essential to

life’s processesMost agree 7 minerals are required in

the largest amounts—Macrominerals Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium,

Sulfur, Chlorine, & Magnesium8 are needed in lesser or trace

amounts—Microminerals Iron, Iodine, Copper, Cobalt, Manganese,

Zinc, Molybdenum, & Selenium