Small Animal and Exotic Nutrition

Nutritional Terminology

• Nutrition– Process of animals receiving a proper and

balanced food and water ration so it can:• Grow• Maintain • Reproduce • Perform

Nutritional Terminology

• Nutrient– Substance or part of feedstuff that is

necessary for an organism to live and grow– Also known as a single group of foods of the

same general chemical composition

6 Basic Nutrients

• Water• Proteins• Carbohydrates• Fats and Oils• Vitamins • Minerals

6 Basic Nutrients

• Water– Most important nutrient– Makes up 55-65% of the animal’s body

6 Basic Nutrients

• Water– Functions:

• Dissolves and transports nutrients

• Aids in digestion• Carries waste from the

body• Regulates body

temperature• Supports respiration

6 Basic Nutrients

• Water– Deficiency Symptoms:

• Slow growth• Overheating• Decreased body functions

6 Basic Nutrients

• Proteins– Complex nutrients composed of carbon,

hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen• Animal• Plant

6 Basic Nutrients

• Proteins– Functions:

• Develop and repair body organs and tissues– Muscles, nerves, skin, hair/fur and feathers

• Reproduction– Fetal development– DNA Transmission

6 Basic Nutrients

• Proteins– Deficiency Symptoms:

• Slow growth• Decreased organ and tissue repair• Anorexia• Anemia• Low birth weight• Low milk production

6 Basic Nutrients

• Carbohydrates– Complex nutrients made up of chemical

elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen• Sugars• Starches• Fiber

6 Basic Nutrients

• Carbohydrates– Functions:

• Covert into energy• Support body functions• Store fat• Produce heat

6 Basic Nutrients

• Carbohydrates– Deficiency Symptoms:

• Slow growth• Lack of energy• Decreased body functions• Loss of body heat

6 Basic Nutrients

• Fats and Oils– Contain the same chemical elements of

carbon, hydrogen and oxygen as carbohydrates but in different combinations

6 Basic Nutrients

• Fats and Oils– Functions:

• Provide energy– 2.25 times more energy than equal amounts of carbs

and proteins• Transports fat-soluble vitamins• Provides essential fatty acids

6 Basic Nutrients

• Fats and Oils– Deficiency Symptoms:

• Slow growth• Lack of energy• Decreased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins

6 Basic Nutrients

• Vitamins– Organic substances designated by the letters:

• A, B, C, D, E and K– Needed in very small amounts

6 Basic Nutrients

• Vitamins– Functions:

• Maintain body biochemical reactions• Regulate:

– Digestion– Absorption– Metabolism

6 Basic Nutrients

• Vitamins– Deficiency Symptoms:

• Slow growth• Decreased body functions

6 Basic Nutrients

• Minerals– Inorganic substances divided into two groups:

• Macro minerals– 7 major minerals needed in largest quantity

• Micro minerals– 9 trace minerals that are only needed in small amounts

6 Basic Nutrients

• Minerals– Functions:

• Build bones and teeth• Produce enzymes and hormones

6 Basic Nutrients

• Minerals– Deficiency Symptoms:

• Slow growth• Decreased reproduction• Decreased milk production• Decreased product production:

– Meat– Milk– Eggs– Wool

Feeding Program Terminology

• Diet– Feed and water that an

animal receives• Amount and type based

on:– What the animal needs at

time– Type and quantity of

nutrients contained in feed

– Must be palatable• Diet is digestible and

appeals to the animal

Feeding Program Terminology

• Feed Classification– Roughages or Forages

• Made up of leaves and the plants tender stems

Feeding Program Terminology

• Feed Classification– Concentrates

• High energy– Corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, rye, and oats

• High protein– Soybean oil meal, cottonseed oil meal and sunflower

meals

Feeding Program Terminology

• Feed Classification– Supplements

• Contains a specific nutrient– Vitamins and Minerals

Feeding Program Terminology

• Ration– Feed that contains the right amount and

proportion of nutrients for the animal• Growth• Maintenance• Work and Activity• Reproduction• Lactation

Feeding Program Terminology

• Ration– Growth

• High in energy and protein – Increases the animal’s body size

– Maintenance• High in carbohydrates and fats

– Keep animal constant with no gain or loss of weight

– Work and Activity• Increased carbohydrates and fats

– Extra energy needed to perform

Feeding Program Terminology

• Ration– Reproduction

• Largest amount of protein, minerals, and vitamins of any ration

– Improve conception rates and breeding ability for males and females

– Important for producing live, healthy offspring that have a good birth weight

– Lactation• High in protein, calcium, and phosphorus

– Same nutrients contained in the milk

Specific Diets

• Dogs– Adults

• Commercial feed best– Puppies

• Need higher protein than adult dogs– Food intake is regulated by activity

• Cats– Need twice as much protein as dogs– 10% of their diet should be fat

Specific Diets

• Rabbits– Commercial pelleted feed best– Avoid too much leafy green vegetables

• Gerbils– Commercial feed– Need little green food in diet

• Rats– Can have dog food substituted

Specific Diets

• Ferrets– Can eat high quality cat food

• Mice– Will not overeat

• Guinea Pigs– Need solid food to dull their teeth – Vitamin C

Specific Diets

• Snakes– Mice– Can eat canned dog/cat food

• Turtles– Pieces of liver– Strawberries and other fruits

• Amphibians– Earthworms and insects

Specific Diets

• Lizards– Insects

• Birds– Most birds prefer a diet of seeds

• Cereal and oil seeds– Fruit and nectar birds

• Oranges, grapes and apple slices

Specific Diets

• Fish– Diet is affected by water temperature, kind of fish and

life stage• Eat more when the water temperature is higher

– Variety of foods • Prevent boredom

– Larger fish• Shrimp, krill, and plankton

– Smaller fish• Flakes

– Feed amount they can eat in a few minutes to avoid contaminating water