Amino Acids Resources Lecture: 2009, Dr. Sylvia Kehoe, UW—River Falls Textbook: The Veterinary Technician’s Pocket Partner, Marisa BauerResources Walter J. Taylor Agricultural Educator and Co-FFA Advisor Plymouth Comprehensive High School

Learning Targets Name the amino acids needed by animals Describe the purposes of various amino acids on an animal’s body

Amino Acids The list is for dogs and cats – Arginine – Histidine – Isolucine – Leucine – Lycine – Methionine – Phenylalenine – Threonin – Tryptohan – Valine – Taurine

Arginine Purpose: – Needed to form metabolic hormones – Removal of waste nitrogen form proteins broken down for energy

Histidine Purpose: – Vital to tissue growth – Important in the production of RBCs and WBCs – Important in muscle structure – *kittens need more to prevent cataracts

Isoleucine Purpose: – Helps regulate metabolism – Required to optimize growth – Branch chained with leucine and valine

Leucine Purpose: – Helps regulate metabolism – Required to optimize growth – Branch chained with isoleucine and valine

Lycine Purpose: – Helps inhibit viruses – Needed for growth in young dogs and cats – Low levels can slow down protein synthesis, affecting muscle and connective tissues – Also needed by swine

Methionine Purpose: – Needed for growth – Removes poisonous waste from liver – Assists in the regeneration of liver and kidney tissue – TOXICITY Anorexia Growth depression Skin lesions

Phenylalanine Purpose: – Enhances learning, memory, and alertness – A major element in the production of collagen – Important in the maintenance of: Skin Muscle Hair tissue

Threonine Purpose: – Prevents fatty buildup in the liver – Important in growth and maintenance – Another important component of collagen

Tryptophan Purpose: – Helps in body metabolism, growth, and maintenance – Stimulates serotonin Serotonin is a brain chemical that has a calming effect on the body

Valine Purpose: – Helps regulate metabolism – Required to optimize growth – Branch chained leucine and isoleucine

Taurine Purpose: – Cats lack the enzyme for chemical reactions that create taurine – Sources: red meat, poultry, fish – DEFICIENCY Retinal damage Reproductive abnormalities Heart disease (most common)