1. Nutritional Diseases 4-H Veterinary Science Extension Veterinary Medicine Texas AgriLife Extension Service College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Texas A&M System http://aevm.tamu.edu

2. Objectives Discuss the importance of water in the animal diet Discuss the need for energy in the animal diet Discuss the importance of minerals in animal diets Discuss the importance of vitamins in animal diets Describe the signs of protein deficiency Describe the signs of a phosphorus deficiency Describe the signs and causes of grass tetany Describe the signs and causes of milk fever Describe the signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies Give examples of nutritional diseases in cats, cattle and horses Discuss conditions that create increased nutritional needs

3. Nutrition is important Health maintenance Energy Affects all animals If improper nutrition Recognize changes Appearance Behavior Identify cause Correct problem

4. Diet The usual food and drink of a person or animal Nutrient A source of nourishment

5. Diets are comprised of nutrients Proteins Carbohydrates Fats Minerals Vitamins Water Depends on Animal Activity

6. Add Additional Nutrients Cold weather Parasite infestations Reduced appetite Chronic disease Pregnancy or milk production

7. Undernourished animals Improperly fed Symptoms Changes in body weight Low Thin appearance Hair coat Dull and rough Activity Weak and depressed

8. Requirements for Proper Nutrition Water Energy Minerals Vitamins

9. Water Essential 60% makeup Continually lost Constantly replenish Maintain homeostasis 60% balance

10. Water requirements Digestive process Ruminants Physiological development Milk production Diet Supplements

11. Problems Dehydration Excessive loss of water from the body or from an organ or body part, as from illness or fluid deprivation Due to  Diarrhea  Kidney diseases  Sick  Refusal to drink

12. Solution Re-hydration IV fluids Stomach tube

13. Energy Function Growth Body movement Found in Proteins Carbohydrates Fats

14. How supplies Metabolic breakdown of diet Fat deposits Normal conditions Roughage (producers) Good quality

15. Working animals Supplement Protein Careful with overfeeding protein to pregnant animals

16. Minerals Definition Any of the inorganic elements, as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, or sodium, that are essential to the functioning of the human body and are obtained from foods

17. Some minerals Calcium Bone structure Cell performance  Muscle contraction  Blood clotting Phosphorus Organ structure Nutrient transport Energy utilization

18. Iron Necessary for the transport of oxygen (via hemoglobin in red blood cells) and for oxidation by cells (via cytochrome) Anemia Copper Magnesium Muscle cramps Constipation

19. Potassium Critical for the normal functioning of the muscles, heart, and nerves Controlling activity  Smooth muscle (digestive tract)  Skeletal muscle  Cardiac muscle  Transmission of electrical signals throughout the nervous system

21. Normal conditions Good pastures Fertilized Problems Drought Non-fertilized fields Correct Supplements

22. Dogs and cats Commercial foods balanced All meat diets Need supplementation

23. Vitamins Function Proper cell function Source Body produces Supplements

24. Found in roughage Vitamins A,D and E Produced by Ruminants Vitamins  B  C  K Skin – sunlight exposure Vitamin D Vitamin D deficiency (rickets)

25. Examples of Nutritional Diseases and Disorders Protein Deficiency Without enough protein Problem Underweight Weak Symptoms Swelling under  Throat  Brisket area  Underline Fluid balance is upset

26. Phosphorus Deficiency Good pastures and feeds ok Problems with unfertilized pastures Symptoms Unthrifty Lame Stiff Pica  Compulsive eating of non-nutritive substances

27. Grass tetany Aka Grass Staggers Magnesium deficiency Problem Grazing lush grass Low Mg, High K, N  Interferes with absorption in digestive tract

28. Symptoms Excitability Inability to stand Stiff muscle convulsions Death Treatment Mg injection Prevention Have supplements available

29. Milk Fever Low blood calcium Hypocalcemia Symptoms Loss of appetite Depression Muscle tremors Grinding teeth Muscular paralysis  Lies on sternum  Head to side Possible death

30. Treatment Calcium injection Also occurs in dogs and horses Trembling Panting Nervousness Convulsions Death

31. Vitamin A deficiency Source Commercial feeds Green pasture Good hay Problems Skin and eye problems Abortions Retained placentas Weak newborns Night blindness Correction Supplement Good quality hay

32. Secondary Hyperparathyroidism High phosphorus, low calcium diets Affects Livestock on high-bran diets  No supplements or hay Pets  All meat diets  No supplements

33. Symptoms Horses  Bones thicken  Head  Face Pets  Bones  Weak  Flexible

34. Taurine deficiency Cats Amino acid Symptoms Eye problems  Blindness Weakening heart muscle Problem Cats eating dog food

35. Bloat in Cattle Rumen produces gases Cattle eructate (belch) Types Frothy bloat Free-gas bloat Problem Can’t belch

36. Treatment Passing tube Abdominal wall puncture Drugs

37. Colic in Horses Intestinal problem Occurs when Change in diet Intestinal disease Lodged material

38. Symptoms Obvious pain Rolling Kicking Profuse sweating Treatment Laxatives Walking Surgery

39. Founder (laminitis) Problem Improper feeding Overfeeding of grain Bacterial toxins Affects hoof wall Causes Hoof  Inflammation  Pain  Lameness Depression Loss of appetite Slow, painful walk

40. Treatment Horses  Laxatives Cattle  Flush feed from rumen  Large stomach tube  Surgery