Nutritional Disorders

• Nutritional disorders are diseases that occur when the dietary intake does not contain the right amount of nutrients for healthy functioning, or when the nutrients cannot be correctly absorbed from food
• What are nutrients required for?


  Maintenance, growth, development, production, reproduction
• What are the 7 nutrients?


  Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water, fibre
• What are some nutritional disorders?

  Anorexia, obesity, protein deficiency, constipation, diabetes, urolithiasis, laminitis, equine metabolic syndrome
• What minerals or vitamins can be deficiencies or in excess?


  Calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin K, zinc, chromium
• What causes anorexia?


  Decreased appetite and food intake, pain while eating, stress, changes in routine, environment or diet, ageing, cardiac failure
• What are the signs of anorexia?


  Visibly thin, fever, pale, changes in organs and eyes
• What are the two ways to treat anorexia?


  Eliminating the problem that was causing it and supporting the animal through the illness
• What are some ways to treat anorexia by eliminating the cause?


  Antibiotics to eliminate bacterial infection, surgically removing foreign object that was blocking intestine, treating dental disease that made chewing painful
• What are some ways to support an animal through anorexia?


  Fluid therapy, hand feeding, appetite stimulating drugs
• What are causes of obesity?


  Age, breed, neuter status, sex, owner, eating too much, not exercising enough, some diseases
• What are the signs of obesity?


  Visibly overweight, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory distress, high blood pressure, cancers
• What is treatment for obesity?


  Lower daily calorific intake, changing food, increasing fibre or water, increase exercise activity