Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM-VMED 2- 2ND SEM 2020-2021

College: Veterinary Medicine

Campus: Bayombong

DEGREE PROGRAM DVM COURSE NO. VMED 2

SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE Canine Medicine
YEAR LEVEL 5th year TIME FRAME WK NO. 1 IM NO. 2

I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE

PREVENTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM

II. LESSON TITLE

NUTRITION

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

A well-balanced diet is critical to the overall growth and development of a dog. A dog belongs to
order Carnivora and members of this group vary in their dietary needs. Some members would
absolutely require meat in their diet (true carnivore), other may eat plants (herbivore) while others
may consume a combination of meat and plants (omnivores). Dogs have adapted to omnivorous
diet, eating both plant and animal food source to meet its nutritional needs. A balanced diet is
composed of a mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, mineral and water.

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

 Determine the needed nutrient requirement for the different life stages of a dog
 Know the recommended daily food allowance of a dog
 Know the different human foods that are toxic to dog
 Recognize the different signs of nutrient deficiency and toxicity

V. LESSON CONTENT

General Feeding Guidelines

Instances where nutritional problems occurs in dogs and cats:

■ Dogs fed with homemade imbalance diet
■ Dogs fed with human foods
■ Feeding dogs with diet formulated for cats
■ Feeding dogs from a single food item
- meat or rice
- liver

Things to remember when feeding dog with human food:

■ Raisins and grapes contain an unknown substance that is toxic to dogs and can cause kidney
damage.
■ Chocolate contains theobromine and much smaller amounts of caffeine, both of which are
methylxanthines. Dogs metabolize theobromine slowly than human.
■ Macadamia nuts can be toxic to dogs. The mechanism of toxicity is unknown.
■ Onions and garlic contain thiosulfate, which can cause oxidative damage to RBCs and result
in anemia. Onions are more toxic than garlic.
■ Guatemalan avocados contain persin, which can possibly cause dyspnea, pulmonary edema,
and pleural and pericardial effusion in goats and possibly in dogs.
■ Food high in fat, such as chicken skin, can result in some dogs developing pancreatitis.
■ Broccoli toxicity has been reported to occur in dairy cattle, but it is a poorly documented
problem in dogs (and cats).
In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be
reproduced for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.
NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 1 of 7
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM-VMED 2- 2ND SEM 2020-2021

■ Foods containing xylitol can cause liver damage in dogs.

■ Raw egg white contains avidin, an anti-vitamin that interferes with the metabolism of fats,
glucose and amino acids
■ Raw meat products may contain pathogens

ENERGY
- Measured in terms of calories or joules, energy comes from three major dietary components:
carbohydrates, protein and fats
o The caloric content of pet foods is usually expressed in kilocalories (kcal), which is
1000 cal.
 Metabolized Energy (ME)
o portion of the total energy of a diet that is retained within the body
o usually expressed in kilocalories (kcal), which is 1,000 calories or can also be
expressed in joules

Factors that determine the energy needs of the animal:

■ Breed differences independent of the body size
■ Neutering status
■ Activity level
■ Life stage
■ Percent lean body mass
■ Age
■ Environmental temperature
■ Any underlying abnormalities
 Any underlying abnormalities

How to calculate caloric requirement for dogs and cats?

■ Resting Energy Requirement (RER)
- energy requirement for a healthy but fed animal, at rest in a thermoneutral environment
- includes energy expended for recovery from physical activity and feeding.
- Exponential formula (RER = 70 [body wt in kg0.75])
o can be used for animals of any body weight
- Linear formula (RER = 30 × [body wt in kg] + 70)
o restricted for use in animals that weigh >2 kg and <45 kg.
■ Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER)
- energy requirement of a moderately active animal in a thermoneutral environment.
- It includes energy needed to acquire, digest, and absorb food in amounts to maintain body
weight, as well as energy for spontaneous activity.

Daily Maintenance Energy Requirement for Dog

Animal MER (kcal/day)
Intact 1.8 x RERb
Neutered 1.6 x RER
Obese prone 1.4 x RER
Healthy puppies < 4 months old 3 x RER
Healthy puppies > 4 months old 2 x RER
Note: RER: Resting Energy Requirement

Energy needs of growing puppies

 Need about twice as many calories per pound of body weight as an adult dog of the same
breed
Energy needs of older dogs
 Older dogs need 20% fewer calories than do middle-aged adult dogs due to their decreased
physical activity
Energy needs of lactating dogs
 The need for calories increases with the number of puppies and the week of lactation, up to 4
weeks

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be
reproduced for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.
NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 2 of 7
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM-VMED 2- 2ND SEM 2020-2021

ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS:
1. Water
- Most important nutrient; dog should have a free access to fresh clean water
- Factors that can affect water intake of the animal:
o Animal’s diet
o Environment
o Level of Activity
o Health status
 Dogs consuming mainly canned food generally drinks less water than those consuming
predominantly dry diets since:
o Moisture content of canned pet foods varies from 60->87%
o Moisture content of dry pet foods is approximately 3-11%
o Moisture content of semimoist food is 25-35%
 Most mammals need 44-66ml/kg BW of water in thermoneutral environment

2. Protein
- primary source of essential amino acids and nitrogen for the synthesis of nonessential amino
acids.
- Dog’s body makes only 13 of the 23 amino acids that are the building blocks of protein, the
remaining should be provided in the diet
o arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine,
tryptophan, and valine.
- Other nonessential amino acids may become conditionally essential when an animal has an
underlying disorder that either interferes with synthesis of the amino acid or results in its
excessive consumption or loss.
- Protein can be obtained from animal-based meats such as chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish
and eggs and in vegetables, cereals and soy.
o Most commercial dog foods contain a combination of plant- and animal-based
proteins, with protein digestibilities of 75%–90%. Digestibility is less for plant protein
ingredients, protein of poor biologic value, and for poor-quality diets.
o Biologic value is related to the number and types of essential amino acids it contains
and to its digestibility and metabolizability.
- The higher the biologic value of a protein, the less protein is needed in the diet to supply the
essential amino acid requirements.
- Protein requirements of dogs vary with:
o age, activity level, temperament, life stage, health status, and protein quality of the
diet.
- Protein requirement (minimum)
o Adult dogs: 2.62 g per kg metabolic body wt/day OR
 18% protein as dry matter or ~20 g protein/1,000 kcal of ME required
o Puppies 4–14 wk old: 9.7 g per /kg metabolic body wt/day OR
 22% protein as dry matter or 45 g protein/1,000 kcal ME
o Puppies >14 wk old: 12.5 g per kg metabolic body wt/day OR
 35 g protein/1,000 kcal ME

Signs of protein deficiency or an improper protein:calorie ratio may include any or all of the
following:
- reduced growth rates
- anemia
- weight loss
- skeletal muscle atrophy
- dull unkempt hair coat
- anorexia
- reproductive problems
- persistent unresponsive parasitism or low-grade microbial infection,
- impaired protection via vaccination,
- rapid weight loss after injury or during disease
- failure to respond properly to treatment of injury or disease.

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be
reproduced for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.
NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 3 of 7
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM-VMED 2- 2ND SEM 2020-2021

3. Fats
- Most concentrated source of energy, yielding ~2.25 times the ME (as an equal dry-weight
portion) of soluble carbohydrate or protein.
- An essential nutrient that the body needs to function properly- provide energy, absorb certain
vitamins and minerals, help maintain body temperature and insulate the body’s vital organ
o Dietary fats facilitate the absorption, storage, and transport of the fat-soluble vitamins
(A, D, E, and K).
o A source of essential fatty acids (EFA), which maintain functional integrity of cell
membranes and are precursors of prostaglandins and leukotrienes.
- Dietary fat consists mainly of triglyceride with varying amounts of free fatty acids and glycerol.
- Saturated fatty acids are used primarily for energy in the body, whereas unsaturated fatty
acids are found in cell membranes and blood lipoproteins.
- Essential fatty acids are long-chain fatty acids that cannot be synthesized in the body; most
fatty acids consumed in the diet are long-chain fatty acids. Most nutrients consumed are
digested and absorbed in the small intestines, where they then enter the blood supply via the
portal vein and are delivered to the liver. When long-chain fatty acids are consumed, they are
digested and absorbed into the small-intestinal epithelial cells; however, they are not
transported directly into the blood supply but rather enter the lymphatics first. Most studies
suggest that medium-chain fatty acids do not require initial transport in the lymphatics and
instead can be absorbed from the intestines directly into the blood supply via the portal vein.
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)
o fatty acids that contain more than one double bond
o designated as either omega-3, omega-6, or omega-9 fatty acids
- As the fat content of a diet increases, so does the caloric density and palatability, which
promotes excess calorie consumption and obesity.
- Most commercial adult dog foods usually contain 5%–15% fat (dry-matter basis) while puppy
diets usually contain 8%–20% fat (dry-matter basis)

Minimum dietary fat requirement:

■ Growing puppies: 8% fat as dry matter or 5.9 g of fat per kg metabolic body wt/day or 21.3 g
fat/1,000 kcal ME
■ Adult dogs: 5% fat as dry matter or 1.3 g of fat per kg metabolic body wt/day or 10 g fat/1,000
kcal ME
Recommended dietary intake for dogs:
■ α-linolenic acid:
Puppies: 0.8 g/kg diet of α-linoleic acid when linoleic acid is 13 g/kg diet (dry-matter basis)
Adults: 0.44 g/kg diet of α-linoleic acid when linoleic acid is 11 g/kg diet (dry-matter basis)
■ Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
essential for normal neurologic growth and development
■ Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
beneficial in the diet for treatment of certain skin, renal, and GI conditions, as well as cancer,
arthritis, and hyperlipidemia.
* DHA and EPA: 0.13 g/1,000 kcal ME for puppies and 0.11 g/1,000 kcal ME for adult dogs.

Signs of EFA deficiencies:

- dry, scaly, lusterless coat
- Inactivity
- reproductive disorders such as anestrus, testicular underdevelopment, or lack of libido.

4. Carbohydrates and crude fiber:

- Carbohydrates in pet foods include low- and high-molecular-weight sugars, starches, and
various cell wall and storage nonstarch polysaccharides or dietary fibers.
■ Four carbohydrate groups:
■ absorbable (eg, monosaccharides such as glucose, galactose, and fructose)
■ digestible (eg, disaccharides, some oligosaccharides)
■ fermentable (eg, lactose, some oligosaccharides)
■ poorly fermentable (eg, fibers such as cellulose)

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be
reproduced for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.
NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 4 of 7
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM-VMED 2- 2ND SEM 2020-2021

■ There is no minimum dietary requirement for simple carbohydrates or starches for

dogs
- Fiber- the edible parts of plants or analogous carbohydrates that are resistant to digestion and
absorption in the small intestine and have complete or partial fermentation in the large
intestine.
■ There is no dietary requirement for fiber in dogs.
■ Health benefits of having certain fiber sources in the diet.
■ increase fecal output,
■ normalize transit time,
■ alter colonic microflora and fermentation patterns,
■ alter glucose absorption and insulin kinetics,
■ at high levels, can depress diet digestibility.

5. Vitamins
- Vitamin C- synthesize by the dog in their liver.
■ Supplementation is beneficial since Vitamin C functions as a free radical scavenger
and an antioxidant,
- Vitamin K- synthesize by their intestinal microflora
■ Vitamin K deficiency may occur if the intestinal microflora is altered such as during
antibiotic therapy
■ Recommendation: 0.33 mg/1,000 kcal ME in puppies, 0.45 mg/1,000 kcal ME
in adult dogs
- Vitamin B12- only water-soluble vitamin stored in the liver of dog with a 2-5 year depot
- Fat-soluble vitamins are stored to a significant amount in the body, and when vitamins A and
D are ingested in large amounts (10–100 times daily requirement) throughout a period of
months, toxic reactions may be seen.
- Vitamin A
■ Recommendation: 70-80 IU/kg BW
■ Hypervitaminosis A
- may occur due to excessive consumption of liver.
- may produce skeletal lesions, including deforming cervical spondylosis,
ankylosis of vertebrae and large joints, osteocartilagenous hyperplasia,
osteoporosis, inhibited collagen synthesis, decreased chrondrogenesis in
growth plates of growing dogs, and narrowed intervertebral foramina.
■ Sources of vitamin A: liver, fish liver oils, or synthetic vitamin A.
- Vitamin D
■ deficiency results in rickets in young animals and osteomalacia in adult animals.
■ Hypervitaminosis D causes hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia with irreversible
soft-tissue calcification of the kidney tubules, heart valves, and large-vessel walls.
■ Death in dogs is either related to chronic renal failure or acutely due to a massive aortic
rupture.

6. Minerals
- As intake of a mineral exceeds the requirement, an excessive amount may be absorbed, or a
large amount of the unabsorbed mineral may prevent intestinal absorption of other minerals
in adequate amounts.
■ macrominerals (sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium) required in
gram amounts/day,
■ trace minerals of known importance (iron, zinc, copper, iodine, fluorine, selenium,
chromium) required in mg or mcg amounts/day
■ other trace minerals important in laboratory animals but that have an unclear role in
companion animal nutrition (cobalt, molybdenum, cadmium, arsenic, silicon,
vanadium, nickel, lead, tin).
■ Indiscriminate mineral supplementation should be avoided because of the likelihood
of causing a mineral imbalance.
- Macrominerals: Calcium
■ optimum calcium:phosphorus ratio is ~1.2–1.4:1

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be
reproduced for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.
NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 5 of 7
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM-VMED 2- 2ND SEM 2020-2021

■ Dietary calcium and phosphorus are increased over maintenance during growth,
pregnancy, and lactation.
■ Less phosphorus is absorbed at the higher calcium:phosphorus ratios.
■ Insufficient supplies of calcium or excess phosphorus decrease calcium absorption
and result in irritability, hyperesthesia, and loss of muscle tone, with temporary or
permanent paralysis associated with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism.
■ Skeletal demineralization develops with calcium deficiency.
■ Excess intakes of calcium are more problematic for growing (weaning to 1 yr) large-
and giant-breed dogs.
■ Excessive supplementation (>3% calcium [dry-matter basis]) causes more severe
signs of osteochondrosis and decreased skeletal remodeling in young, rapidly growing
large-breed dogs than in dogs fed diets with lower dietary calcium (1%–3% [dry-matter
basis]).
■ Clinical signs: lameness, pain, and decreased mobility.
- Macromineral: Magnesium
■ An essential cofactor of many intercellular metabolic enzyme pathways.
■ Rarely deficient in complete and balanced diets.
■ Excessive calcium or phosphorus supplementation causes formation of insoluble and
indigestible mineral complexes within the intestine decreasing absorption of
magnesium.
■ Clinical signs of magnesium deficiency in puppies are depression, lethargy, and
muscle weakness.
- Trace Minerals
■ Iodine deficiency is rare when complete and balanced diet are fed but may occur if fed
high-meat diets
■ Iron and copper found in most meats are used efficiently, and nutritional deficiencies
are rare except in animals fed a diet composed almost entirely of milk or vegetables.
■ Iron deficiency is marked by a microcytic, hypochromic anemia and, often, by a reddish
tinge to the hair in a white-haired animal.
■ Zinc deficiency results in emesis, keratitis, achromotrichia, retarded growth, and
emaciation.
■ Decreased zinc availability has been noted in canine diets containing excessive levels
of phytate
■ Manganese deficiency in other species results in bone dyscrasia.

Feeding Practice:
- Most dogs eat 1-3 meals in a day
- Feeding management should be individualized
- Any dietary changes should be done gradually throughout 5-7 days
- Weight gain should be closely monitored (weekly) and feeding recommendations is adjusted.

Recommended Feeding Practice:

Maintenance
- If a dog reached ~90% of its expected adult weight, a diet less nutrient dense that the growth
diet should be given to maintain optimal BW and condition.
■ Feeding regimen: portion-controlled feeding
Growth and Reproduction
- Nutrient demand is increased during growth, pregnancy and lactation.
- It is rarely necessary to give supplementation for calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin if the diet
is complete and balance during growth and reproduction.
- General Recommendations for Feeding puppies:
■ Weaning to 6 months old- feed 3x a day
■ Puppies 6-12 months old- feed twice daily
- Large- and giant-breed puppies should be fed complete and balanced growth diets (containing
calcium, fat and protein).
- Small-breed puppies may have to be fed more than three times a day

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be
reproduced for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.
NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 6 of 7
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM-VMED 2- 2ND SEM 2020-2021

Gestation
- First two-thirds of gestations- Feeding recommendation should be the same as those of
maintenance.
- Last third of gestation- total amount of food offered should be increased at least 20-30% over
the amount for maintenance.
Lactation
- Lactating bitches often require energy levels 2-4 times those of maintenance
- Ad lib feeding with a complete and balanced growth diet containing 10-20% fat (DM basis)
■ To avoid excessive loss of body condition
- If a bitch loses significant body condition during lactation, the fat content of the diet should be
increased to 20-30% fat (DM basis) and given ad lib.

VI. LEARNING ACTIVITIES (Show your computation. 3 pts each)

1. Compute for the daily caloric need of a dog weighing 10 kg with a BCS of 4/9.
2. What would be the maintenance energy requirement of a 10-month old Golden retriever
weighing 40 kgs?

VII. ASSIGNMENT (5 pts each)

1. Go to the market and take a photo of at lest 3 different dog food (puppy and adult) showing
their nutrient content. Among the three, which would you choose to feed your dog and why?
2. There are a lot of dog food sold in the market that are given to dogs with certain health issues.
Give at least 5 examples and what health conditions are they mostly recommended?
3. Complete the table below: (7 pts)
Food Toxic dose
Grapes
Chocolate
Macademia nut
Onion
Garlic
Avocado
Xylitol

VIII. EVALUATION

IX. REFERENCES

Sanderson, SL. Nutritional Requirements and Related Diseases of Small Animals. MSD
Veterinary Manual. www.msdvetmanual.com. Date Accessed: January 21, 2018.

www.vcahospitals.com
www.pets.webmd.com
www.nap.edu
www.aspca.com

In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be
reproduced for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.
NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 7 of 7