Anatomy and PhysiologyPart III
Nutrition and Digestion of
Small Animals
Characteristics
Ruminants are considered as “forage
consuming,” able to eat large
amounts of vegetable material in a
fresh, dried, or ensiled state
Ruminants have one stomach with
multiple compartments
Food material in the ruminant system
is acted on by millions of bacteria and
microorganisms
www.compwizrd.com/ misc/cow.jpg
Characteristics
The bacteria and
microorganisms transform
low-quality protein and
nitrogen compounds into
essential amino acids
http://schools.4j.lane.edu/twinoaks/
http://www.avs.uidaho.edu/avs305/Ruminant%20dig
Four ruminant
compartments
Rumen- largest
compartment contains
bacteria and microorganisms
that aids in the digestive
process
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/tcolvill/135
/images/rumenrt.gif
Four ruminant
compartments
Reticulum- second
compartment that works with
the rumen to aide in the
formation of cud for
regurgitation.
Also known as the hardware
stomach because it collects
nails, pieces of wire, and other
swallowed objects
Reticulum
http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/outreach/necropsy/images/reticulum1.jpg
Four ruminant
compartments
Omasum- the third
compartment of the
ruminant that removes
water from food as it moves
from the rumen to the fourth
compartment
Omasum
http://courses.washington.edu/vertebra/453/photos/gut_photos/mammal_digestive_photos.htm
Four ruminant
compartments
Abomasum- the fourth
compartment in the ruminant that
is referred to as the “true stomach”
Its function is to break down food
material by muscular movement
and to secrete digestive juices
The abomasum is most like the
stomach in non-ruminants or
single-stomached animals
The material then passes into the
small intestine
Abomasum- mucous
secreting tissue
http://courses.washington.edu/vertebra/453/photos/gut_photos/mammal_digestive_photos.htm
Non-ruminants
Referred to as singlestomached or mono-gastric
animals
http://courses.washington.edu/vertebra/453/photos/gut_photos/mammal_digestive_photos.htm
Rabbits and birds
Classified as non-ruminants
even though their system is
slightly different
Rabbits
Similar to horse’s digestive
system in that they have a large
cecum (place where small and
large intestines join) with
bacteria present
Therefore, rabbits can eat more
high-quality roughage material
than other small animals and
convert them to nutrients
Rabbits
Rabbits must maintain
levels of bacteria in the
cecum for digestive process
and health
Rabbits eat undigested feces
(coprophagy) to help
bacterial action
Rabbit Digestive
System
http://courses.washington.edu/vertebra/453/photos/gut_photos/mammal_digestive_photos.htm
Birds
Have a unique system for
breaking down the seed and
food they eat
Birds do not have teeth. Saliva is
added to assist with swallowing,
but very little breakdown of food
occurs in the mouth
Bird digestive system
http://www.blackforestpoultry.com/bird-gi.jpg
Special bird
characteristics
The largest organ is the
ventriculus or gizzard. The
gizzard grinds and crushes
food before passing it into
the small intestine
Digestive Process for
Non-ruminants
Food is broken down in the
mouth (except birds), stomach
(gizzard in birds), and then
passed into the small intestine,
the primary site for digestion
and absorption of
carbohydrates, fats and
proteins
Digestive Process for
Non-ruminants
Undigested food passes from
the small intestine into the
large intestine where the main
activity is the absorption of
water from the undigested food
and addition of lubricating
mucus to aid in passage of
waste
Fish
Digestive systems of fish vary
somewhat
Type of feed fish eat is largely
determined by the type of teeth
they have
Some fish swallow prey whole
while others chew up their food
Fish digestive system
http://www.cyber-north.com/anatomy/fish.gif
Major Ways Nutrients
Are Used
Maintenance- rations high in
carbohydrates and fats
designed to keep constant with
no gain or loss of weight.
Growth- rations high in energy
and protein so as to increase
the animal’s body size.
Major Ways Nutrients
Are Used
Reproduction- A ration that
contains the largest amount of
protein, minerals, and vitamins of
any ration. Reproduction rations
improve conception rates and
breeding ability for males and
females and are important for
producing live, healthy offspring
that have a good birth weight.
Major Ways Nutrients
are Used
Lactation- rations for
lactating (milk producing)
females encourage large milk
production and are high in
protein, calcium, and
phosphorus (same nutrients
contained in milk)
Major Ways Nutrients
Are Used
Work and activity- rations
need increased amounts of
fats and carbohydrates to
supply the extra energy
needed to perform (example:
hunting dog chasing game)
Feeding Program
Terminology
Diet- feed and water that an
animal receives
Amount and type of feedstuff
(ingredients) is based on
What the animal needs at time
The kinds and amounts of
nutrients contained in feed
Feeding Program
Terminology
A good diet must be
palatable. Palatability
means the diet is digestible
and appeals to the animal.
A good nutritious feed is
only good if it is eaten
Feeding Program
Terminology
Ration- a feed that contains
the right amount and
proportion of nutrients
Feeding program
terminology
Feed classificationsRoughages (or forages)- made up
of leaves and the plants tender
stems
Concentrates recommended for
small animals as a regular part of
their diet because it is high in
energy or protein
Concentrates
High energy diets include:
corn, wheat, sorghum,
barley, rye, and oats
High protein diets include:
soybean oil meal, cottonseed
oil meal, and sunflower
meals
Feed classification
Supplements- contains a specific
nutrient
www.iams.com
Specific Animal Diets
Dogs and cats
Puppies need diet higher in
protein than adults and food
intake is regulated by activity
Cats need twice as much protein
as dogs and 10% of their diet
should be fat
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/books/0012/review.truth.about.dogs/dog.piece.gif
Rabbits
Best to use pellet type of
commercial feed
Avoid feeding leafy green
vegetables
http://www.daveandal.com/images/rabbit.jpg
Pocket Pets
Best to use pellet type
commercial feed and keep
diet consistent. If mixing
ration; should have a wide
range of food.
http://students.washington.edu/jamiekim/hamsters/
Pocket Pets
Various diets include: gerbils
need a little green food in diet,
rats can have dog food
substituted, ferrets can eat cat
food, mice will not overeat, and
guinea pigs need solid food to
dull their teeth and a certain
amount of Vitamin C
http://www.petsdoc.com/pics/mv/patients/ferret.jpg
Amphibians and
Reptiles
Depending on their size,
amphibians and reptiles prefer
to eat animals (snakes eat mice,
turtles eat meat, amphibians
eat insects and earthworms
Tadpoles will eat pellets of rabbit,
dog, or cat food
http://www.sec.state.la.us/around/facts/i-frog1.jpg
Amphibians and
Reptiles
Turtles- pieces of meat or liver will
do, can feed fruit
Snakes in captivity, depending on
size, eat a variety of insects, baby
rodents, frogs and toads, fullgrown rodents or can learn to eat
canned dog/cat food
Most of the lizards eat insects
http://www.u46.k12.il.us/bhs/mathscience/reptile.jpg
Birds
Most birds prefer a diet of seeds
Two basic types of seed
included in a bird’s diet are
cereal seeds and oil seeds
Fruit and nectar birds eat
oranges, grapes, and apple
slices
http://www.dougcotton.homestead.com/files/cockatoo.jpg
Fish
Diet is affected by water
temperature. Fish generally eat
more when the temperature is
higher
Should be given a variety of foods
so they don’t get bored
Shrimp, krill, plankton can be fed
to larger fish
Flakes are good for smaller fish
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/mcdavey/pics/2000/fish.jpg
Fish
Amount fish eats is relative to
temperature of water, kind of fish,
and stage of life
Amount fish is fed should be
amount it can eat in a few minutes
to avoid contaminating water
http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs324/f02/lab4/fish.jpg
THE END