mineral lecture

Minerals are Inorganic Chemicals• More than 18 mineral elements are believed to be essential for mammals.. Phosphorus and Calcium Deficiency •Calcium Phosphorus Ratio 1:1 •Rickets a dis

Macrominerals and

Microminerals

Minerals are Inorganic Chemicals

• More than 18 mineral elements are believed to be essential for mammals

• Minerals are divided into two groups:

Macrominerals-required in large amts

• Microminerals-required in small amts., also

known as “trace elements”

• Calcium

• Phosphorus

• Magnesium

• Sodium

• Potassium

• Chloride

Phosphorus and

Calcium Deficiency

•Calcium Phosphorus Ratio 1:1

•Rickets ( a disease of young animals; a failure of

calcification of osteoid and cartilage of the bones which

become bowed and a persistence with enlargement of the epiphyses so that the joints appear swollen The animals are lame and dentition is delayed.)

•Webster

Rickets

Secondary Feline Hyperparathyroidism

• Secondary hyperparathyroidism can be caused by a deficiency of calcium and vitamin D and/or an excess

of phosphorus The parathyroid hormone is

responsible for regulating calcium and phosphorus

levels in the blood The parathyroid hormone tries

increasing blood calcium levels by causing calcium to

be reabsorbed from bone Phosphorus increases

metabolism Because of this increase, the cat's body systems function at an accelerated rate that it may not

be able to sustain

1 Normal Thyroid Gland

2 Parathyroid Gland

3 Parathyroid Gland

4 Enlarged Thyroid Gland

Calcium Deficiency

•Tetany (steady contraction of a muscle without distinct twitching, continuous spasm) (Eclampsia)

• Excess macromineral intake can result from

feeding large amts of supplements, such as bone meal, or a diet limited to just meat

• Most commercial diets are already adequate in macrominerals But many times it is the owner that over supplements their pet

• You as a technician will encounter this situation and must educate owners Purebred animal

hobbyists tend to over supplement

Microminerals: also know as trace

minerals.

These are present in body in small amounts

These minerals are required in small

amounts in the diet.

Iron, copper, zinc, selenium, iodine, and

manganese.

• Macrominerals are measured in the diet as a percentage (%)

• Microminerals are measured in part per million (ppm) or mg/kg

• Never just consider the amt of mineral in a food, think about how much of that mineral can be used by the

animal

• Considerations: solubility, metabolic interaction with

other nutrient compounds, signalment of the animal, and the animal’s ability to store the mineral What does

signalment mean?

Macro and micro-minerals

• Both can interact with each other as either

antagonists or synergists

• Even the marginal deficiency of one mineral can decrease or alter the efficacy of another!

• These reactions are defined as the presence of one mineral reducing the transport or efficacy of

another

• So in other words, one is acting against the other

• Most mineral reactions are antagonistic and can occur during processing, digestion, storage, or

transport

• Two minerals reacting in a complimentary fashion

by either enhancing biologic function or sparing the other mineral

• These guys work together for a good cause