35483 - Nutrition of Companion Animals

Academic Year 2019/2020

  • Docente: Giacomo Biagi
  • Credits: 2
  • SSD: AGR/18
  • Language: Italian
  • Moduli: Giacomo Biagi (Modulo 1) Carla Giuditta Vecchiato (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Veterinary Medicine (cod. 8617)

Learning outcomes

Students will study the nutritional requirements and the practical feeding of dogs, cats and horses as well as the main properties of foodstuffs that are suitable for these animal species.

Course contents

Physiological and nutritional bases of dog, cat and horse nutrition. Role of nutrients in the nutrition of dogs, cats and horses. Energy and nutritional requirements. Nutrition of bitches and queens during pregnancy and lactation. Nutrition of puppies and kittens from birth until weaning. Nutrition of the elderly animal. Nutrition of the sporting dog. Obesity. Adverse reactions to food. Feline urolithiasis. Nutritional management of sporting horses. Formulation of a homemade diet.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Case, Daristotle, Hayek, Foess Raasch. Canine and Feline Nutrition (3rd Ed.). Mosby, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, USA, 2011.
2. Hand, Thatcher, Remillard, Roudebush, Novotny. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition (5th Ed.). The Mark Morris Institute, 2010.

Teaching methods

Oral lessons and practical training regarding the formulation of diets for dogs and cats

Assessment methods

Final exam of the integrated course consists of a practical test and a written exam.

1. The practical test consists in the formulation of a diet for farm or companion animals using a specific feed formulation software. Students are asked to formulate a diet that helps solving a specific nutritional issue.

2. The written exam consists of 54 multiple-choice questions and the description of a feedstuff.

Students will get up to 3 points from the practical test, up to 27 points from the 54 multiple-choice questions and up to 3 points from the feedstuff description.

Teaching tools

Personal computer and beamer; software for the formulation of diets

Office hours

See the website of Giacomo Biagi

See the website of Carla Giuditta Vecchiato