35483 - Nutrition of Companion Animals

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

This course is part of the Integrated Course of NUTRITION AND ANIMAL FEEDING (teacher responsible for the final grade Prof. Andrea Formigoni).

The objective of the Integrated Course is to provide the student with knowledge relating to the nutrition and feeding of livestock (cattle, sheep and goats, buffaloes and pigs) and pets (dogs, cats and horses). The student will know the energy and nutritional needs of the different animal species and the feedstuffs that can be used to satisfy them. The interactions between nutrients, digestive and metabolic processes as well as production performance will be addressed. The student will learn how to formulate rations to support animal production in quantitative and qualitative terms as well as the well-being of all animal species. The course will also deal with the legislation relating to animal feeding as well as characteristics, technological and conservation treatments, and possible contamination of raw materials.

The Integrated Course will be divided into 4 courses:

- Animal nutrition (theoretical lessons and practical activities held by Prof. Andrea Formigoni and Dr. Ludovica Mammi)

- Large animals feeding (theoretical lessons and practical activities held by Prof. Andrea Formigoni)

- Nutrition of companion animals (theoretical lessons held by Prof. Giacomo Biagi and practical activities held by a contract teacher)

- Feed technology (theoretical lessons and practical activities held by Dr. Damiano Cavallini)

At the beginning of the course, detailed information will be provided on the internal organization of the theoretical and practical lesson timetable, as well as on the examination methods and registration.

Specifically, the following teachings will be dealt within the course of Nutrition of Companion Animals

Energy and nutrient requirements of dogs and cats (3 h). The feeding of bitches and cats during pregnancy and lactation and the feeding of the puppy from birth to weaning (2 h). The nutrition of the sporting dog (2 h). The management of obesity in dogs and cats (3 h). Adverse food reactions in dogs and cats (2 h). The nutritional management of major urolithiasis in dogs and cats (3 h). The nutritional management of the sport horse (3 h). The formulation of a home diet for dogs and cats (6 h, exercises).

The Syllabus of the course unit and the list of EAEVE Day One Competences that the course unit contributes to achieving can be viewed on the dedicated page [http://corsi.unibo.it/singlecycle/VeterinaryMedicine/course-units-syllabi-and-day-one-competences] .

This teaching participates in the University's teaching experimentation project

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials for this course are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ).

Supplementary reading:

1. Biagi, Chiofalo, Cutrignelli et al. Nutrizione e Alimentazione del Cane e del Gatto. Edagricole-New Business Media, 2021.

2. Case, Daristotle, Hayek, Foess Raasch. Canine and Feline Nutrition (3rd Ed.). Mosby, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, USA, 2011.

Teaching methods

Teaching consists of theoretical lectures and exercises.

Theoretical lectures will take place in the classroom but 3 topics will be presented in the form of video lecture followed by group exercises in the classroom. Practical exercises in formulating diets for dogs and cats will take place through the use of PC and an excel file for formulation.

Assessment methods

The assessment for the Integrated Course consists of a practical test and a written exam.

1. The practical test (lasting 40 minutes) 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 (lasting 30 minutes) consists of 54 multiple-choice questions and the description of a feedstuff (10 minutes available to the student). Students will be able to access the written test only after passing the practical test.

Students will get up to 3 points from the practical test, up to 27 points from the 54 multiple-choice questions (0.5 points for each correct answer, a wrong answer does not reduce the final score) and up to 3 points from the feedstuff description.

The exam is considered passed if a final grade of at least 18/30 is obtained.

Negative results are not graded numerically but recorded as “withdrawn” or “failed” in the electronic transcript on AlmaEsami, and do not affect the student’s academic record.

Grades for individual parts and the final grade will be published on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ) by the designated course contact within 5 working days of the exam.

Students may reject the final grade by informing the course examiner via email within 5 working days. The designated course contact for this course is Prof. Andrea Formigoni.

Students can register for exams through the AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). Exams are scheduled during the designated periods in the academic calendar. Additional sessions are available for students beyond the standard program duration.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Power Point presentations, videolessons, software for the formulation of diets.

Office hours

See the website of Giacomo Biagi

See the website of Carla Giuditta Vecchiato