Content
- Inadequate food
- 6 symptoms of nutritional deficiencies
- food allergies
- Carbohydrate Deficiencies
- protein deficiencies
- Lipid Deficiencies
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Deficiencies in trace elements
- Correction of nutritional deficit
The continued use of very basic or poor quality feed can affect the health of our cats causing nutritional deficiencies.
When this happens, gradually appear various symptoms in the cat that manifest nutritional deficiencies in the feline. It can also happen that some type of digestive disease, or parasites affect the cat's health and produce nutritional deficiencies.
In order to help you, at Animal Expert we publish this article in which we explain to you how to detect nutritional deficiencies in the cat.
Inadequate food
Nutritional deficiencies in cats usually occur due to ingestion of unbalanced rations, something common among low quality feeds. Very basic rations in which the nutritional balance stands out for its absence.
Another type of food that despite the good will of the owners is deficient in nutrients are the homemade diets. These homemade diets are excessively high in phosphorus and deficient in calcium, which produces chronic kidney failure.
Another serious error that occurs in some homemade diets is the absence of taurine in its composition. Taurine is an essential element for the correct nutrition of cats. It is found in the liver of the cow, and to a lesser extent in the liver of the chicken. See the Animal Expert article where we show you taurine-rich cat food.
6 symptoms of nutritional deficiencies
To know how to detect nutritional deficiencies in cats, it will be essential to review the usual symptoms of nutritional deficiencies among cats, which are the following, pay attention:
- Dull coat: The coat is dull and coarse.
- Appetite disorders: There are episodes of abuse, followed by little desire to eat.
- Skin changes: Dermatitis, seborrhea or dandruff are usually caused by nutritional deficiencies.
- Stool changes: Diarrhea or constipation are often associated with nutritional deficiencies.
- Sudden Changes in Body Weight: Obesity, or sudden weight loss are clear signs of poor nutrition.
- Anomalous behavior: Malnutrition causes changes in the cat's behavior.
food allergies
Sometimes cats develop food allergies. They are not excessively frequent episodes, but when they do they can be serious. They are usually due to an allergic reaction to a protein in a particular food, which causes an allergic inflammation in the cat. The usual symptoms are:
- Dermal Problems
- recurrent otitis
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Continuous trichobezoars (stomach hairballs)
Find out more about food allergies in cats at PeritoAnimal and don't hesitate to go to the vet if you suspect your feline may be suffering from this problem.
Carbohydrate Deficiencies
You carbohydrates are the macronutrients responsible for energy balance in the cat. If there are deficiencies in these elements, the cat will be listless, weak, lacking in energy and will eventually suffer from ketone disorders. Your breath smells like acetone.
protein deficiencies
if there are protein deficiencies in the cat's diet, the animal will suffer several disorders, since proteins are responsible for regenerating body structures, forming new tissues, and protecting against possible infections. White blood cells and the immune system depend on proteins. The usual symptoms of protein deficiencies in the cat are:
- developmental disorder
- loss of muscle mass
- recurrent infectious diseases
- Changes in the epidermis and hair
Lipid Deficiencies
Fats (lipids) are essential for the creation of cell membranes that serve to help protect the cat's organs and transporting the fat-soluble vitamins. Lipid deficiency causes the following symptoms:
- Weight loss
- dry hair
- seborrhea and peeling of the epidermis
- recurrent infectious diseases
Vitamin deficiencies
Vitamins are a essential micronutrients for the correct chemical reactions present in the feline's body. Vitamin deficiencies in the cat cause the following symptoms:
- Dermatitis
- no appetite
- blood clotting problems
- low body temperature
- neurological anomalies
- Coat impoverishment
Deficiencies in trace elements
The trace elements are the essential minerals that the body needs for its correct functioning. The main symptoms that produce trace element deficiencies are:
- Anemia
- Weakness
- growth delays
- Dry dermis and hair loss
- Skeletal and musculature changes
- Continuous infectious diseases
- restless character
Correction of nutritional deficit
As you've noticed, different nutritional deficits can cause similar symptoms. For this reason, in the face of any strange symptoms, you should go to your veterinarian to assess the health status of the cat, especially if you were able to detect nutritional deficiencies in the cat.
One analysis and in-depth knowledge on the part of the professional will determine a diagnosis that will cure your cat, and thus end the nutritional deficiency.
