ANSWERS

1. Describe the 3 types of mineral.
   • Macro-minerals = required in relatively large amounts.
   • Micro-minerals or trace elements) = required in relatively small amounts.
   • Electrolytes = minerals in salt form found in the body tissues and fluids.
2. What are minerals sometimes collectively referred to on petfood labels as?
   Ash.
3. The absorption of different minerals are often linked. What is the significance of this?
   An excess intake of one mineral may lead to the deficiency of another.
4. List the macrominerals.
   • Calcium (Ca).
   • Chloride (Cl).
   • Magnesium (Mg).
   • Phosphorous (P).
   • Potassium (K).
   • Sodium (Na).
5. Which minerals are required for the maintenance of skeletal structure?
   • Calcium.
   • Phosphorous.
   • Magnesium.
6. Explain the significance of the calcium : phosphorous ratio.
   Calcium and phosphorous are the chief minerals involved with the maintenance of structural rigidity as components of the bones and teeth. The minimum ratio for growth is 1 : 1 and an imbalance leads to skeletal malformation.
7. What vitamin is closely linked with the metabolism of calcium and phosphorous?
   Vitamin D (also known as retinol). Deficiency of vitamin D may lead to rickets in growing animals and osteomalacia in adults.
8. In addition to its role in the maintenance of skeletal structure, list 3 other functions of calcium.
   • Required for blood clotting.
   • Necessary for nerve function.
   • Necessary for muscle function.
9. What type of diet is likely to cause calcium deficiency?
   A high phosphorous diet such as offal (liver and kidneys).
10. What condition is likely to result from hypocalcaemia in lactating bitches and why?
    Eclampsia. This arises where the calcium regulatory mechanism fails to compensate for the loss of calcium in milk.
11. Describe nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism.
    This condition arises as a result of calcium deficiency. Bone resorption is increased in order to restore circulating calcium levels. Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism is also known as renal rickets.
12. What conditions may be related to excessive calcium intake in puppies?
    • Hip dysplasia.
    • Osteochondrosis.
    • Enostosis.
    • Wobbler syndrome.
13. In addition to its role with calcium, why is phosphorous such an important mineral?
    Phosphorous has more functions than any other mineral, and is necessary for energy utilisation and various enzyme systems.
14. Vitamin D deficiency disease such as osteomalacia and rickets are associated with calcium-phosphorous imbalance; why?
    Metabolites of vitamin D, in conjunction with parathyroid hormone, stimulate resorption of calcium from bone.
15. List the functions of magnesium.
    • Required for the normal function of cardiac and skeletal muscle.
    • Required for healthy bones and teeth in conjunction with calcium and phosphorous.
    • Required for the normal function of nervous tissue.
    • Important in sodium and potassium metabolism.
    • Necessary for many enzyme reactions (especially those concerned with energy metabolism).
16. Describe the symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
    • Muscle weakness.
    • Convulsions in severe cases.
17. What condition may arise as a result of a very high magnesium intake?
    Feline lower urinary tract disease and the formation of struvite crystalluria.
18. What are the main functions of potassium?
    • Required for acid-base balance and the osmoregulation of body fluids.
    • Necessary for nerve function.
    • Necessary for muscle function.
    • Necessary for energy metabolism.
19. What are the correct terms for excess blood potassium and insufficient blood potassium?
    • Excess blood potassium = hyperkalaemia.
    • Insufficient blood potassium = hypokalaemia.
20. What conditions may be caused by potassium deficiency?
    • Muscle weakness.
    • Poor growth.
    • Lesions of the heart.
    • Lesions of the kidney
21. Explain the significance of sodium and chloride.
    Sodium and chloride are the major electrolytes in body water. They are required for acid-base balance and the regulation of the concentration of body fluids.
22. What are the correct terms for excess blood sodium and insufficient blood sodium?
    • Excess blood sodium = hypernatraemia.
    • Insufficient blood sodium = hyponatraemia.
23. What is the most likely cause of sodium and potassium deficiency?
    Excessive fluid loss from severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
24. List signs of sodium and chloride deficiency.
    • Exhaustion.
    • Inability to control water balance.
    • Dry skin and hair loss.
    • Impaired growth.
25. List signs of excess sodium and chloride.
    • Polydipsia.
    • Hypertension.
    • Cardiac dysfunction.
    • Renal dysfunction.
26. List the trace minerals and their functions.
    • Arsenic (growth and erythrocyte formation).
    • Chromium (carbohydrate metabolism).
    • Cobalt (component of vitamin B12).
    • Copper (haemoglobin synthesis, bone and blood vessel structure, melanin production, various enzyme system functions).
    • Fluoride (development of bones and teeth).
    • Iodine (production of thyroid hormone).
    • Iron (component of haemoglobin and myoglobin, required for the utilisation of oxygen).
    • Manganese (required for chondroitin sulphate and cholesterol synthesis, necessary for enzyme systems associated with carbohydrate and fat metabolism).
    • Molybdenum (various enzyme systems).
    • Nickel (membrane function and nucleic acid metabolism).
    • Selenium (component of glutathione peroxidase).
    • Silicon (bone and connective tissue development).
    • Vanadium (growth, reproduction and fat metabolism).
    • Zinc (enzyme systems, epidermal integrity and immunological homeostasis).
27. When is copper deficiency most likely to occur?
    In cases where zinc and iron are present in excess.
28. List the dog breeds which may be affected by an inherited defect resulting in liver cirrhosis as a result of copper toxicity.
    • Bedlington terrier.
    • West Highland White terrier.
    • Doberman Pinscher.
29. Describe the most common presentation of zinc deficiency.
    • Poor skin condition.
    • Sparse coat.
    • Hyperkeratosis.
30. What is the principle sign of iodine deficiency?
    Goitre; enlargement of the thyroid gland. In addition poor skin and coat condition and lethargy may be evident.