The continued use of very basic or poor quality feed can affect the he alth of our cats, causing nutritional deficiencies.
When this happens, various symptoms gradually appear in the cat that show nutritional deficiencies in the feline. It can also happen that some type of digestive disease, or parasites affect the cat's he alth and cause nutritional deficiencies.
With the aim of helping you, we publish this article on our site to show you how to detect nutritional deficiencies in cats.
Inadequate feeding
Nutritional deficiencies in cats are usually due to the intake of unbalanced feed, a common occurrence among low-quality feed. Very basic feed in which nutritional balance is conspicuous by its absence.
Another type of diet that despite the good will of caregivers is deficient in nutrients are the homemade diets. These homemade diets are excessively rich 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 beef liver, and to a lesser extent in chicken liver.
6 symptoms of nutritional deficiencies
To know how to detect nutritional deficiencies in cats, it is essential to review the most common symptoms of nutritional deficiencies among cats, which are the following, pay attention:
- Coat dull: The hair is dull and rough.
- Appetite disorders: There are episodes of excessive consumption, followed by apathy when eating.
- Skin disorders: 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.
- Abnormal behavior: Poor nutrition leads to behavioral changes in the cat.
Food allergies
Sometimes cats develop food allergies These are not excessively frequent episodes, but when they do occur they can be serious. They are usually due to an allergic reaction to a protein in a certain food, which causes an allergic inflammation in the cat. The usual symptoms are:
- Skin problems
- Recurrent ear infections
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Trichobezoars continued
Carbohydrate deficiencies
carbohydrates are macronutrients responsible for the energy balance in cats. If there are deficiencies in these elements, the cat will show apathetic, weak, without energy and over time will suffer from ketone disorders. Your breath will smell like acetone
Protein deficiencies
If there are protein deficiencies in the cat's diet, the animal will suffer various disorders since proteins are responsible for regenerating the structures body, form new tissues, and protection against possible infections. White blood cells and the immune system rely on protein. The usual symptoms of protein deficiencies in cats are:
- Developmental Disorder
- Muscle loss
- Recurring infectious diseases
- Alterations in the epidermis and mantle
Lipid deficiencies
Fats (lipids) are essential for the creation of cell membranes that serve to help protect the cat's organs and transport fat-soluble vitamins. Lipid deficiency causes the following symptoms:
- Weightloss
- Dry coat
- Seborrhea and peeling of the epidermis
- Recurring infectious diseases
Vitamin deficiencies
Vitamins are some essential micronutrients for the correct chemical reactions present in the feline's body. Vitamin deficiencies in cats cause the following symptoms:
- Dermatitis
- No appetite
- Blood clotting problems
- Low Body Temperature
- Neurological abnormalities
- Coat depletion
Trace element deficiencies
Trace elements are the essential minerals that the body needs to function properly. The main symptoms produced by deficiencies in trace elements are:
- Anemia
- Weakness
- Growth delays
- Dry skin and hair loss
- Alterations in the skeleton and muscles
- Continuous infectious diseases
- Restless Character
Correction of nutritional deficit
You will have noticed that different nutritional deficiencies can cause similar symptoms. For this reason, in the event of any unusual symptoms, you should go to your veterinarian to assess the state of he alth of your gatom, especially if you have known how to detect nutritional deficiencies in the cat.
Some analysis and a deep recognition by the professional will determine a diagnosis that heals your feline, and ends its nutritional deficit.
