NU-TRI-TION \ noo-trish’-an \ n
[< Latin – nutrire – to nurish ]

 

  1. A nourishing or being nourished; especially the series of processes by which an organism takes in and assimilates food for promoting growth and replacing worn or injured tissues,
  2. Anything that nourishes; nourishment; food,
  3. The science or study of proper, balanced diet to promote health.

The need for reliable nutritional information is fundamental to the task of maintaining both the systemic health and the reproductive capability of all species. For most animals, the oral cavity represents the entry mechanism to the digestive system, and when this masticatory apparatus fails to function properly, systemic collapse is sure to follow. Reliable information concerning fundamental nutritional requirements AND the anatomy, physiology, and common disabilities of animal dentition and masticatory function provides an overview of the inescapable interdependence between these many often dis-associated scientific disciplines, and further enables the clinician.