Animal Care and Veterinary Nutrition & Dietary Management Flashcards
6 cards from real Animal Care and Veterinary practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Animal Care and Veterinary Nutrition & Dietary Management flashcards as text
Which fatty acid is considered essential for dogs because they cannot synthesize it in adequate amounts?
Answer: Linoleic acid (omega-6)
Linoleic acid is an essential omega-6 fatty acid that dogs must obtain from their diet to maintain healthy skin and coat integrity.
Vitamin K is essential for which physiological process in veterinary patients?
Answer: Blood coagulation
Vitamin K is required for the synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X, which are necessary for normal blood coagulation.
What is the recommended approach for transitioning a pet to a new diet to minimize gastrointestinal upset?
Answer: Mix old and new food gradually over 7-10 days
A 7-10 day gradual transition allows the intestinal microbiome to adapt to new ingredients, minimizing vomiting and diarrhea.
Which condition in cats is directly associated with long-term feeding of an all-dog-food diet?
Answer: Taurine deficiency causing retinal degeneration
Dog food lacks adequate taurine for cats, leading to feline central retinal degeneration and dilated cardiomyopathy over time.
In a therapeutic weight loss program for an obese dog, what is the recommended initial caloric target?
Answer: At the RER calculated for the ideal body weight
Feeding to the resting energy requirement (RER) of the dog's ideal body weight is a standard safe starting point for canine weight loss programs.
Which clinical sign most strongly suggests a dietary zinc deficiency in dogs?
Answer: Nasal crusting and scaling of the skin (zinc-responsive dermatosis)
Zinc-responsive dermatosis in dogs presents as nasal and periorbital crusting and scaling, particularly in Arctic breeds fed zinc-deficient diets.