BCSE BCSE - Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

Which vitamin deficiency causes 'rickets' in young animals, and what is the biochemical mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Vitamin D deficiency impairs intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption, preventing normal bone mineralization

Answer

Vitamin C deficiency impairs collagen cross-linking in osteoid

Answer

Vitamin A excess causes premature growth plate closure

Answer

Vitamin K deficiency prevents osteocalcin carboxylation

Question 2

Body condition scoring (BCS) in dogs uses which scale and what score indicates ideal body condition?

Accepted Answer

1–9 scale; a score of 4–5 indicates ideal condition

Answer

1–5 scale; a score of 3 indicates ideal condition

Answer

1–10 scale; a score of 5–6 indicates ideal condition

Answer

1–9 scale; a score of 7–8 indicates ideal condition

Question 3

The B vitamin thiamine (B1) deficiency in cats fed exclusively raw fish can cause which neurological syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Polioencephalomalacia (cerebrocortical necrosis) due to impaired pyruvate dehydrogenase activity

Answer

Peripheral neuropathy from impaired fatty acid synthesis

Answer

Cerebellar hypoplasia

Answer

Deafness from cochlear nerve demyelination

Question 4

In calculating ruminant energy rations, which unit system is used to express energy requirements and feed energy values?

Accepted Answer

Net energy (NE) expressed in megacalories (Mcal), subdivided into NE for maintenance (NEm), gain (NEg), and lactation (NEl)

Answer

Total digestible nutrients (TDN) expressed as a percentage only

Answer

Digestible energy (DE) in kilocalories only

Answer

Metabolizable energy (ME) in kilojoules only

Question 5

Which trace mineral deficiency in cattle causes 'falling disease' (sudden cardiac failure) and depigmentation of the hair coat?

Accepted Answer

Copper deficiency

Answer

Selenium deficiency

Answer

Zinc deficiency

Answer

Iodine deficiency

Question 6

A cat presenting with posterior paresis and cervical ventroflexion should raise clinical suspicion for deficiency of which nutrient?

Accepted Answer

Thiamine (vitamin B1)

Answer

Taurine

Answer

Arachidonic acid

Answer

Arginine