CVA Animal Nutrition and Feeding 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the guaranteed analysis on a pet food label legally require manufacturers to list?
- Exact percentages of all ingredients
- Minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fiber, and maximum moisture (Correct answer)
- Caloric content per cup and per kilogram
- Country of origin and manufacturing date
Correct answer: Minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fiber, and maximum moisture
AAFCO requires guaranteed analysis to include at minimum crude protein (min), crude fat (min), crude fiber (max), and moisture (max).
Question 2: A cat that has been anorexic for 3 days is at risk for which serious nutritional complication?
- Pancreatitis
- Hepatic lipidosis (Correct answer)
- Renal failure
- Hypoglycemia
Correct answer: Hepatic lipidosis
Cats mobilize fat rapidly when anorexic, overwhelming the liver and leading to hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease).
Question 3: Which vitamin is synthesized in a dog's skin upon exposure to sunlight and is important for calcium absorption?
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Vitamin K
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Vitamin D is synthesized photochemically in the skin and plays a critical role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism.
Question 4: When transitioning a pet to a new diet, what is the recommended minimum transition period to avoid gastrointestinal upset?
- 1-2 days
- 3-5 days
- 7-10 days (Correct answer)
- 2-3 weeks
Correct answer: 7-10 days
A gradual 7-10 day transition, slowly increasing the proportion of new food, allows the gut microbiome time to adjust.
Question 5: Which of the following foods is toxic to both dogs and cats?
- Cooked chicken breast
- Plain white rice
- Onions and garlic (Correct answer)
- Cooked sweet potato
Correct answer: Onions and garlic
Onions and garlic contain thiosulfates that cause oxidative damage to red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia in both dogs and cats.
Question 6: What is the term for the total amount of calories available to an animal from a food after accounting for digestive losses?
- Gross energy
- Digestible energy
- Metabolizable energy (Correct answer)
- Net energy
Correct answer: Metabolizable energy
Metabolizable energy (ME) represents the energy available to the animal after subtracting losses in feces, urine, and combustible gases.
Question 7: A ferret's diet should be high in which macronutrient due to its obligate carnivore status?
- Complex carbohydrates
- Dietary fiber
- Animal-based protein and fat (Correct answer)
- Grains and legumes
Correct answer: Animal-based protein and fat
Ferrets are obligate carnivores requiring diets high in animal protein and fat, with very limited carbohydrate content.
CVA Animal Nutrition and Feeding 5
What does the guaranteed analysis on a pet food label legally require manufacturers to list?