Midterm 1 Part 2 Flashcards
there are 4 organization involved in the regulation of pet foods. list them
FDA, USDA, NRC, and AAFCO
What are the main roles of AAFCO?
they are a nongovernmental organzation that sets guidelines for uniform labelling and nutritional adequacy of animal pet foods
AAFCO guidlines form the basis of regulations in all states except
nevada and alaska
true or false: AAFCO compliance is voluntary
true, but in reality it isn’t because in order to sell it in the USA you should get it AAFCO approved otherwise it won’t sell
AAFCO ensures that pet foods are _____ and _______
uniformly labelled, nutritionally adequate
AAFCO compliant labels must include:
product name, net weight, name and address of manufacturer, guarenteed analysis, ingredients listed in descneidng order by weight, words dog or cat food, caloric content per common unit of measure, statement of nutritional adequacy or purpose, directions for feeding
true or false: companies making pet foods put feeding amount recommendations that are too high
true, they would rather overshoot than undershoot (don’t want any dogs looking skinny)
what are the big 4 things that are not included in the pet food label that are very important
overall digestibility, biologic value of protein, quality of the product, and contamination (potantially)
what are the two main ways that a food can be determined as nutritionally adequate by AAFCO?
- computer analysis to meet AAFCO guidelines
- feeding trials
what is once assumption made during the process of computer analysis of feed?
you’re assuming that the ingredients used in the food you’re analysing have the name nutrient profile as the computer database
what are the 4 components in an AAFCO feeding trial?
- specific type of animal (puppy, adult, all life stages), number, and trial length
- defined clinical observations (like food intake, stool quality, body weight, etc)
- established criteria for passing or failing
- chemical analysis of nutrient content
why do we prefer to recommend foods that have undergone feeding trails as opposd to just the computer analysis
just because the computer says it works doesn’t mean it actually works in real dogs! feeding trails also help us know if the food is palatable, digestible, if any nutrients interact, or if there are any toxins hidden in the food (animals would get sick). these factors cannot be determiend via chemical analysis
what is the “family product rule”?
allows manufacturers to use label claim stating a product has passed AAFCO feeding trials when it has not actually been tested. the ingredients of the food must be similar to the “parent” food that HAS undergone feeding trials. AND the claim must be the same life stage as the parent food as well!
an animal consuming an acceptable diet should:
maintain body weight and condition, have a good quality coat, and normal stool
you should be suspicious of a pet food when ______ (there are things)
- different forms of the same ingredient are listed separately
- diet digestibility is 75% or more
- quality of packaging is bad or you can see fat soakign through the bag
- if animal protein is not high on the ingredient list
- there is not added calcium
you should be suspicious of a pet food when ______ (there are things)
- different forms of the same ingredient are listed separately
- diet digestibility is 75% or more
- quality of packaging is bad or you can see fat soakign through the bag
- if animal protein is not high on the ingredient list
- there is not added calcium
you should be suspicious of a pet food when ______ (there are things)
- different forms of the same ingredient are listed separately
- diet digestibility is 75% or more
- quality of packaging is bad or you can see fat soakign through the bag
- if animal protein is not high on the ingredient list
- there is not added calcium
in the “grain free” marketing world, which 2 ingredients receive the most scrutiny?
corn and wheat
true or false: corn is readily utilized by dogs
true! but it does have a incomplete essential amino acid profile
do dogs often have hypersensitivity reactions to corn?
no
do dogs often have hypersensitivity reactions to wheat?
yes! usually due to gluten
true or false: corn is more likely to cause problems than wheat
false! wheat is more likely to cause problems than corn
list some potential disadvantages of grain free foods
- can be high in fat and protein which can predispose to obesity
- protein is used as an energy source which is expensive to buy and it is hard for the pet to use protein as an energy source metabolically
- bad choice for patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency, fat intolerance, or pancreatitis
is dilated cardiomyopathy from grain free diets reversible?
in most cases yes, if you switch to a more conventional diet and supplement with taurine
what are the two forms of raw diets available?
- total mixed rations
- combination rations
list 4 documented disadvantages of raw foods
GI foreign bodies and perforation from bones
gastroenteritis from bacterial contamination or high fat content
sepsis
iatrogenic hyperthyroidism
is it possible to provide complete and balanced raw diets?
YES
is pet-food bourne infection limited to raw foods?
no! it can happen with dry foods as well
what are some common bacterial/parasitic infectious agents found in raw foods?
salmonella, E coli, listeria, staph, toxoplasmosis
how should you approach clients and provide advice in regards to a raw diet?
be unbiased and as non judgemental as possible and be well informed. Use the exact same criteria to assess the food. promote safe handling to decrease the risk of food bourne infection, don’t feed the pets in the kitchen if possible, and don’t feed your dog raw if you are immunocompromised. poultry seems more risky than other meats, so avoid poultry
