Midterm 1 Part 2

Question 1

there are 4 organization involved in the regulation of pet foods. list them

Answer 1

FDA, USDA, NRC, and AAFCO

Question 2

What are the main roles of AAFCO?

Answer 2

they are a nongovernmental organzation that sets guidelines for uniform labelling and nutritional adequacy of animal pet foods

Question 3

AAFCO guidlines form the basis of regulations in all states except

Answer 3

nevada and alaska

Question 4

true or false: AAFCO compliance is voluntary

Answer 4

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

Question 5

AAFCO ensures that pet foods are _____ and _______

Answer 5

uniformly labelled, nutritionally adequate

Question 6

AAFCO compliant labels must include:

Answer 6

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

Question 7

true or false: companies making pet foods put feeding amount recommendations that are too high

Answer 7

true, they would rather overshoot than undershoot (don’t want any dogs looking skinny)

Question 8

what are the big 4 things that are not included in the pet food label that are very important

Answer 8

overall digestibility, biologic value of protein, quality of the product, and contamination (potantially)

Question 9

what are the two main ways that a food can be determined as nutritionally adequate by AAFCO?

Answer 9

1. computer analysis to meet AAFCO guidelines
2. feeding trials

Question 10

what is once assumption made during the process of computer analysis of feed?

Answer 10

you’re assuming that the ingredients used in the food you’re analysing have the name nutrient profile as the computer database

Question 11

what are the 4 components in an AAFCO feeding trial?

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

why do we prefer to recommend foods that have undergone feeding trails as opposd to just the computer analysis

Answer 12

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

Question 13

what is the “family product rule”?

Answer 13

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!

Question 14

an animal consuming an acceptable diet should:

Answer 14

maintain body weight and condition, have a good quality coat, and normal stool

Question 15

you should be suspicious of a pet food when ______ (there are things)

Answer 15

• 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

Question 15

you should be suspicious of a pet food when ______ (there are things)

Answer 15

• 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

Question 15

you should be suspicious of a pet food when ______ (there are things)

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

in the “grain free” marketing world, which 2 ingredients receive the most scrutiny?

Answer 16

corn and wheat

Question 17

true or false: corn is readily utilized by dogs

Answer 17

true! but it does have a incomplete essential amino acid profile

Question 18

do dogs often have hypersensitivity reactions to corn?

Answer 18

no

Question 19

do dogs often have hypersensitivity reactions to wheat?

Answer 19

yes! usually due to gluten

Question 20

true or false: corn is more likely to cause problems than wheat

Answer 20

false! wheat is more likely to cause problems than corn

Question 21

list some potential disadvantages of grain free foods

Answer 21

• 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

Question 22

is dilated cardiomyopathy from grain free diets reversible?

Answer 22

in most cases yes, if you switch to a more conventional diet and supplement with taurine

Question 23

what are the two forms of raw diets available?

Answer 23

1. total mixed rations
2. combination rations

Question 24

list 4 documented disadvantages of raw foods

Answer 24

GI foreign bodies and perforation from bones
gastroenteritis from bacterial contamination or high fat content
sepsis
iatrogenic hyperthyroidism

Question 25

is it possible to provide complete and balanced raw diets?

Answer 25

YES

Question 26

is pet-food bourne infection limited to raw foods?

Answer 26

no! it can happen with dry foods as well

Question 27

what are some common bacterial/parasitic infectious agents found in raw foods?

Answer 27

salmonella, E coli, listeria, staph, toxoplasmosis

Question 28

how should you approach clients and provide advice in regards to a raw diet?

Answer 28

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