Inflammatory & Non-inflammatory Exocrine Pancreatic and SI Disorders
What is the most specific and recommended test for diagnosing Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)?
The Trypsin-like Immunoreactivity (TLI) test
What can falsely increase TLI? Lipemia
What are the five relative radiographic opacities, ordered from most radiolucent (blackest) to most radiopaque (whitest)?
Air (gas), fat, soft tissue/fluid, bone (mineral), and metal
Which two specific trace minerals are crucial for the regeneration of tissues and healing of skin wounds?
Zinc and Copper
Think of huskies and malamutes
Which specific amino acid deficiency causes retinal degeneration and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in cats?
Taurine
What two specific Omega-6 fatty acids are essential in a cat's diet because they cannot synthesize them on their own?
Linoleic Acid and Arachidonic Acid
What three organs are concurrently inflamed in a case of Feline Triaditis?
The pancreas, the liver (or biliary system), and the intestines
What are the five "Roentgen Signs" used to systematically describe structures or abnormalities on a radiograph?
Number, Size, Shape (Contour/margin), Position, and Opacity
When looking at a feed label, what exactly does the "Crude Protein" value measure?
It measures the amount of nitrogen present in the feed
Because cats cannot convert beta-carotene into this specific fat-soluble vitamin, a deficiency can cause night blindness and conjunctivitis. What is the vitamin?
Vitamin A (Retinol)
True or False: Senior pet diets are strictly regulated and have separate, standardized nutrient requirements.
False. Senior diets are not regulated, have no separate official requirements, and can vary greatly in calories and protein content depending on the brand
In which specific section of the small intestine is Folate primarily absorbed?
The duodenum (proximal small intestine)
Where is Cobalamin primarily absorbed? Ileum
How can you determine if a dog's kidneys are a normal size using a Ventro-Dorsal (VD) radiograph?
Their length should measure between 2.5 and 3.5 times the length of the L2 vertebra
What is the rule of thumb for determining if a dog's small intestine is a normal size on a radiograph? The luminal size should not be wider than 1.6 times the height of the mid-body of the L5 vertebra, or 2 times the width of a rib
What defines an animal that is strictly at a "Maintenance" nutritional stage?
The animal has no gain or loss in weight, is not pregnant or lactating, and is not engaged in any performance or production
In pigs, poor water access or improper drinkers can cause thirst, neurological signs, and sudden death. What is this specific disease called?
Salt toxicity (or water deprivation)
Sow's milk lacks what mineral and piglets are often kept indoors, young piglets require injections within the first few days of life? Iron
Why is a higher ___ content recommended for working and active dogs?
Higher carbohydrates provide a sustained energy release during physical activity
What is intestinal lymphangiectasia?
It is the abnormal dilation of intestinal lymphatic vessels (lacteals), which causes lymph to leak into the gut lumen and leads to a protein-losing enteropathy
Where are the right and left kidneys normally located in a cat relative to the vertebrae?
Feline kidneys sit further back than canine kidneys; the right kidney is between L2 and L4, and the left kidney is between L3 and L5
What defines a nutrient as being "essential"?
An essential nutrient must be supplied in the diet because the animal cannot synthesize it in sufficient amounts on its own
Cattle grazing on lush spring pastures or cereal crops can suffer from muscle spasms, staggers, and sudden death due to low absorption of what specific macromineral in the blood and CSF?
Magnesium (causing Grass tetany)
Olivia, a 28lb pothound presents to your clinic on her birthday. What is what is her Resting Energy Requirement (RER)?
RER = 70 x (12.72 kg)^0.75 = 471/472
What initial enzymatic event inside the pancreas triggers the severe tissue destruction seen in pancreatitis?
The inappropriate, premature activation of trypsinogen into trypsin within the acinar cells
Bonus: Are routine serum amylase and lipase tests useful for diagnosing pancreatitis in cats and horses? No, measuring amylase and lipase is considered useless in large animals and has questionable diagnostic relevance in cats
When looking at a Ventro-Dorsal (VD) radiograph of a dog, what specific shape might the large intestine (colon) naturally resemble?
It may look like a question mark
Why is it absolutely necessary to calculate the Dry Matter Basis when comparing a canned food to a dry kibble?
Because canned foods contain significantly more water (often around 78-82% moisture), which makes their "As Fed" nutrient percentages appear much lower than dry foods; removing the water allows for an accurate, direct comparison of the actual nutrient density
How do you calculate the percentage of Dry Matter in a specific diet? You subtract the moisture percentage from 100%
What is the formula used to convert an "As Fed" nutrient (like protein) into a Dry Matter Basis? divide the "as fed" nutrient percentage by the calculated Dry Matter percentage, and then multiply by 100
What specific breed of dog has an inherited genetic predisposition to Copper Storage Disease, leading to liver disease, jaundice, and weight loss?
Bedlington Terriers
What is the difference between MER and RER
MER- It is the average amount of energy an animal needs each day to maintain basic body functions, support growth, and accommodate varying activity levels
RER- baseline calories an animal needs to maintain basic functions for life, such as respiration, digestion, circulation, and metabolism