ARC Health and Nutrition 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which vitamin deficiency in rescued cats most commonly causes blindness and reproductive failure?
- Vitamin A (Correct answer)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin B12
Correct answer: Vitamin A
Cats cannot synthesize Vitamin A and must obtain it from their diet; deficiency leads to blindness, skin lesions, and reproductive failure.
Question 2: A rescued dog arrives severely emaciated. What feeding approach minimizes the risk of refeeding syndrome?
- Small, frequent meals starting at 25% of calculated caloric needs (Correct answer)
- One large meal per day of high-protein food
- Free-choice feeding with calorie-dense kibble
- IV fluids only for the first 72 hours
Correct answer: Small, frequent meals starting at 25% of calculated caloric needs
Refeeding syndrome occurs when metabolically starved animals receive too many calories too quickly, causing dangerous electrolyte shifts; gradual reintroduction at 25% of needs is safest.
Question 3: What is the primary role of taurine in feline nutrition?
- Supports heart function and retinal health (Correct answer)
- Aids in calcium absorption for bone strength
- Regulates blood glucose levels
- Provides essential fatty acids for coat health
Correct answer: Supports heart function and retinal health
Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats that is critical for cardiac muscle function and retinal photoreceptor maintenance; deficiency causes dilated cardiomyopathy and blindness.
Question 4: Which of the following foods is toxic to both dogs and cats and should never be given to rescued animals?
- Xylitol-containing peanut butter (Correct answer)
- Plain cooked chicken
- Canned tuna in water
- Plain cooked rice
Correct answer: Xylitol-containing peanut butter
Xylitol causes rapid insulin release in dogs leading to hypoglycemia and liver failure; it is also toxic to cats and must be avoided in all rescue animals.
Question 5: A malnourished rabbit rescue shows signs of GI stasis. What is the most critical nutritional intervention?
- Ensure access to unlimited grass hay immediately (Correct answer)
- Offer high-protein pellets as the primary food source
- Provide vegetable baby food via syringe
- Supplement with probiotic yogurt
Correct answer: Ensure access to unlimited grass hay immediately
Grass hay provides the fiber necessary to restore gut motility in rabbits; it must form the bulk of the diet to prevent life-threatening GI stasis.
Question 6: Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with severe diarrhea in rescued animals?
- Hypokalemia (low potassium) (Correct answer)
- Hypernatremia (high sodium)
- Hypercalcemia (high calcium)
- Hyperphosphatemia (high phosphorus)
Correct answer: Hypokalemia (low potassium)
Prolonged diarrhea causes significant potassium loss through the gastrointestinal tract, leading to hypokalemia, which can cause muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias.
Question 7: What is the recommended protein content range (dry matter basis) for adult maintenance dog food in rescue settings?
- 18–25% (Correct answer)
- 5–10%
- 40–50%
- 60–70%
Correct answer: 18–25%
AAFCO guidelines recommend a minimum of 18% protein on a dry matter basis for adult dog maintenance, with 18–25% being appropriate for healthy rescue dogs.
ARC Health and Nutrition 2
Which vitamin deficiency in rescued cats most commonly causes blindness and reproductive failure?