bio 369 exam 2

Canidae

The biological family that includes dogs, wolves, foxes, and other similar animals.

Carnivores

Animals that primarily eat meat; Canidae are classified as carnivores but are not obligate carnivores like cats.

Natural diet

The diet that an animal would eat in the wild, which for Canidae includes mammals, insects, and vegetation.

Canis familiaris

The scientific name for the domestic dog.

Coat

The fur covering on a dog; serves purposes related to survival and aesthetics.

Nutritional Philosophy

The framework guiding dietary choices, with terms such as Natural, Traditional, Raw, Cooked, and Grain-free.

AAFCO

The Association of American Feed Control Officials, which establishes guidelines for pet food labeling and nutritional adequacy.

Mercy of estival

A measure of daily caloric requirements for canines, calculated based on weight.

Grain-free diet

A dietary option that excludes grains, sometimes based on the misconception that grains are unhealthy.

Nutritional adequacy statement

A statement required by AAFCO indicating that a pet food meets established nutrient profiles.

Digestive system

The biological system responsible for the digestion of food, which in dogs is more suited for raw rather than cooked food.

Protein

A necessary macronutrient in both animal and dog diets, essential for growth and repair.

Carbohydrates

Sugars and starches that provide energy; excess in the form of fillers can lead to nutritional issues.

Dietary fat

A macronutrient that provides energy and essential fatty acids; needed in balanced amounts for canine health.

Life stage nutritional needs

Different nutritional requirements based on the life stage of the dog (puppy, adult, senior).

Energy

The capability of doing work; a physical property of matter.

Free Energy (ΔG)

The proportion of energy available for doing work; if negative, the reaction can occur spontaneously, if positive, it requires input of energy.

Calorie (c)

Energy in the form of heat required to raise the temperature of 1g (1ml) of water from 14.5 to 15.5°C.

Kilocalorie (kcal)

Equivalent to 1000 calories; often referred as Calorie (C) in food energy.

Joule (J)

Energy in the form of force when one newton is displaced a distance of one meter.

Energy Density

Determines whether the concentration of a nutrient in a diet is adequate, too low, or too high.

Amino Acids

Organic compounds that combine to form proteins; essential for various biological functions.

Taurine

An essential amino acid for cats, important for retina, cardiac, and skeletal muscle functionality.

AAFCO

Association of American Feed Control Officials; sets the standards for pet food nutritional adequacy.

Metabolizable Energy (ME)

Energy available for maintenance, growth, and reproduction after subtracting the energy lost in feces and urine.

Gross Energy (GE)

Maximum energy that can theoretically be obtained from food.

Net Energy (NE)

Metabolizable energy minus heat production, important in animal agriculture.

Energy Requirements

The specific energy needs of an organism based on factors like body weight and activity level.

Obligate Carnivores

Animals that must eat meat for survival as they require certain nutrients only found in animal products.

Arginine

An essential amino acid for cats involved in the urea cycle; deficiency can lead to ammonia toxicity.

Vitamin A

Essential for cats and cannot be provided via Beta-carotene; required retinoids are found exclusively in animal products.

Vitamin D

Must be supplemented in the diet of cats as they cannot synthesize it in their skin.

Niacin

Vitamin B3 that cannot be synthesized from Tryptophan in cats; deficiency can cause severe issues.