Clinical Animal Practice (CAP) Semester 1 Practice Test

Removing the ileocecal valve will affect intestinal transit time in which way?

The dog will have an increased functional transit time (slows down passage)

The dog will have a decreased functional transit time (speeds up passage)

The ileocecal valve acts as a regulator between the ileum and the cecum, slowing the flow of chyme and preventing backflow from the colon into the ileum. When this valve is removed, there’s less resistance to passage from the small intestine into the large intestine, so contents move more quickly. This speeds up passage through the small intestine, shortening the functional transit time.

Vitamin B absorption isn’t completely blocked by valve removal—the ileum still handles B12 absorption with intrinsic factor—so rapid loss of all vitamin B is not accurate. Stricture formation is not a typical result of removing the valve; that’s related to scarring or inflammation from other causes.

The dog will not be able to absorb any vitamin B

Stricture formation is more likely than in other areas of the small or large intestinal tract