Exam 1 - Interrelation of Behavioral & Medical Problems Flashcards

1
Q

T/F: all medical problems will have some effect on animal behavior

A

true

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2
Q

non-specific anxiety in dogs has been linked to what medical issue?

A

heart base tumors

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3
Q

why have we seen recent reports of splenic tumors associated with anxiety in companion animals?

A

anxiety not responsive to fluoxetine

abundance of sequestered immune cells (WBCs) in the spleen relays a message to the brain leading to behavior changes

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4
Q

‘________ ___________’ secondary to allergies in dogs is common

A

phantom licking

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5
Q

T/F: all behavior problems have some effect on the animal’s biology

A

true

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6
Q

how does stress in an animal affect its biology?

A

stress increases cortisol & alters WBC distribution in the body

WBC go to the spleen which sends a message to the brain

circulation of ‘killer cells’ increases

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7
Q

how do drugs alter an animals biology in regards to behavior?

A

can cause ataxia, seizures, depression, sound/light hypersensitivity, & vomiting

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8
Q

how does depression alter an animals biology in regards to behavior?

A

look at dexamethasone tests & thyroid levels

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9
Q

what are signs of pain related to behavior in dogs & cats?

A

difficulty jumping, withdrawn/hiding, absence of grooming, playing less, general activity decrease, general mood, temperament changes, avoiding bright areas, etc

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10
Q

what are some characteristics seen in animals with behavioral problems that suggest a medical etiology?

A

very young or senior animal

abrupt onset or change in character

pre-existing medical conditions

breed predispositions

inconsistent or unidentifiable triggers

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11
Q

what should be included in the work up of behavioral & medical patients?

A

signalment, history, physical exam, direct observation of behavior, problem list, differential diagnosis, diagnostic tests, diagnosis, treatment plan, & reevaluating poor treatment responses

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12
Q

what are the presenting signs of an animal with house soiling (urine) problems that interrelate with behavioral/medical issues?

A

dog or cat that is urinating around the house

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13
Q

what are the general characteristics of a cat with idiopathic cystitis?

A

hypervigilance/hypersensitivity, stress increases sympathetic activation (increased ACTH & reduced glucocorticoids) which results in pain, increased stress, & increased pain

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14
Q

what are some systemic characteristics of a cat with idiopathic cystitis?

A

pollakiuria, stranguria, pain, & irritated bladder wall

variable to extensive inappropriate urination that waxes & wanes over time

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15
Q

what is polyuria?

A

production of abnormally large volumes of dilute urine

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16
Q

what is oliguria?

A

the production of abnormally small amounts of urine

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17
Q

what is pollakiuria?

A

increased frequency of urination

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18
Q

what are some medical differentials for a dog or cat that is house soiling (urine)?

A

urinary calculi

bacterial infection

idiopathic interstitial cystitis in cats

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19
Q

what are some skin & gi signs of idiopathic interstitial cystitis in cats?

A

skin - barbering of the abdomen because upper motor neurons of the pelvic cavity synapse in same areas as neurons of the abdominal skin

gi - vomiting, diarrhea, & constipation

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20
Q

what are some behavioral differentials for a dog or cat that is house soiling (urine)?

A

marking behavior, improper house training, poor litter box management, & poor access to acceptable areas

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21
Q

what is the treatment for idiopathic interstitial cystitis in cats?

A

lower their environmental stress

buprenorphine to control pain

+/- antianxiety medication

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22
Q

what are some medical differentials for a dog or cat that is house soiling (urine)?

A

bladder irritation - UTI, calculi, idiopathic interstitial cystitis in cats

kidney disease

polydipsia

incontinence

neurologic disease

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23
Q

what is the typical presenting signs of a dog or cat that is house soiling feces?

A

dog defecating inside the house & cat defecating outside of the litter box

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24
Q

what are some behavioral differentials for a dog or cat that is house soiling (feces)?

A

improper house training

poor litter box management

separation anxiety

poor access to acceptable areas

painful defecation - especially cats

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25
Q

what are some medical differentials for a dog or cat that is house soiling (feces)?

A

parasites

IBD/colitis

neoplasia

megacolon

metabolic/endocrine disease

drugs

neurologic disease

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26
Q

what are the presenting medical signs of an animal with a portosystemic shunt?

A

seizures, poor growth, apparent blindness

27
Q

what are the presenting behavioral signs of an animal with a portosystemic shunt?

A

poor learning ability, aggression, stereotypies, & lethargic or hyper behavior

28
Q

what are some differentials for a portosystemic shunt?

A

liver disease, distemper, hypoglycemia, toxicities, epilepsy, & hydrocephalus

29
Q

what dogs are commonly affected by portosystemic shunts?

A

small breed dogs usually less than 10 lbs

30
Q

what large breed dogs has hydrocephalus been reported in?

A

st. bernards, rottweilers, & bull terriers

31
Q

T/F: presenting signs of hydrocephalus depends on the areas of the brain that are affected

A

true

32
Q

what dogs are commonly predisposed to hydrocephalus?

A

small breed dogs

33
Q

what are the presenting behavioral signs of an animal with hydrocephalus?

A

stereotypies including circling

aggression

poor learning ability

hyper behavior

lethargy

34
Q

what are the presenting medical signs of an animal with hydrocephalus?

A

seizures!!!!

35
Q

what are some differentials for hydrocephalus?

A

congenital hydrocephalus - portosystemic shunt

secondary obstructive hydrocephalus - neoplasia, trauma, inflammatory CNS disease, & other seizure disorders

36
Q

what are the presenting behavioral signs of an animal with hypothyroidism?

A

aggression, hyper behavior, lethargy, & senility

37
Q

what are the presenting medical signs of an animal with hypothyroidism?

A

bilateral hair loss, non-pruritic alopecia, hyperpigmentation, & poor muscle tone

38
Q

what are some drugs that may lower thyroid levels causing a misinterpretation of test results? what else may cause a secondarily lower level?

A

anti-seizure drugs, furosemide, glucocorticoids, & sulfonamides

illness

39
Q

what are some drugs that may elevate thyroid levels causing a misinterpretation of test results? what else may cause a secondarily higher level?

A

estrogen & progesterone

normal fluctuations, recovery from an illness, diestrus, & auto-antibodies

40
Q

what are some differentials for hypothyroidism?

A

iatrogenic hypothyroidism - post hyperthyroid treatment in cats

misinterpretation of test results

different types of aggression

41
Q

what are the presenting medical signs of an animal with seizures?

A

generalized seizures

focal seizures - ‘chewing gum’ fits

42
Q

what are the presenting behavioral signs of an animal with seizures?

A

aggression - Dr. Jeckell Mr. Hyde personality

stereotypy including circling

star gazing

air snapping

restlessness

43
Q

what are some behavioral differentials for seizures? what are some medical differentials for seizures?

A

behavioral - different types of aggression, stress, & learned behavior

medical - idiopathic, toxicities, hydrocephalus, & portosystemic shunts

44
Q

what are the presenting signs of an animal with excessive licking?

A

history of licking an inanimate object excessively

45
Q

what are some behavioral differentials for excessive licking? what are some medical differentials for excessive licking?

A

behavioral - spilled food/liquid, stereotypy or OCD, separation anxiety, & stress

medical - gi issues & allergies

46
Q

what may trigger feline hyperesthesia syndrome?

A

tactile stimulation

47
Q

what medical & behavioral signs are seen in self-directed aggression?

A

medical - focal like seizure activity

behavioral - unexplained running, screaming, tail chasing, aggression, & rippling skin (rolling skin syndrome)

48
Q

what special studies have been done for feline hyperesthesia syndrome?

A

spontaneous EMG activity in TL epaxial muscles

vacuoles in biopsied muscles similar to inclusion body myositis/myopathy in humans

49
Q

how is feline hyperesthesia syndrome treated?

A

fluoxetine & pain medications

50
Q

what are the presenting signs of an animal with floating limb syndrome?

A

attacks are directed towards a hind limb, often mild pre-attack signs, & may or may not be able to disrupt the animal

51
Q

what are some differentials for floating limb syndrome?

A

seizures, encephalitis, myositis/myopathy, idiopathic, & associated with self-biting in primates

52
Q

how is floating limb syndrome treated?

A

treatments are empirical based on whether they help or not

seizure meds, fluoxetine, & pain meds

53
Q

what are the presenting signs of an animal with self-biting behavior?

A

physical damage done to the rear parts of the body

54
Q

what are some differentials for self-biting behavior?

A

cauda equina syndrome, dermatitis, neuropathy, seizures, myositis/myopathy, & idiopathic

55
Q

how is self-biting behavior treated?

A

wound care - antibiotics +/- pain meds

fluoxetine

gabapentin

56
Q

what is cognitive dysfunction?

A

age-related or senior onset behavior changes that are not attributable to another general medical condition

57
Q

what are the main presenting signs of cognitive dysfunction in companion animals?

A

disorientation - 49% of dogs & 22% of cats

loss of house training - 27% of affected cats

abnormal sleep/wake cycles - 57% of affected dogs

decreased greetings/responsiveness to family members - 51% of affected dogs

increased vocalizations - 61% of affected cats & most of them do this at night

generalized/separation anxiety

reduced sensory ability - excessive sniffing

58
Q

what is the relationship to animal age in regards to cognitive dysfunction?

A

dog age with at least 1 impairment -

11-12 = 28%
14 = 48%
16 = 68%

cats with at least 1 impairment -

7-11 = 36%
12-15 = 60%
16-19 = 88%

59
Q

what are some neuropathological changes seen in animals with cognitive dysfunction?

A

increased production of free radicals & decreased clearance

beta amyloid plaques with the amount of oxidative damage correlating with severity of clinical signs

ventricular dilation, reduced cerebral perfusion

60
Q

what are some neurotransmitter changes seen in animals with cognitive dysfunction?

A

decrease in ACh which affects motor impulses to skeletal muscle

decreased serotonin - reduces appetite, sleep, memory, & affects mood/social behavior

increase in monoamine oxidase-b levels which decreases dopamine & reduces cognition

61
Q

where should you start with treatments for a patient with cognitive dysfunction?

A

rule out & treat medical conditions (ortho problems very common in cats, deafness, vision problems)

rule out & treat behavioral problems with similar presentations

62
Q

how is environmental enrichment used to treat cognitive dysfunction?

A

stimulate mental activity

night light, white noise at night, exercise during the day, & schedule physical/social activities

63
Q

how is dietary management & supplements used to treat cognitive dysfunction?

A

supplements - melatonin, nutriceuticals, & senilife

dietary - antioxidants (hills b/d, vitamins C, E, B6, beta carotine, selenium, flavonoids, & carotenoids)

medium chain fatty acids - purina bright mind or purina neuro care

64
Q

what pharmacologic therapies are used to treat cognitive dysfunction?

A

selegiline - carries significant concern when using with other drugs

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