Common Animal Ailments

Question 1

Canine Hip Dysplasia

Answer 1

Inheritable affecting dogs >35lbs.
Characterized by laxity of hip join (coxfemoral joint).
Degenerative disease.
High growth rate exacerbate CHD
Sx: pain, lameness, difficult standing, climbing, stiffness, decreased stride length.
Tx: wt management, anti inflammatory drugs (aspirin), hip replacement, selective breeding

Question 2

Allergic disorders

Answer 2

Animal: dogs and cats
Cause: over active immune system. IgE are produced, and attach to mass cells in skin and other sights, when animal contacts allergic, the cells are triggered and release inflammatory substances.
Most common allergy: flea saliva.
Tx: allergy test looking for specific IgE antibodies in blood serum.

Question 3

Diabetes Mellitus

Answer 3

Type 1 most common. Is the destruction of the insulin secreting beta cells in pancreas.
Animal: middle age to old female dog and neutered male cats.
Type 2 develop overweight pets.
Sx: polydipsia, thirst, increased urination, polyurea, increased appetite (polyphagia), cataracts.
Human and pet Tx is the same

Question 4

Hypothyroid

Answer 4

Metabolic disease
Animal: dogs

Question 5

Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)

Answer 5

Animal: older dogs and cats
When kidney fails, an accumulation of nitrogenous and other compounds results in a protein catabolism build up.
Tx: restriction of protein and phosphorus. Prevents them from accumulating in the tissues at a high rate.

Question 6

Neoplasia

Answer 6

Cancer in older pets.
Sx: swelling, sores that don’t heal, wt, loss, loss of appetite, bleeding or discharge of any opening, odor, difficulty eating, etc.

Question 7

Antifreeze toxicity

Answer 7

Contains ethylene glycol (sweet)
1 tsp to kill a cat
Causes AKI
Sx: inebriation, vomiting, seizures

Question 8

Rodenticides

Answer 8

Inhibit production of vitamin K depending clotting factors. Other agents contain vitamin D

Question 9

Pesticides

Answer 9

Cats
Beware of giving drugs or Tx to cats formulated for other animals

Question 10

Plant toxicity

Answer 10

Easter lily, tiger lily, day lily are toxic
2-3 leaves.

Question 11

Lead toxicity

Answer 11

Lead in pain and paint residue

Question 12

Zinc toxicity

Answer 12

Obtained from cages or chewing on things with zinc.
Results in hemolysis and organ failure

Question 13

Chocolate poisoning

Answer 13

Contain theobromine, the darker the high the content
Dogs lack enzyme to metabolize it.
4oz kill a toy dog