Examples Of Digestive Issues

Question 1

Lip fold pyoderma

Answer 1

Found in breeds with droopy lips

Sanitation important to prevent

Question 2

Laceration and burns of mouth

Answer 2

Common injuries

Due to fighting, chewing of objects, licking corrosive substances

Question 3

Stomatitis

Answer 3

Inflammation of the mouth , gums, tongue
May be toxic, viral (feline calici virus)
Yeast infections, trauma - very painful
Drooling, refusal to eat

Question 4

Oral papillomas

Answer 4

Warts caused by a virus
Seen in young dogs
May have as many as 50-100
Disappears within 2-3 months

Question 5

Foreign objects in mouth

Answer 5

Fish hooks
Porcupine quills
String (cats)
Generally need sedation to remove

Question 6

Growths in mouth

Answer 6

Include benign and malignant tumors
Most are benign
If malignant it is a bad prognosis (melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma)

Question 7

Retained deciduous teeth

Answer 7

Usually canine in small breed dogs
Should be gone by 6 months
Interfere with permanent teeth eruption

Question 8

Malocclusion

Answer 8

Incorrect bite
Overshot - upper jaw longer
Undershot - lower jaw longer
Wry mouth- one side longer so face twists

Question 9

Periodontal disease

Answer 9

Starts with gingivitis
Inflammation of gums when bacteria builds up along gum line
Reversible early on but if not treated they get periodontis - inflammation of deeper structure around tooth
Gum recession- if severe can see abscesses , loosened teeth, pathological bone fracture of mandible

Question 10

Tooth fractures

Answer 10

Lead to root abscesses , swelling around the eye, possible eye damage

Question 11

FORL

Answer 11

Feline Oral Resorptive Lesions -

A type of painful tooth decay in cats

Question 12

Eosinophilic Ulcers

Answer 12

Rodent Ulcers
Disease of cats - raised shiny pink lesions on lips, thighs, nose
Responsive to steroids
Biopsy

Question 13

Pharyngitis

Answer 13

Sore throat 
May include tonsillitis 
Usually infectious 
Common to find foreign bodies in throat (bones, sticks, foxtails, quills) 
Also can see tumors in tonsils

Question 14

Esophageal Disease

Answer 14

Regurgitation (food passively expelled from esophagus without retching, NOT vomiting)
Megaesophagus - enlarged esophagus, causes regurgitation 
Foreign Bodies (common problem, may lead to perforation , strictures or esophagitis)

Question 15

Esophageal Growths

Answer 15

Rare and mostly malignant

Question 16

Gastric and duodenal ulcers

Answer 16

Diagnosed with endoscopy,
most common cause is giving steroids and NSAIDs together
most common clinical sign is vomiting +/- blood
May perforate in which case it is a medical emergency

Question 17

GDV

Answer 17

Gastric dilation and volvulus
Also called bloat Medical Emergency
Important condition, starts with dilation of stomach, followed by twisting or rotation of stomach, blocking both the entrance and exit of stomach
Dogs get shocky, see non productive vomiting , distended abdomen
Requires aggressive fluid therapy and immediate surgery , gastropexy can be done to prevent torsion (suture stomach to body wall)

Question 18

Gastritis

Answer 18

May be due to eating garbage , gastric ulcers , foreign bodies , hair balls , bacterial or viral infection , drugs, food allergies
Commonly see vomiting, if persistent is a medical emergency , distinguish between acute and chronic

Question 19

Motion sickness

Answer 19

Very common, especially in puppies
See yawning and drooling followed by vomiting
Many vets prescribe human anti- motion drugs but there is a licensed drug for dogs
Cerenia

Question 20

Inflammatory bowel disease

Answer 20

Group of diseases of intestines causing chronic diarrhea , weight loss, anemia and malnutrition , inflammatory cells move into lining of intestines
Diagnosed with biopsy

Question 21

Acute infectious Enteritis

Answer 21

Infection of the intestinal tract
Sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea
Most common is Parvo Virus but bacteria can also cause it
Tests are available to determine cause - culture / fecal SNAP tests -expensive
Treated with IV fluids , +/- anti biotic, antiemetics , coating agents

Question 22

Malabsorption Syndrome

Answer 22

Inability to absorb food

Either due to poor digestion or damage to intestinal wall , many different causes

Question 23

Colitis

Answer 23

Inflammation to colon
Very common cause of diarrhea
Often causes bloody mucoid diarrhea with straining , pain , numerous causes

Question 24

Foreign bodies

Answer 24

Very common
May get stuck in intestinal tract and cause obstruction
May perforate intestinal tract
May be hard to diagnose if not radio-opaque
May require surgeries
In cats, hair balls are a problem

Question 25

Intestinal obstructions

Answer 25

Usually due to foreign bodies or intussusception (telescoping of intestinal tract) May be caused by tumors, hernias, or roundworms Clinical signs: abdominal pain, vomiting, no stool passed

Question 26

Flatulence

Answer 26

Common complaint usually related to diet but may be a sign of malabsorption

Question 27

Coprophagia

Answer 27

Eating feces Usually just a bad habit Numerous "treatments" which is an indication that none work particularly well, occasionaly due to medical problem

Question 28

Peritonitis

Answer 28

Inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity Usually due to leakage of intestinal contents into abdomen but can also result from viral infections (FIP) , bladder rupture, penetrating abdominal wounds, uterine rupture, post surgical sepsis, can be fatal, requires surgery

Question 29

Constipation

Answer 29

Absent, infrequent or difficult defecation Important not to confuse with colitis , bladder obstruction (esp cats) , anorectal obstruction (ie matted hair around anus) Treated with enemas, laxatives, increased water intake, increasing fiber, drugs that increase intestinal mobility

Question 30

Diarrhea

Answer 30

Single most common complaint from clients Passage of lose unformed stools Usually an emergency to client because dog is having accidents in the house! May include vomiting. Wide range of causes and severity , can be mild self limiting diarrhea all the way to fatal hemorrhage V&D

Question 31

Causes of diarrhea

Answer 31

``` Garbage guts Salmonella Intestinal parasites Toxins Partial/Full obstructions Food intolerances Viral Expensive to run tests ```

Question 32

Treatments for diarrhea

Answer 32

Depends on severity of disease | IV fluids , coating agents, antibiotics, probiotics, pain meds, antiemetics, intestinal diets, hypoallergenic diets

Question 33

Rectal obstructions

Answer 33

``` Prostatic hyperplasia or tumors Pelvic fracture Fecal impactions Tumors Polyps ```

Question 34

Pseudo constipation

Answer 34

Matted stool around anus

Question 35

Rectal Prolapse

Answer 35

Protrusion of the rectum through the anus due to progressive prolonged straining

Question 36

Anal Sac Disease

Answer 36

Impaction, infection, abscess and rupture Should have good understanding of this rupture Common clinical sign is scooting

Question 37

Polyps and Cancer

Answer 37

Can occur in any part of the digestive tract

Question 38

Liver disease

Answer 38

Signs of liver failure include jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, bleeding and edema

Question 39

Hepatitis

Answer 39

Many things damage the liver - viruses, bacteria, toxins, parasites, drugs, autoimmune disease, endocrine disease, Liver can repair itself if treated early May end up with liver failure

Question 40

Hepatic lipidosis

Answer 40

Fatty liver disease Disease unique to cats Commonly see in over weight cats that go off their food for any reason As fat is mobilized it damages the liver , the cat becomes anorexic, liver failure develops and if not treated often results in death Treatment is aggressive nutritional support including a feeding tube

Question 41

Exocrine pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

Answer 41

Disease of exocrine pancreas where there is inadequate production of digestive enzymes , requiring supplementing diet with digestive enzymes (Viokase)

Question 42

Pancreatitis

Answer 42

Digestive enzymes released into tissue of pancreas , causing massive inflammation and sometimes damaging the endocrine portion (Islets) which may lead to diabetes; pancreatitis causes vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and can be fatal if severe

Question 43

Triad of pancreatitis, hepatitis, duodenitis

Answer 43

Commonly seen in cats due to proximity of pancreatic and bile duct

Question 44

Diabetes Mellitus

Answer 44

Common disease in cats Due to inadequate production of insulin or decreased sensitivity to insulin, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) Clinical signs are : PU/PD, weight loss despite normal appetite, progresses to anorexia, weakness, dehydration , can be fatal, Treated with insulin and diet

Question 45

Hernias

Answer 45

Abnormal openings in the abdominal wall Three common locations are umbilical, inguinal, diaphragmatic Abnormal contents , especially fat might push out through openings If loops of intestine get trapped in hernias can result in obstruction which can be fatal

Question 46

Megacolon

Answer 46

Abnormal distension of colon where feces collect in the colon

Question 47

Intestinal Parasites

Answer 47

Most common parasites in Calgary are roundworms and Giardia | Usually not visible to owner, require fecal test

Question 48

Viral diseases

Answer 48

``` Parvovirus Feline panleukopenia FIP These diseases affect the intestinal tract as well as other parts of the body Diarrhea +/- is a common sign ```

Question 49

Anorexia

Answer 49

Non specific sign | Distinguish between lack of appetite vs not able to eat