SAM I Final Exam Material Flashcards
(173 cards)
What are the signs of systemic distemper?
fever, nasal/ocular discharges, chorioretinitis, diarrhea, vomiting, pustular dermatitis, enamel hypoplasia, “hard pad”
T/F: Occult heartworm infections are very rare in cats
False
Occult heartworm infections are very common in cats (up to 80%)
What is the initial treatment protocol in a dehydrated dog with PU/PD?
IV Fluids
Large volumes of 0.9% NaCl delivered via a jugular catheter are ideal. Rapid administration of IV fluids restores blood volume and improves renal perfusion which decreases serum potassium concentration via dilution and promotion of renal potassium excretion.
What should you be monitoring in any Lyme positive dog?

urine protein‐ creatinine ratio (UPC)
- Every Lyme positive dog, regardless of symptomatic or not, should be tested for proteinuria.*
- If urine protein‐ creatinine ratio (UPC) is elevated, treat for Lyme disease and monitor UPC.*
Which of the following is found in the salivary gland of the tick: OspA or OspC
OspC
- OspA is outer surface protein expressed on borreliae in midgut of infected nymph ticks. This protein allows bacteria to ‘stick’ to gut epithelial cells.*
- When ticks ingest blood meal, the OspA expression is down‐regulated & OspC expression is up‐regulated. OspC allows bacteria to ‘stick’ to tick salivary glands. Borrelia migrate from midgut of tick to hemolymph to salivary glands. Thus reservoir host is infected via tick saliva.*
Most thoracolumbar disc protrusions are between what spinal cord segments?
T11 and L2
Crossed-extensor reflex in a dog in lateral recumbency is indicative of a ____ lesion
(UMN/LMN)
UMN
There are long spinal reflexes between limbs that are usually suppressed by UMNs. Damage to the UMNs releases this inhibition and flexion of one limb in response to a noxious stimulus is accompanied by extension of the contralateral limb.
Sudden neurologic signs that result in death within 10 days in any dog or cat should make one suspicious of:
rabies!

Without lifelong replacement therapy, dogs with hypoadrenocorticism invariably die. What are the 2 choices of long-term maintenance therapies?
(1) DOCP + Prednisolone or (2) Fludrocortisone
- Desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) is a mineralocorticoid therapy. DOCP has no glucocorticoid activity, so must be given with prednisolone
- Fludrocortisone does provide some glucocorticoid activity and therefore, additional prednisolone supplementation isn’t usually required except during periods of stress
T/F: In the postictal phase of tonic-clonic seizures, animals very rapidly regain consciousness and soon appear normal
False
- This phase is a gradual return to consciousness with varying degrees of depression, fatigue, fright, dazed appearance, aimless pacing, thirst, or hunger. Occasionally, neurological deficits such as blindness, paresis and/or incoordination may occur during this period.*
- Postictal depression may last for seconds to days (average about 5 hours)*
If a patient is undergoing treatment for leptospirosis and they are unable to tolerate doxycycline, what other anitibiotic may be used?
ampicillin or penicillin G
If doxycycline cannot be tolerated by the patient, ampicillin or penicillin G can be started. Follow with doxycycline 5 mg/mg bid to eradicate carrier state and the shedding of the bacteria in urine. Doxycycline is eliminated primarily in the feces, so is safe to use in dogs with renal insufficiency.
What changes on a hemogram are observed in dogs with Babesia?
hemolytic anemia & thrombocytopenia
anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever and splenomegaly are all are fairly consistent findings, regardless of genotype, geographic region or host species
T/F: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is clinically indistinguishable from acute ehrlichiosis
True
Clinical signs most frequently reported with Ehrlichia are depression, lethargy, anorexia, fever, lymphadenomegaly, splenomegaly and hemorrhages. More of a bleeding problem with E. canis than RMSF

What is the drug of choice for treatment of Ehrlichia?
Doxycycline
If a dog presents to your clinic with truncal alopecia, obesity, and lethargy, what might be at the top of your differential list?

Hypothyroidism

An abnormal, sustained spasm of the facial muscles that appears to produce “grinning” is termed:
Risus sardonicus
- This is one of the main clinical signs associated with Tetanus*.
- Other signs of tetanus include sawhorse stance, erect ears, third eyelid protrusion, trismus (lock jaw), increased salivation, laryngeal spasm, dysphagia, opisthotonus, convulsions*
T/F: Fibrocartilaginous emboli is associated with paresis or paralysis that is lateralizing and not painful
True
At what age can you test a kitten for FeLV and not worry about maternal antibodies?

Any age
- We’re not concerned about antibodies with this disease. Test checks for antigen!*
- However, the ELISA assay cannot predict whether a cat is transiently or persistently infected. Therefore, any [+] ELISA needs to be retested after 8 to 12 weeks or a FeLV IFA needs to be done. ELISA [+], IFA negative cats should be retested in 2-3 months.*
Identify the arrhythmia.

Atrial fibrillation
Note the absence of P waves and the variable R-R intervals
What percent of dogs exposed to Lyme do NOT DEVELOP signs?
90-95%
90‐95% dog exposed to B. burgdorferi remain asymptomatic. Organism probably does not invade connective tissues.
If a dog presents with symmetric, ascending flaccid quadriparesis/quadriplegia, what should be at the top of your differential list?
Botulism
May also see CN signs: mydriasis, decreased gag reflex, megaesophagus
Trismus is typically seen as a symptom of:
Tetanus
Trismus (lock jaw) is a spasm of the jaw muscles, causing the mouth to remain tightly closed
Which virus causes cerebellar hypoplasia in dog?
canine herpesvirus
What medications are included in Triple Therapy for treatment of Helicobacter?
Amoxicillin + Metronidazole + H2 blocker (famotidine, ranitidine, or omeprazole)















































