Small Animal Flashcards
On which aspect of the small intestine does a linear foreign body usually perforate?
The mesenteric border
Canine idiopathic epilepsy begins in a well-defined age range. What is it?
1 to 5 years
Dogs with hyperadrenocorticism are prone to several cutaneous lesions or manifestations. List 4.
In order of frequency, from most common to least.
1) Alopecia (typically bilaterally symmetric)
2) Comedones
3) Hyperpigmentation
4) Calcinosis cutis
Also overrepresented in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism:
5) Failure to regrow shaved hair
6) Increased susceptibility to bruising/ecchymoses
7) Pyoderma
8) Abnormal cornification (‘‘seborrhea’’)
In which breed of dog are both cervical spondylomyelopathy (‘‘wobbler’s syndrome’’) and von Willebrand disease overrepresented?
Doberman pinshers
Emphysematous cystitis may be seen in association with which endocrinopathy?
Classically, diabetes mellitus; however, this condition has sometimes, though rarely, been reported in patients without diabetes.
What is the most common lesion in dogs that causes marked unilateral atrophy of the muscles of mastication?
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the trigeminal nerve. Masticatory myositis is usually a bilateral process.
In general, small breed dogs are more likely to have which type of congenital portosystemic shunt: extrahepatic or intrahepatic? Single or multiple?
Extrahepatic shunts are more common in small breeds, and the majority of congenital shunts are single, not multiple.
A 4 month-old female puppy presents with ataxia and repetitive jerking motions of the head. Two weeks ago, she had a cough and ocular discharge that another veterinarian diagnosed as ‘‘kennel cough’’ on physical exam. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Canine distemper
What is the most common malignant bladder tumor in dogs?
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC)
The owner of a cat with third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block and a ventricular escape rate of 120 bpm cannot afford pacemaker implantation. What is the prognosis (median survival time) without a pacemaker?
A) Less than 30 days
B) 1-3 months
C) 4-6 months
D) More than 1 year
D) More than 1 year
Cats seem to tolerate third-degree AV block very well without pacing, and conspicuously more so than dogs. Median survival is 386 days (range: 1-2013 days).
In dogs with whipworm infections (Trichuris vulpis), fenbendazole should be given once daily for 3 days immediately, then again in 2-3 weeks, then again in 3 months. What are the 2 parts of the whipworm life cycle that explain the need for 2 retreatments?
The time between hatching of ova and the embedding of larvae in small intestine (1 week) and the long prepatent period (70-107 days before ova are shed in feces, allowing re-exposure).
Antigens that reach the palatine tonsils do so by draining through the lymphatics of which region in a dog or cat’s head?
The palatine tonsils do not drain lymphatics from any region. They are lymphoid organs whose interaction with antigens comes from direct oral exposure: ingestion and inhalation.
What are the 3 goals of surgical treatment of dogs with gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV)?
1) Inspect stomach and spleen to identify and remove damaged or necrotic tissue
2) Decompress stomach and correct mispositioning
3) Perform gastropexy
A 3 year-old retriever cross dog has ingested gopher bait 4 hours earlier. There is bloody vomiting, evidence of intense abdominal pain, and you note a faint garlicky or dead fish odor to the dog’s breath although the dog has not eaten fish nor garlic… What is your immediate concern?
Public health. Zinc phosphide toxicosis liberates phosphine gas, which has a rotten fish/garlic odor and causes pulmonary toxicosis in people (hospital staff). You move the dog to a well-ventilated area, and then feed the dog a fatty meal to reduce liberation of reactive oxygen species before inducing vomiting.
Pyothorax in hunting dogs most commonly is caused by which genus of bacteria?
Nocardia spp.
Which muscles of the pelvic diaphragm are the most commonly involved in perineal hernias in dogs?
Perineal hernias most commonly occur between the intestinal obturator, external anal sphincter and levator ani muscles in dogs.
Atherosclerosis in dogs has been associated with a deficiency of this hormone.
Thyroid hormone
Which structures pass through the supracondylar foramen in the humerus of the cat?
Median nerve and brachial artery (important to know for fracture repair)
Your new patient, an 8 year-old female spayed cocker spaniel, has a medical history that includes a right-sided Zepp procedure at age 3. Which area of the dog do you examine to evaluate this?
The ear. The Zepp procedure is a vertical ear canal partial resection, typically performed for intractable otitis media if a total ear canal ablation is not necessary (e.g. horizontal canal is patent but vertical canal is not, despite medical therapy).
A dog is bitten by a coral snake and is treated promptly by your colleague with several doses of crotalid polyvalent antivenom. What are three major disadvantages of this approach?
1) Ineffective (Coral snakes are elapids, not crotalids)
2) Costly (Antivenin costs several hundred dollars per dose…)
3) Needless risk of hypersensitivity
What is the advantage of serial monitoring of serum progesterone, rather than LH (Luteinizing hormone), for identifying the optimal time to breed a female dog?
Serum progesterone levels rise gradually and continually, allowing blood samples and measurements to be made every 2-3 days, whereas LH produces a brief spike, requiring daily measurement.
Primary hyperlipidemia is prevalent in which breed of dog?
Miniature schnauzer
Name the chronic large bowel disorder that causes diarrhea, is associated with multi-cat households and shelters, is detected by identifying flagellated organisms on a fecal wet mount, and may be treated with ronidazole.
Tritrichomonas foetus enteritis
In which direction is the hindlimb manipulated to minimize the risk of sciatic nerve damage when placing an intraosseous needle in the proximal femur?
The femur is rotated internally and adducted, in order to open the space between the greater trochanter and the acetabulum (and thus reduce the likelihood of encountering the sciatic nerve).
Anorexic cats and those fed a diet high in seafood may exhibit severe muscle weakness due to a deficiency in this vitamin.
Thiamin
Why is an incisional (wedge) biopsy preferred over an excisional biopsy (full resection) in an adult cat with a 10 cm, slowly-growing interscapular dermal mass?
With suspected injection-site sarcomas (typical location), complete resection is most likely to result in tumor control. Standard excision typically leads to incomplete removal (microscopic disease remaining). The diagnostic/wedge biopsy is performed first, and if injection-site sarcoma is confirmed, then an aggressive resection with very wide margins is justified, possibly preceded by radiation therapy.
A dog has diffuse, excruciating pain of the hindlimb. The dog hit its stifle against a door 24h earlier. There is moderate swelling and intense pain on palpation; the swelling progresses visibly within 1 hour. There are no injuries and no fractures. What is the most likely infectious agent?
Streptococcus canis causing necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease). Broad spectrum IV antibiotics and immediate radical surgery (amputation) can be lifesaving.
What is the most common mineral composition of uroliths isolated from feline kidneys and ureters?
Calcium oxalate
Which disease of the canine nasal passages and sinuses is suggested by chronic mucopurulent nasal discharge and depigmentation of the nasal planum?
Nasal aspergillosis (Aspergillus spp.)
A 1 year-old cavalier King Charles spaniel cries out when touched around the neck. The dog performs repetitive scratching motions towards the neck using the hindlimbs, but never makes contact (‘‘Phantom scratching’’). What is the most likely diagnosis?
Caudal occipital malformation/Chiari-like malformation. The malformed occipital bone crowds the cerebellum and impinges on the spinal cord, leading to syringomyelia and associated signs.
Which percentage of dogs with a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament in one stifle are likely to rupture the contro-lateral cranial cruciate ligament?
A) 10-30%
B) 40-60%
C) 70-90%
D) 100%
B) 40-60%
Every January for the past 3 years, an 8 year-old Boxer in Minnesota has developed bilaterally symmetrical hair loss over the caudal lateral thorax and abdomen; histologic abnormalities include truncated, keratin-filled primary and secondary hair follicles. What is the diagnosis?
Canine recurrent flank alopecia. The seasonal occurrence in winter and higher prevalence north of the 45th parallel suggest that photoperiod plays a role in this disorder.
What is the most common cause of pericardial effusion in dogs?
Neoplasia
Name 3 surgical treatment options for dogs with ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments.
1) Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy
2) Tibial tuberosity anteriorization
3) Fibular head transposition
4) Lateral imbrication suture
5) Triple tibial osteotomy
6) Intraarticular fascia lata or patellar tendon graft
7) Extracapsular suture
What is the most common complication of treating heartworm disease using melarsomine dihydrochloride?
Pulmonary thromboembolism; sterile abscess formation and pain at the injection site can also occur but are less common.
Name 3 diseases or disorders where it may not be safe to use NSAIDs.
1) Renal failure
2) Hepatic failure
3) Dehydration
4) Hypotension
5) Bleeding tendency
6) Concurrent use of another NSAIDs or corticosteroids
7) Gastrointestinal disease
8) Hemorrhage
9) Asthma
10) Pregnancy/Lactation
A 17 year-old male castrated domestic shorthaired cat has firm swelling and pain of the skin covering the 3rd digit of the left forepaw. Thoracic radiographs reveal a single, large (7cm diameter) pulmonary mass. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Pulmonary adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the digit. In cats, this tumor has the unusual behavior of originating in the lungs and metastasizing peripherally, especially to the extremities (‘‘lung-digit syndrome), rather than the opposite direction.
Name the unique organ that is susceptible to injury from the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, but that vincristine, L-asparaginase, corticosteroids, and most other anti-neoplasic drugs do not affect adversely.
The heart.
Cardiotoxicosis manifests as irreversible dilated cardiomyopathy, typically if a threshold (cumulative lifetime dose of 240 mg/m2) is exceded.
What is the most common cause of a sudden inability to close the mouth in dogs?
Trigeminal neuritis (bilateral)
A colleague of yours spayed an adult female cat last year and now the cat is showing signs of estrus. What are three possible explanations?
1) Ectopic/unidentified ovarian tissue that was not removed
2) A segment of ovary was removed but dropped during the surgery, has revascularized and is now active
3) All ovarian tissue was correctly removed and the cat is exposed exogenously (classically, the cat is ingesting human hormone-replacement medication in the household)
