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BVetMed - Alimentary > Smallies GI > Flashcards

Smallies GI Flashcards

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1
Q

How does intestinal transit time of small herbivores differ to other hidgut fermenters?

A

Faster GI transit time to stay light and escape predators more efficiently

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2
Q

Can rabbits and rodents vomit?

A

No

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3
Q

What are the 2 forms of fibre?

A

Indigestible (stimulates gut, dental wear)

Digestable (fermented by bacteria to produce fatty acids)

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4
Q

How does the size of the thorax in small herbbivores compare with dogs and cats?

A

Much smaller - almost entire abdomen is gut contents

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5
Q

Why may the stomach be difficult to visualise on endoscopy?

A

Always food in the stomach

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6
Q

Where is the “pacemaker of the gut”?

A

Fusus coli - between proximal and distal colon junction

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7
Q

What to colonic contractions function to do?

A

Separate indigestible fibre -> produce >150 pellets per day, while digestable fibre washed back to ceacum for fermentation

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8
Q

When and how are ceacotrophs produced? What nutrients do they provide second time round? `

A

3-8 hours after eating, ceacum contracts, ceacotrophs produced coated in mucus
- provide microbial protein, B and K vits, FAs

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9
Q

Which animals still require external sources of B vitamins even if eating ceacotrophs?

A

Rodents

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10
Q

What may owners confuse ceacotrophs for?

A

Diarrhoea

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11
Q

Why are some antibiotics so dangerous to give to small herbivores?

A
  • reduce some intestinal bacteria, allow overgrowth of others eg. Clostridium -> toxin production and death
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12
Q

Which antibiotics should NEVER be given to small herbivores

A

PLACE

  • Penicillins
  • Lincosamides
  • Aminoglycosides
  • Cephalosporins
  • Erythromycin
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13
Q

What eception may PLACE antibiotics be given to small furries?

A

If given as injectables not orall y

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14
Q

Is gut stasis a disease?

A

No, clinical sign

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15
Q

What is gut stasis usually associated with?

A

Anorexia and dehydration - either as a cause or consequence

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16
Q

Give 7 causes of gut stasis

A
  1. Stress
  2. Pain
  3. Anorexia
  4. 1* GI disease
  5. Toxin ingestion
  6. Insufficient fibre
  7. Dehydration `
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17
Q

How is the problem of gut stasis defined, refined etc.?

A

Problem: complete or partial obstruction? +- anorexia?
System - 1* or 2* GI ?
Location: Proximal or distal GI ?
Lesion:? May not be investigated fully

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18
Q

What 3 aspects of the history are of particular importance when defining the problem of gut stasis?

A
  1. Husbandry history (Indoor/outdoor -toxins, predators, weather, FBs?)
  2. Diet (Probe! Owners will say what you want to hear)
  3. Medical history (DUDE?)
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19
Q

What 2 aspects of the physical exam may be slightly modified for small herbivores cf. dogs/cats

A

Otoscope for thorough oral exam

Listen to gut sounds like a horse

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20
Q

When would 1* GI disease be suspected?

A
  • history of poor diet/change
  • abnormality palpated in gut
  • onset of gut stasis PREceded by signs of malaise (depression/anorexia etc.)
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21
Q

When would 2* GI disease be suspected

A
  • history of stress

- obvious source of pain

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22
Q

What is the usual plan of action for an animal with gut stasis?

A

Admit for supportive care and diagnostics

  • euthanasia may have to be considered
  • ex lap if FB suspected
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23
Q

What are the 5 stages of stabilising a rabbit with gut stasis?

Study These Flashcards
A
  1. warmth
  2. fluids
  3. nutrition
  4. gut stimulants
  5. analgesia
24
Q

How can stress be decreased in the hospital setting?

Study These Flashcards
A

Make as homely as possible - admit companion, bring in bedding etc.

25
What is the normal temperature of the rabbit?
~38-39.5c
26
Why can rabbit temperatures fluctuate so rapidly?
High surface area to volume ratio
27
What are maintainence fluid doses for a rabbit? How are these usually given?
<100ml/kg/day (high due to high metabolic rate) - given IV/SC to reduce frequency - if given SC: warm and add hyaluronidase (1500 IU/L) to decrease absorption/ distribution time
28
Where are IV catheters placed in the rabbit?
Marginal ear vein
29
After how long does anorexia present a problem/worrying situation?
12 hours
30
How much nutrition supplement is required to be syringe fed if completely anorexic?
50ml/kg/day
31
When may nasogastric tube placement be necessary?
Facial damage
32
Give 3 prokinetic drugs used to manage gut stasis. What are their dose rates?
- Metoclopramide 0.5mg/kg PO TID (or injectable) - Ranitide 4mg/kg PO BID (or injectable) - Cisapride 0.5mg/kg PO BID/TID
33
What is metoclopramide's mechanism of action?
- Prokinetic due to Ach release, DA and 5HT Rs - Works of oesophagus, stomach and SI - Little/no effect on colonic motility
34
What is ranitidine's mechanism of action? What is it most commonly used for?
- H2-Rs, also prokinetic due to Ach-esterase inhibition - works on prox GI, MAY stimulate colonic motility too > commonly used for ulcers
35
What is cisapride's mechanism of action? How does it's potency compare to metoclopramide and rinitide efficacy?
- works on 5HT-Rs to indirectly stimulate acetylcholine release - works on oesophagus, stomach, SI and colon - efficacy > metoclopramide, roughly = rinitidine
36
Should these drugs ever be used in combination?
Yes!
37
Why is gut stasis a potentially devastating problem?
Vicious cycle - pain -> gut stasis -> pain -> gut stasis...
38
Give 2 common analgesics used in small furries with dose rates
- NSAIDs - meloxicam <0.05mg/kg q6-8hrs
39
How do dose rates of common analgesics differ in small furries?
Higher doses /kg due to ^ metabolism
40
How do the side effects of analgesics measure up to the benefits?
Usually benefits outweigh the side effects BUT be aware of potential side effects (GI disturbance etc.) - with NSAIDs ensure well hydrated and consider gastro-protectants
41
What should a normal survey radiograph of the GI tract in a rabbit look like?
- Food everywhere! normal | - Stomach should NOT reach caudal to last rib
42
How are initial radiographs of small furries carried out?
Concious - restrain with sandbags. If stressed retry later as can kick out and break back.
43
When would surgery be indicated in a small furry?
Obstruction: indicated by - - visualisation of FB (May be soft carpet etc. so potentially not) - gastric dilation - gas shadows in SI cranial to obstructin - serial radiographs show stationary gas bubble/obstruction
44
When are blood tests indicated?
``` Systemic disease suspected - renal failure - hepatic disease - Pb/Zn levels Glucose levels to indicate severity of condition ```
45
What should be considered before carrying out full oral exam and further imaging?
GA
46
Why may the "define the lesion" part of the logical approach not be completed in a gut stasis work up? WHen should it be investigated more thoroughly?
- GA may be contraindicated or not desirable - Gastroscopy limited by permenantly full stomach - Intestinal biopsies risk dihiscence and infection > many cases resolve with symptomatic treatment only > if recurrent episodes occour then investigate/work up further
47
What is the clinical workup approach to D+ in small furries?
Same as cats/dogs - acute or chronic? - if acute, with/without systemic signs? - SI/LI/mixed?
48
What may owners confuse for diarrhoea?
Ceotrophs stuck to bum
49
Give 6 common causes of D+ in rabbits
- diet (new veg, too much fruit etc) - antibiotics (just prior to death!) - post weaning - bacterial enteritis - viral enteritis - coccidiosis
50
Give 4 diagnositc tests to assess the casue of diarrhoea
- feacal parasitology - feacal microbiology - abdo imaging - bloods
51
How does the stabilisation of a rabbit with diarrhoea differ to a rabbit with gut stasis?
Same steps but NO gut stimulants 1. warmth 2. fluids 3. nutrition 4. analgesia
52
How is D+ due to coccidiosis treated?
Toltrazil (3mg/kg PD SID for 2 days, repeat after 14d) | TMPS 30mg/kg PO BID
53
What can be given to bind enterotoxins?
Colestyramine
54
When would ABs be indicated?
Only in bacterial enteritis | - metronidazole 20mg/kg PO BID
55
Are probiotics advocated?
No evidence for but do no harm

BVetMed - Alimentary (30 decks)

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