vertebral/thoracic clinical notes

what landmark is used for CFS taps

wings of atlas

what can happen to the dens of the small breed jobs

can fracture, or congenital aplasia of the dens

what is wobbler syndrome

in large dogs, its is when there is congenital instability of the caudal cervical vertebrae

what can wobbler syndrome and congenital aplasia of the dens cause? and what size dogs do both of these happen to?

• can cause compression of the spinal cord and resulting in neurological deficits

• wobbler syndrome can happen to big dogs and congenital aplasia of the dens can happen to small dogs

what are hemivertebrae? what breeds?

vertebrae that have either fused of incompletely formed

• congenital defect often occurs in brachycephalic breeds

why is it important to be able to palpate the ribs and costochondral junctions

• for preforming procedures: thoracocentesis, pericardiocentesis or listening to the valves of the heart

how to count thoracic limbs

• start from 13 and move forward, depending on the BCS of the animal

what is intervertebral disc disease

• in older dogs, esp ling back breed dogs like dachshunds

• nucleus pulposus can become calcified and loose some of its shock absorbing capabilities

• bc anulus fibrosis is the thinnest dorsally, the disc material herniates into the vertebral canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and causing a variety of neurological deficits depending on location and severity

what is the anulus fibrosis

what are chronic outgrowths?

• osteophytes of the vertebral bodies and joints (spondylosis deformans) are frequently seen on radiograpghs of older dogs

instability of the atlantoaxial articulation leads to what?

excessive luxation and spinal cord compression occurring congenitally in small breed dogs due to hypoplasia of the dens

• can also be caused by trauma to the neck and rupture of associated ligaments

the lumbar muscle system can be used as a site for?

IM injections

do cats have nuchal ligaments?

no

what is the external jugular v. used for?

it is used for obtaining venous blood sample

• a central venous catheter may be placed in the jugular v for repeated blood sampling, when repeated/continuous IV infusion of drugs, fluids, blood products, or parenteral nutrition is necessary and/or if measurement of central venous pressure is desired

why is the orientation of the jugular v. and the carotid structures important?

for clinical procedures when animals are attacked in the neck region

what is a normal amount of fluid that can be in the pleural cavity

nothing, but a small amount

how can we remove fluid/air from the pleural cavities

• thoracocentesis

  • can be both diagnostic and therapeutic

  • preformed at the 6-8th intercostal space (ICS)

  • depending on if its fluid for air, it can be preformed while the dogs is either in standing or recumbent position

when is the cardiac notch important

• used when performing cardiac injections and pericardiocentesis

what can thoracic duct rupture cause

• can cause chyle (lymphatic fluid) to enter the pleural cavity

what is the location of the intercostal aa. and nn.? why is it important to remember?

• its along the caudal aspect of the ribs

• very important to remember when performing thoracentesis or other other surgical procedures of the thorax

  • avoid the caudal aspect of the rib in order to miss these structures

fetal blood flow

• placenta→ umbilical vein→ through liver →ductus venosus → caudal vena cava → right atrium

  • 2 options from right atrium

    • right AV valve →RV→ pulmonary trunk →ductus arteriosus →aorta→ umbilical artery →placenta

    • foramina ovale→ Left atrium → L AV valve →LV→ aorta →umbilical artery →placenta

failure to close ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale

• causes septal defect between atria (foramen ovale) and/or patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

PDA: patent ductus arteriosus: what is it?

• the most commonly diagnosed congenital heard defect in dogs, occurs in many breeds and more often in females

• most commonly there is a shunt on the right side of the heart, with blood from the higher pressure aorta continously shunted to the main pulmonary artery

  • means increased volume of blood to the lungs, causing fluid build up (pulmonary edema) and volume overload to the left heart

PDA symptoms

• coughing, reduced tolerance of exercise, weight loss, and eventually congestive heart failure

PDA diagnosis

• usually suspected when you hear machinery heart murmur

• typically when dog is examined at time of vaccination

• radiographic and electrocardiographic signs to confirm diagnosis

• cases get referred

pericardium is involved in what disease?

both congenital and acquired heart disease

congenital pericardial diaphragmatic hernia

• loops of intestine may be found in the pericardial cavity

• pericardium may fill with fluid limiting the ability of the heart to pump effectively

symptoms of congenital pericardial diaphragmatic hernia

• muffled fluid heart sounds

• radiographically the heart looks globoid

how to solve congenital pericardial diaphragmatic hernia

• pericardiocentesis

• performed on the right side in the area of the cardiac notch between the 4th and 6th rib below the CCJ

common site for hemangiosarcoma?

• right auricular appendage

enlargement of atria often occurs with?

insufficiency (leakage) of one or both of AV valves

what is it called when the atria ruptures? what happens?

• called cardiac tamponade

• it causes the pericardial sac to fill with blood

what is the enlargement of the RV usually caused by?

• heartworm of pulmonary a. and RV or by congenital restriction of the R AV outflow tract (pulmonary stenosis)

what is responsible for Lub and Dub sound of heart

• lub: AV valves

• dub: aortic and pulmonary valves

are dogs/ cats affected by coronary disease? (coronary atherosclerosis)

no, unlike ppl

what is the most frequent cause of cardiac insufficiency in older dogs?

• mitral valve (L AV valve) insufficiency

• fibrosis of valve leads to regurgitation into the left atrium- causing increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation and pulmonary edema