Manifestation of Disease - Pain and Clinical Signs (Review)

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering pain mechanisms, pain signs, abdominal and systemic signs, fever/hypothermia, respiratory and GI signs, colic, dysphagia, neurological signs, edema, and related diseases as presented in the lecture notes.

What is the IASP definition of pain?

An aversive sensory experience caused by actual or potential injury that elicits progressive motor and vegetative reactions, results in learned avoidance behavior, and may modify species-specific behavior including social behavior.

What are the two components of pain processing?

Sensation (nociception) and perception (interpretation).

Define nociception.

The process by which a noxious stimulus is communicated through the peripheral and central nervous system.

What is perception in the context of pain?

Higher cognitive processing; the interpretation of the sensory information as painful.

List the three functions of nociception.

1) Warn the animal of actual tissue damage; 2) Predict when tissue damage is likely to occur; 3) Warn conspecifics of the presence of danger.

What is a nociceptor?

A sensory receptor that detects potentially harmful (noxious) stimuli.

What does Negative Feedback mean in nociception?

The body actively reduces signals sent by nociceptors using inhibitory neurotransmitters.

What are the basic and higher-level pain responses?

Basic: withdrawal and protection from further stimuli; Higher cognitive processing leads to more organized behavioral responses such as aggression or escape.

Name some non-specific autonomic indicators of pain.

Increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, increased blood pressure, pupil dilation, sweating.

What characterizes superficial pain?

Pain from skin or subcutaneous tissue, such as lacerations or bruising.

What characterizes deep pain?

Pain from muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue.

What is visceral pain?

Pain from internal organs (e.g., intestine, obstructed ureter, gall bladder, uterus); often rhythmic cramping and difficult to localize.

What is parietal pain?

Pain from pleura, peritoneum, or pericardium; typically stabbing in nature.

What is referred pain?

Pain originating at a distant site from the actual lesion.

What are common signs of abdominal pain in animals?

Tail swishing, bruxism, pawing, stamping feet, stretching, looking/kicking at abdomen, recumbency, treading, restlessness; plus elevated HR and RR, sweating, rolling, grunting, anorexia, weight loss.

What are signs of thoracic (chest) pain?

Reluctance to move, rapid shallow respiration, splinting, grunting, abduction of elbows, anorexia, weight loss.

What are signs of extremity pain?

Reluctance to move, abnormal gait, lameness, swelling, skin abrasions, anorexia, weight loss.

What are signs of pain on urination (dysuria)?

Stranguria, prolonged urination or dripping urine, grunting, restlessness, arching of the back, kicking at abdomen, tail swishing, treading, recumbency.

How is acute pain defined?

Pain that immediately follows injury and disappears when the injury heals; involves defensive bodily processes.

How is chronic pain defined?

Lasts several weeks to months, persists beyond expected healing time, does not serve a biological function, and can include cancer pain, neuropathic pain, or endocrinopathy.

How do different species respond to heat and temperature changes?

Pigs/dogs: pant and seek water; ruminants: dissipate heat via respiration; horses: sweat; cats: sweat via foot pads and licking fur; animals seek shade, wind, water; polydipsia may occur.

What are the mechanisms of heat loss and heat production?

Heat loss: panting, sweating, behavioral cooling; Heat production: muscle activity, digestion, behavioral adaptations.

What are the benefits of fever?

Enhanced host defenses: increased neutrophil/monocyte motility and emigration, enhanced phagocytosis, increased O2 radical production, IFN production, promotion of antiviral/antitumor activity; inhibition of bacterial growth and toxin release.

What are the adverse effects of fever if very high or prolonged?

Anorexia, loss of protein, muscle wasting/weakness, cardiovascular failure if prolonged.

What is hypothermia and its common causes?

Hypothermia: decreased body temperature due to environmental cold; causes include environmental exposure, CNS disease affecting the hypothalamus, neonatal status, cachexia, geriatric condition, septicemia.

What are signs of hypothermia?

Lethargy, decreased ventilation, decreased or absent muscle activity, decreased reflexes.

What conditions contribute to respiratory distress pathophysiology?

Inadequate oxygenation, compensation for metabolic acidosis, excessive environmental heat, CNS disorders affecting the medulla or respiratory center, motor weakness of respiratory muscles, chest trauma, pleural infection, pain.

Describe cough characteristics for UPPER vs LOWER respiratory tracts.

Upper: loud, harsh, coarse, dry; nonproductive; Lower: soft, deep, productive, may be associated with thoracic pain.

What are nasal discharge characteristics used in assessment?

Type: serous, mucoid, purulent, hemorrhagic; onset: acute or insidious; origin: unilateral or bilateral; volume; association with activity; odor.

What signs indicate respiratory distress such as dyspnea or tachypnea?

Dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and tachypnea (rapid breathing).

What is cyanosis in severe respiratory distress?

Cyanosis refers to bluish discoloration of mucous membranes indicating hypoxemia; described as cyanotic edges in mucous membranes.

What non-respiratory factors can cause respiratory distress?

Hyperthermia, pain, distended abdomen, anemia.

What are the main characteristics of diarrhea evaluation?

Color, consistency, frequency, volume, whether acute or chronic.

Name some common causes of diarrhea listed in the notes.

Rotavirus, Cryptosporidium parvum, enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Giardia duodenalis; pathogens vary by site (small intestine vs ileum).

What is canine parvovirus and its relevance to diarrhea?

A contagious viral infection in dogs that causes severe diarrhea (noted as a separate item in the notes).

What is dysentery and some listed causes?

Infection causing diarrhea with blood or mucus; causes include foreign body, intussusception, coccidiosis, salmonellosis, blister beetle toxicity, cantharidin, alfalfa.

What are common signs of colic in horses?

Looking or biting at sides, stretching, kicking at belly, excessive rolling, pawing, lip curl, not eating, excessive lying down.

What are common causes of colic related to distension?

Distension of the intestinal tract; root of the mesentery; ischemia/infarction; ulcers (gastric ulcers in horses).

What is vomiting vs regurgitation?

Vomiting: coordinated central event preceded by nausea and increased salivation; regurgitation: reflux of contents with no retching or nausea.

What are the structures of the horse stomach diagram knowledge included in the notes?

Anatomical regions: cardiac opening, pyloric opening, fundus, body, margo plicatus, esophagus, duodenum; mucosal regions include non-glandular and glandular mucosa.

What are causes of dysphagia?

Pain-induced, neurological, or obstructive causes.

List some causes of dysphagia.

Congenital defects, hypsodont teeth, tooth root abscess, foreign body, ulcers/erosions, choke, Strangles, rabies, tetanus, snake bite.

What is icterus and its common causes?

Jaundice due to increased bilirubin; causes include hepatitis, bile stones, plant toxicity, liver flukes, liver abscesses, neonatal isoerythrolysis, Leptospirosis, piroplasmosis.

What is Neonatal Isoerythrolysis?

Hemolytic anemia in foals caused by dam colostral antibodies against foal RBC antigens; antibodies attack foal red blood cells after ingestion of colostrum.

What are common alterations in CV/hemolymphatic systems described?

Peripheral edema, pleural effusion, ascites; dependent edema can occur; causes include CHF, CV abnormalities, CV disease, malnutrition deficiencies, liver disease, infections, neoplasia.

What mechanisms lead to edema?

Increased capillary permeability and decreased return of capillary fluid to circulation.

What are common cardiac conduction and rhythm issues noted?

Cardiac arrhythmias can be fast, slow, or irregular; triggers include excitement, autonomic imbalance, fever, sepsis, toxemia, colic, electrolyte abnormalities, pericarditis.

What is lymphadenopathy and its causes?

Enlarged lymph nodes due to infection or neoplasia; can be superficial or generalized.

What are common neurological signs listed?

Ataxia, circling, paraplegia, hemiplegia, coma, semicoma, depression; convulsions/seizures; head pressing; head tilt; facial paralysis; nystagmus; opisthotonus.

What is conscious proprioception (CP) deficit?

Deficits in aware body position or movement due to abnormal perception.

What is opisthotonus?

Tetanic spasm with spine and extremities bent backward.

What is nystagmus?

Oscillation of the eyeballs indicating ocular or neurological involvement.

Name some dietary neuropathies mentioned.

Vitamin A deficiency, Vitamin E deficiency, copper deficiency, selenium deficiency, hypomagnesemia, hypercalcemia, hyperproteinemia, energy excess.

Give examples of plant toxicity affecting nerves.

Larkspur (alkaloids disrupt nerve impulses causing paralysis); morning glory (disorientation, hallucinations, liver failure).

What toxicities are highlighted?

Organophosphate toxicity (SLUD), antifreeze toxicity (renal failure); insecticides and adulterants noted.

What infectious disease reference is provided for rabies surveillance?

Infectious disease: laboratory-confirmed rabies in livestock (Texas 2005 map example).

What is hydrocephalus as listed in the notes?

A condition involving abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain (no further detail provided in the notes).