medical conditions

what is neoplasia

the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells or tissue

what are the 3 branches of oncology

medical, surgical, radiation

what 2 products lie under the medical branch of oncology

chemo and pharmaceuticals

what is benign

non cancerous, grows slowly and doesnt spread throughout the body

what is malignant

cancerous, unpredictable growth rate and may spread to other parts of the body

what does metastasize mean

to spread to other parts of the body

difference between lump vs mass

lump- solid or swollen area that’s different from surrounding tissue

growth- growth of an existing organism

what is a tumor/mass

abnormal growth of cells in one area

what is the sudoriferous gland

sweat gland

what is the sebaceous gland

oil gland

what is a sebaceous adenoma

benign tumor of the sebaceous gland, referred to as “old dog warts” and are not caused from a virus

sebaceous adenoma signalment/who is affected

middle to old aged dogs, terriers, poodles, cocker spaniels

sebaceous adenoma clinical signs

white/pale/pink masses, small sized, may secrete white oily fluid, no discomfort unless infected and may be too small to notice

sebaceous adenoma diagnosis

PE, HX, CS. FNA or biopsy- accumulation of sebaceous cells

sebaceous adenoma treatment and prognosis

mostly low impact, usually can just leave them be. if they grow or cause discomfort they should be removed and sent to cytology. prognosis is good

what is atopic dermatitis

chronic itching (pruritis) and skin lesions due to hypersensitivity to allergens like plants, pollen, dust etc. patient generally predisposed to allergies

sebaceous adenoma signalment/who is affected

many breeds, more common in terriers, any sex and early as 6 months of age

sebaceous adenoma clinical signs

possible seasonal itching due to allergens, alopecia, swelling and redness of the skin, discolored hair from saliva in the area, secondary infection, self inflicted trauma

sebaceous adenoma is commonly seen with

atopy dermatitis

what is atopy dermatitis

a chronic, excessively itchy inflammatory skin disease caused by environmental allergens

atopy dermatitis signalment/who’s affected

more common in dogs breeds

conditions often associated with atopy dermatitis

ear/skin infections, hot spots(acute moist dermatitis), conjunctivitis, rhinitis, food allergy dermatitis(FAD)

atopy dermatitis diagnosis

PE, HX, CS. allergy testing, elimination trials, skin cytology’s to rule out other causes of pruritis

atopy dermatitis treatment

eliminate allergens, antihistamines, antibiotics, immunotherapy (preferred), medicated shampoos-chlorhexidine

what is conjunctivitis

inflammation of the conjunctiva (pink tissue lining eyelids and sclera)

what is rhinitis

inflammation of the nasal mucosa

what is acute moist dermatitis

AKA hot spots, is a rapid onset, inflamed, wet and painful skin lesion caused by self trauma

what is cellulitis

a bacterial inflection that causes inflammation under the skin stemming from an open wound or animal bite. can lead to necrosis if untreated

common bacteria for cellulitis

staphylococcus spp. or streptococcus spp. known as an opportunist

localized clinical signs of cellulitis

pain and sensitivity, redness and hot to the touch, swelling or abscess formation, pus/green discharge, excessive licking of the area

systemic clinical signs of cellulitis

pyrexia, lethargy, low appetite, foul odor

diagnosis of cellulitis

PE, HX, CS. blood work and culture and sensitivity of fluid from abscess

cellulitis treatment

proper hygiene, monitor abscesses, drain abscess, systemic and topical antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and analgesics, keep environment clean, regular vet visits

what is pyrexia

fever

what are analgesics

pain meds

what is lipoma

benign tumors of fat tissue commonly found under skin or muscle tissue. typical in older and overweight dogs. less common in cats

role of fat/lipocytes in cellulitis

fat stores energy, provides insulation and supports metabolism.

lipocytes (fat cells) store large amounts of fats in vacuoles

tumorous fat cells grow abnormally, forming lipomas

characteristics of lipoma

rubber like, soft, moveable. slow growing and rarely invasive. size can vary, larger in overweight pets but shrinks with weight loss. benign, so does not spread or damage surrounding tissues

lipoma diagnosis

PE: soft rubbery texture, FNA: collect cells to identify fat droplets under microscope, biopsy: further confirmation, especially if malignancy is suspected

types of lipoma

regular- benign and encapsulated

infiltrative- invasive, more difficult to remove, higher recurrence rate (36%)

malignant lipoma- liposarcoma, rare and locally aggressive, require wide surgical excision

lipoma treatment

remove if causing discomfort or interfering with movement or for appearance

lipoma prognosis

regular- excellent

infiltrative or malignant- may require additional treatment and monitoring- regular checkups and tracking changes

what is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

disease of the heart muscles causing weakened contractions, commonly with the left ventricle leading to heart enlargement and heart failure

progression of dilated cardiomyopathy

blood backs up into the lungs (pulmonary edema) causing congestive heart failure (CHF)

right sides DCM is less common but can accompany left sided DCM

breeds affected by dilated cardiomyopathy

large breeds- Dobermans, great Danes, Irish wolfhounds, boxers, Newfoundlands

medium breeds- Portuguese water dogs, cocker spaniels

can also occur in smaller breeds(like king charles) and cats

causes of dilated cardiomyopathy

genetic mutations in Dobermans, boxers and schnauzers, nutritional deficiencies (taurine or L-carnitine), grain free diets

in rare occasions, toxins like doxorubicin (anti cancer drug), infections like parvovirus in unvaxxed puppies and chagas disease

clinical signs of dilated cardiomyopathy

low appetite, pale gums, coughing, dyspnea, weakness, fainting, increased HR, pulmonary edema

in advanced stages- fluid accumulation in abdomen or chest, sudden death in breed like doberman

dilated cardiomyopathy diagnosis

PE for arrhythmia, 24 hour ECG monitoring for Dobermans and boxers, ECG, xrays, blood test for nutritional or infectious causes

dilated cardiomyopathy treatment

diuretics(furosemide) to reduce fluid buildup, pimobendane to increase heart contractions and dilate blood vessels, ACE inhibitors to reduce BP and load on heart

digoxin, diltiazem, sotalol for arrhythmias, taurine or L-carnitine for deficiencies, fluid removal

dilated cardiomyopathy prognosis

is progressive and typically fatal, survival depends on breed and stage- 2-3 months usually but up to 1 year with pimobendan, early DX can extend survival, nutrition has a better prognosis with supplementation

dilated cardiomyopathy prevention

genetic testing for breeds, avoid grain free diet, regular screening especially for predisposed breeds

what is pulmonary edema

fluid in lungs causing respiratory distress

what is ascites

fluid accumulation in abdomen

what is pleural effusion

fluid accumulation in chest

what is congestive heart failure (CHF)

inability to pump adequate blood to meet the body’s needs

congestive heart failure cause

mitral valve disease- inappropriate closure of the valve between the atrium and ventricle, DCM

left sided congestive heart failure clinical signs

increased HR, dry cough, dyspnea, cats- labored, open mouth breathing(emergency)

right sided congestive heart failure clinical signs

ascites, difficulty lying down, fluid in thoracic cavity

congestive heart failure diagnosis

CS- elevated HR and RR, x-rays- enlarged heart, fluid in lungs or abdomen, cardiac ultrasound- circulation

congestive heart failure treatment

address any underlying conditions, diuretics(furosemide), ACE inhibitors, pimobendan

right sided- abdominocentesis or thoracocentesis

congestive heart failure prognosis

dogs with mitral valve disease- 8-10 months 50% or up to 2 years 20%

cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy- 7-10 months 50%

outcomes vary, some live longer with proper care

what is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, usually the left ventricle

heart disease statistics

10% of dogs and 15% of cats have cardiac disease

what is von Willebrand disease

a bleeding disorder caused by lack of VWF(von Willebrand factor) protein that circulates in the blood stream

type 1 von Willebrand

low level VWF with normal plasma structure

akita, Bernese, dachshund, Doberman, German shep, golden retrievers, poodles

type 2 von Willebrand

low VWF with abnormal plasma structure

german shorthair and wirehaired pointer

type 3 von Willebrand

VWF reduced or absent

Scottish terrier, Shelties, blue heelers, collies, cocker spaniels

von Willebrand clinical signs

mild to severe bleeding, spontaneous bleeding from different body parts, uncontrolled bleeding after surgery, teething may cause excessive bleeding, some canines carry the VWF trait without expressing the bleeding disorder

von Willebrand treatment

blood transfusions, plasma products prior to surgery, DDAVP- desmopressin acetate to improve homeostasis with type 1

von Willebrand diagnosis

PE, HX, CS. VWF antigen assay

von Willebrand diagnostic range

normal 70-180

borderline 50-69

abnormal 0-49

what is brachycephalic airway syndrome (BOAS)

upper airway abnormality in brachycephalic dogs.

stenotic nares(narrow/small nostrils), extended nasopharyngeal turbinates- turbinates extend to the pharynx obstructing airflow

laryngeal collapse- due to chronic stress on the cartilage of larynx

hypoplastic trachea- smaller diameter than normal

BOAS signalment

brachycephalic breeds, any age, any sex, reproductive status, overweight

BOAS clinical signs

noisy breathing especially with exercise, exercise intolerance, coughing, gagging, sensitivity to heat, may affect heart

BOAS diagnosis

PE, HX, CS. breed predisposition, endoscopy, pre-anesthetic bw, thoracic radiographs

BOAS treatment

low fat or weight loss diet, reduce exercise, steroids and NSAIDS, oxygen therapy, corrective surgery, bronchodilators, harness instead of collar

BOAS prognosis

depends on severity and age, under 2 years surgery ahs a better prognosis, at home management is important and may improve quality of life

what is tracheal collapse

the trachea/windpipe cartilage rings are weakened and the c-shape loses its curvature. trachea loses its rigidity and collapses during breathing

tracheal collapse signalment

toy breeds, mostly middle age, any sex or reproductive status, obesity, respiratory infections, environmental

tracheal collapse clinical signs

persistent goose honk cough, dyspnea, tachypnea, panting, cyanosis, fainting, collaspe

tracheal collapse diagnosis

PE, HX, CS. x-ray, endoscopy, fluoroscopy to track live breathing pattern

tracheal collapse treatment

lifestyle adjustments, weight management, removing irritants, medications- cough suppressant, steroids and NSAIDS, bronchodilators, antibiotics for infections, oxygen therapy

tracheal collapse surgery option and prognosis

mesh stent 70-90% success rate

feline asthma percentage

1% of the feline population in N.A have acute or chronic asthma

feline asthma signalment

any breed, brachycephalic are more at risk, any age, any reproductive status

what causes feline asthma

environmental factors, higher risk in urban areas, stress, Siamese/Himalayan have genetic predisposition

feline asthma clinical signs

tachypnea, wheezing, coughing, hunching with neck extended, cyanosis

feline asthma diagnosis

PE, HX, CS. hematologic(CBC) and biochemistry(organ function and electrolytes) tests, thoracic radiographs

feline asthma treatment

bronchodilators, systemic steroids, oxygen therapy, immunotherapy, reduced irritants

feline asthma prognosis

often progressive between mild-life threatening

what does ADR mean

aint doin right

what is pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas that affects cats and dog

pancreatitis cause

mostly idiopathic, bad eating habits (table scraps), overweight, high fat food, some infections, hyperadrenocorticism(too much cortisol), genetics

pancreatitis clinical signs

emesis, diarrhea, dehydration, fever, lethargy, inappetence, tender abdomen, hunching position

pancreatitis diagnosis

PE, HX, CS. abdominal radiographs, ultrasound, pancreatic cytology FNA, hematology(CBC) and biochemistry(electrolytes etc)

pancreatitis treatment

supportive care/fluid therapy, management of underlying causes, low fat diet, antiemetics, narcotics for severe pain, steroidal anti-inflammatories if needed

pancreatitis prognosis

good prognosis in mild cases, reserved prognosis in severe cases

what is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

chronic inflammation in the GI tract in middle aged dogs and cats

IBD cause

idiopathic with some factors- genetics, autoimmune disease, alteration to normal flora, breed predisposition- basenji, boxer, frenchies, Doberman

IBD clinical signs

weight loss, emesis, diarrhea, flatulence, decreased appetite, bloating, drooling, burping