1 Cats and Dogs Wellness

Flashcards about veterinary information concerning cats and dogs.

What are the main goals of wellness care for cats and dogs?

To identify problems early when they may be easier to treat and to prevent or minimize future problems.

What is a critical component of wellness care?

Communication with owners, including teaching the importance of vaccination, preventative medications, neutering, diet, training, wellness exams, and preventative medicine.

What are the key components of wellness care?

History, physical exam, testing, vaccines, preventatives, and client education.

What type of questions should you focus on during wellness exams?

Focused and open-ended questions, while avoiding leading questions. Also, develop strategies for controlling the conversation with talkative owners.

What are some questions to ask during a wellness exam history?

C/S/V/D, energy, appetite, diet, treats, changes in water consumption, preventatives, supplements/medications, exercise level, concerns, behavioral problems, travel history, other pets, contact with animals or wildlife, boarding, grooming, dog park, classes/training, source, litter box details, and dental home care.

Why are annual exams important?

Diagnosing problems early, which is cost-effective and may provide a greater chance of successful management of conditions like dental disease, systemic diseases, masses, weight management, heart disease, orthopedic disease, and other issues.

Why do most practices schedule extra time for the first puppy/kitten visit?

To allow time for client's many new puppy/kitten questions and to go over "puppy/kitten packs" which include first dose of heartworm preventative, coupons/rebates, and educational info.

What are some congenital defects or health issues veterinarians will check for during puppy/kitten visits?

Parasites, signs of contagious disease, intestinal parasites, ear mites, FeLV/FIV, and upper respiratory infection.

What educational topics should be covered in puppy/kitten visits?

Diet, heartworm, parasites and tick-borne diseases, FeLV/FIV in cats, neutering, training and socialization, insurance and services offered by the vet practice.

What should you know about puppy/kitten vaccine schedules?

How old do they need to be to get the vaccine? Why is it important to complete the series? What happens if they miss a vaccine in the series? Non-core vaccines → for what lifestyles will they be recommended? What happens if an adult with no vax history comes in?

What are examples of some client questions about vaccines that should be answered?

Why does my pet need (or not) a specific vax? Why does my dog / cat need some vax every year and others every 3 years? Why do some vax go in their mouth (or up their nose)? Why did you give my cat a vaccine on their leg (or tail)? Can we check titers instead of vaccinating?

What are the two branches of the immune system?

Innate (nonspecific) and Adaptive (specific).

What are the characteristic of Innate Immunity?

Anatomic barriers (skin, mucous membranes), Physiological barriers (pH, temperature), Phagocytic barriers (cells that eat invaders), and Inflammatory barriers (redness, swelling, heat, pain).

What are the characteristics of Adaptive Immunity?

Antigen specificity, Diversity, Immunological memory, and Self/Nonself recognition.

What is an antigen?

A substance that the body regards as foreign (e.g., virus, bacterium, or toxin).

What is an antibody?

A disease-fighting protein produced by the body in response to the presence of a specific antigen.

What is immunity?

Resistance to a specific disease through the production of antibodies.

What are the types of Adaptive Immunity?

Natural and Artificial. Natural - Active(Infection) & Passive (maternal). Artificial - Active (immunization) & Passive (antibody transfer).

What are examples of MLV's used for active immunization?

MLV" modified live virus (also called attenuated), Inactivated (or killed) whole organism, Recombinant A gene of the pathogen is inserted into a vector, usually a different virus that has low virulence, and Toxoid Developed from toxins secreted by the offending organism.

What are some factors affecting response to vaccines?

Young age, Interference of colostral (maternal) antibodies, Old age, Poor nutritional status, Medications used to treat concurrent disease, Improper storage, handling, and/or administration of vaccines.

Why a series of vaccines for puppies and kittens?

Immunological memory and Interference of colostral (maternal) antibodies

How do colostral antibodies interfere with vaccines?

They prevent vaccines from working by blocking them from reaching the appropriate cells to trigger the immunity process. IgM levels need to be low (8-16 wks) for vaccines to work.

When are vaccinations normally begun, and how often are doses repeated?

Vaccinations are normally begun between 6-8 weeks of age, with doses repeated every 3-4 weeks until a minimum of 16 weeks of age to minimize any window of susceptibility to disease.

What are the core vaccines for canines?

Canine Distemper (CDV), Canine Adenovirus (CAV-2 and CAV-1), Parvovirus (CPV) ± Canine Parainfluenza (CPiV), and Rabies.

What are the noncore vaccines for canines?

Leptospirosis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Canine Influenza Virus (H3N8 & H3N2), Canine Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), and Canine Coronavirus (CCV).

What are the core vaccines for felines?

Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1), Feline Calicivirus (FCV), Feline Panleukopenia (FPV), Feline Leukemia (FeLV in cats younger than 1 year old), and Rabies.

What is the location of administration for Feline FVRCP?

Distal R forelimb

What is the location of administration for Feline Rabies?

Distal R rear limb

What is the location of administration for Feline FeLV?

Distal L rear limb

What is the location of administration for Canine DA2PP (Dr. Cavanna)?

R front limb

What is the location of administration for Canine Rabies?

R rear limb

What is the location of administration for Canine Leptospirosis?

L forelimb

What are some mild vaccine reactions?

Slight lethargy, soreness at site of administration; treatable with NSAIDs.

What are some moderate vaccine reactions?

Swelling at the vaccination administration site, which can occur by the next day or be delayed several days; V/D and anaphylaxis.

What are the signs of anaphylactic vaccine reactions?

Mild → urticaria or swollen face/muzzle, Severe → causes sudden drop in blood pressure, Collapse, White mucous membranes, Faint heartbeat/pulse

How are anaphylactic vaccine reactions treated?

Administered Epinephrine and a fast-acting steroid IM, place an IVC and start fluids. Have a crash cart nearby.

In what types of patients is the risk increase for vaccine reactions?

Small dogs, Puppies, and Increased number of vax administered at once

What do Fleas and Ticks do?

Fleas can cause expensive infestation in house, Difficult to eradicate, Can give your pets intestinal parasites (tapeworms), and Spread disease (Bartonella). Ticks Transmit diseases Lyme, ehrlichiosis, anaplasma, rocky mountain spotted fever, babesiosis. All zoonotic!!

What questions should be addressed regarding Flea and Tick preventions?

How it is administered, how it works, precautions Be able to answer common client questions Topicals (“Spot-ons”) Application technique and frequency? Sensitivity? Safe for children / cats? Effects of bathing Collars. Orals Frequency of administration? Potential side effects? Clients must be comfortable

Why is it important to use heartworm preventatives year round and stress testing once a year?

It's a mosquito-borne infectious disease of dogs that affects cats to a lesser degree. If untreated it leads to heart failure in dogs, treatment is expensive and carries the risk of pulmonary thromboembolism, but it is preventable.

Why is it important to perform a fecal test on puppies and kittens?

Most puppies / kittens borne with intestinal parasites May still be infected even if dewormed by the breeder / rescue Successful tx requires multiple doses of medications Fecal tests needed to identify parasites and explain this to client in the beginning of tx

What does the 4DX Snap Test test for?

Tests for heartworm, Lyme, ehrlichiosis, & anaplasma in dogs.

What does the FeLV / FIV Snap Test do?

Usually run for kittens or when cat is adopted, but may need to retest if run when kitten is very young or if cat has been in high-risk situation

Why is it important to run bloodwork before anesthesia?

To look for underlying health issues in the patient that may affect the anesthesia or surgery and also, this is important even in a young dog because it may assist discover and prevent any issues