VHS 480 Exam 4 (Final) Review

Puppy/juvenile vaginitis

Occurs in females less than one year of age; causes include recessed vulva, infection, trauma, chemical irritation, and allergies; clinical signs include vulvar discharge, vaginal licking, and scooting; treatment is usually not necessary

Pseudopregnancy

When a dog acts like it's pregnant but is not; caused by exaggerated hormones of the estrous cycle; occurs 6-12 weeks post estrous; clinical signs include weight gain, mammary gland involvement, and 'mothering' inanimate objects; treatment is recommended to prevent recurrence

Pyometra

Serious and potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus; two types are opened and closed; closed pyometra is more dangerous; occurs a few weeks after a heat cycle; most common bacterial cause is E.coli; clinical signs include vulvar discharge, abdominal enlargement, vomiting, polyuria/polydipsia, lethargy, and azotemia; diagnostics include radiographs/ultrasound, bloodwork, and vaginal cytology; definitive treatment is ovariohysterectomy

Galactostasis

Milk stasis/retention; thought to be related to inadequate oxytocin release; secondary to fear/stress/lack of mammary stimulation

Agalactia

No milk is produced

Mastitis

Inflammation of the mammary gland; usually caused by a bacterial infection; clinical signs include nursing puppies, anorexia, febrile, swollen/inflamed/painful mammary gland, and abnormal milk; diagnostics include bloodwork and milk cytology; treatment includes antibiotics, pain/anti-inflammatories, and cabbage leaf compresses

Eclampsia

Sudden onset of weakness, tremors, collapse, or seizures; caused by low calcium levels in a nursing/lactating bitch; most common in small breed dogs with large litters; treatment includes IV calcium and oral calcium supplement

Mammary gland tumors in dogs

50% of all tumors in female dogs are mammary gland tumors; 45% are malignant and 55% are benign; two posterior mammary glands are most commonly affected; tumors are caused by the presence of hormones (estrogen, progesterone, or both); the age at which females are spayed affects the occurrence of mammary gland tumors

Mammary gland tumors in cats

80-90% are malignant adenocarcinomas; two anterior or thoracic glands are most commonly affected; tumors are not secondary to the presence of hormones

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland; caused by an increase in testosterone; usually asymptomatic; diagnosed through rectal palpation, radiographs, and biopsy; definitive treatment is neutering

Prostatitis

Bacterial infection of the prostate gland; most common pathogenic cause is E.coli; types include acute and chronic; clinical signs include anorexia, febrile, lethargy, caudal abdominal pain, and recurrent UTIs; diagnosed through rectal palpation, urinalysis, urine culture, and radiographs/ultrasound; treatment includes oral antibiotics and neutering

Prostatic abscess

Survival rate after one year is 50%; treated with surgical drainage, intracapsular omentalization, and antibiotic therapy

Priapism

Inappropriate erection; caused by excessive parasympathetic stimulation or failure of venous drainage; if not resolved, can lead to necrosis of the penis

Paraphimosis

Inability of dog to retract penis into penile sheath; caused by self-mutilation, strangulation, or fracture of the penis; treatment involves removal of the causative agent, reducing swelling, and placing the penis back in the sheath with a purse string

Testicular tumors

Twice as common in cryptorchid testicles; palpate for both testicles if intact; Sertoli cell tumors result in feminization

HGE

Characterized by sudden onset of vomiting and bloody diarrhea in formerly healthy dogs; cause is unknown; not contagious; predisposed in young, toy, and miniature breeds; diagnosed through history, signalment, clinical signs, and blood work; treatment is symptomatic/supportive care

IBD

Inflammation without a known cause; clinical signs include vomiting, diarrhea, changes in appetite, and weight loss; diagnosed through B-12/folate levels and ultrasound; definitive diagnostic is biopsy; treatment involves hydrolized diet, antibiotics, and steroids

Pancreatitis

Most common disease of the exocrine pancreas; cause is unknown but may be related to a fatty diet; clinical signs include nausea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite; diagnosed through history, signalment, clinical signs, ultrasound, and blood work; definitive diagnostic is the Canine Pancreatic Lipase Test (CPL); treatment involves supportive care and pain management

GDV

Enlargement of the stomach associated with rotation on the mesenteric axis; most commonly affects large and giant breed dogs; clinical signs include nonproductive retching, hypersalivation, restlessness, acute or progressive abdominal distention, and abdominal pain; diagnosed through history, signalment, clinical signs, and radiographs; treatment involves supportive care, surgical correction, and preventive measures

Exploratory surgery

Also known as celiotomy or laparotomy; used for diagnostic or curative purposes; patient is positioned in dorsal recumbency; surgeon approaches ventral midline; abdominal wall closure is completed in three layers (linea alba, subcutaneous layer, and skin); possible complications include dehiscence, evisceration, sepsis, and blood loss

Gastrotomy

Surgery of the stomach; recommended for foreign bodies, full-thickness gastric biopsies, and neoplasia; possible complications include peritonitis

Enterotomy

Surgery of the intestines; recommended for intraluminal obstruction of intestinal contents, intestinal biopsies, and intestinal neoplasia

R&A

Excision of bowel with reestablishment of two remaining segments; primary indication is removal of dead or diseased portion of bowel; possible complications include peritonitis

Linear Foreign Bodies

Results in plication of intestines; always look under the base of the tongue for string foreign bodies

Laparoscopy

Used to examine the peritoneal cavity and viscera; advantages include lower postoperative morbidity rate, lower postoperative infection rate, decreased postoperative pain, decreased hospitalization stay, improved patient recovery, and smaller surgical incisions; disadvantages include ascites, abnormal clotting times, poor patient condition, obesity, and small body size; patient should be fasted and bladder expressed; insufflation of the abdomen should not exceed 15 mm Hg

Endoscopy

Used to examine internal body structures, examine tissues directly, remove foreign bodies; patient should be fasted; various types include esophagoscopy, gastroscopy, duodenoscopy, and colonoscopy

BOAS

Includes stenoic nares, elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules, and small/hypoplastic trachea; treatment involves various surgical procedures

Collapsing Trachea

Weakened cartilage in the trachea; affects inhalation or exhalation depending on location; predisposed in middle-aged to older small breed dogs; clinical signs include persistent harsh, dry cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, cyanosis, and collapse; diagnosed through radiographs; treatment involves medical management and surgery

Pneumonia

Inflammation of deep lung tissue; causes include infection, smoke, chemicals, aspiration, and immune-mediated; clinical signs include fever, lethargy, coughing, exercise intolerance, and difficult breathing; diagnosed through history, clinical signs, and radiographs; treatment involves antibiotics, bronchodilators, and supportive care

Feline asthma

Allergic reaction to inhaled particles; average age of onset is 4-5 years; clinical signs include wheezing, coughing, rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, open mouth breathing, and respiratory distress; diagnosed through radiographs and bronchoscopy; treatment involves corticosteroids and bronchodilators

Laryngeal paralysis

Predisposed in older large breed dogs, especially Labrador retrievers; caused by loss of function in the nerve controlling the larynx; clinical signs include noisy/raspy breathing, excess panting, coughing, gagging, regurgitating, exercise/heat intolerance, changes to the sound of their bark, cyanosis, and collapse; diagnosed through examination of the larynx; treatment involves medical management and surgery

HCM

Ventricular muscles of the heart thicken; genetic component, commonly associated with Maine Coon; clinical signs include asymptomatic, tachycardia, labored/rapid breathing, and lethargy; diagnosed through physical exam, radiographs, and echocardiogram; treatment involves controlling heart rate/blood pressure, alleviating pulmonary congestion, and controlling rhythmic disturbances

Mitral/Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

Chronic/degenerative disease resulting in valvular insufficiency and heart failure; begins in the mitral valve and progresses to the tricuspid valve; predisposed in small breed dogs, especially Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; clinical signs include murmur, exercise intolerance, chronic cough, and respiratory distress; diagnosed through physical exam, radiographs, and echocardiogram; treatment involves controlling blood pressure, alleviating pulmonary congestion, removing pleural fluid, and controlling rhythmic disturbances

DCM

Dilation of both sides of the heart resulting in low contractility; secondary to a grain-free diet; predisposed in Doberman, Irish wolfhound, Great Dane, and Cocker Spaniel; higher prevalence in males; most commonly seen in 4-10 years of age; clinical signs include rapid breathing, increased respiratory effort, coughing, weakness, exercise intolerance, and inappetence; diagnosed through radiographs, echocardiogram, and ECG; treatment involves controlling blood pressure, alleviating pulmonary congestion, removing pleural fluid, and controlling rhythmic disturbances; prognosis is poor

Hemangiosarcoma

Neoplasia that originates from vascular endothelium; genetic component, predisposed in German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and Labs; commonly found in the spleen, right atrium, subcutis, and liver; clinical signs include lethargy, exercise intolerance, inappetence, pleural effusion, difficult breathing, collapse, abdominal distension, pale gums, and arrhythmias; diagnosed through radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and bloodwork; treatment involves complete surgical resection and chemotherapy; prognosis is poor

Pericardial effusion

High volume of fluid within the pericardial sac; can result in cardiac tamponade; causes include idiopathic, clotting disorders, neoplasia, infectious, congenital, and trauma; diagnosed through radiographs and echocardiogram; treatment involves pericardicentesis for cardiac tamponade and surgery to remove the pericardial sac

BOAS

Includes stenoic nares, elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules, and small/hypoplastic trachea; treatment involves various surgical procedures

Collapsing Trachea

Weakened cartilage in the trachea; affects inhalation or exhalation depending on location; predisposed in middle-aged to older small breed dogs; clinical signs include persistent harsh, dry cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, cyanosis, and collapse; diagnosed through radiographs; treatment involves medical management and surgery

Pneumonia

Inflammation of deep lung tissue; causes include infection, smoke, chemicals, aspiration, and immune-mediated; clinical signs include fever, lethargy, coughing, exercise intolerance, and difficult breathing; diagnosed through history, clinical signs, and radiographs; treatment involves antibiotics, bronchodilators, and supportive care

Feline asthma

Allergic reaction to inhaled particles; average age of onset is 4-5 years; clinical signs include wheezing, coughing, rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, open mouth breathing, and respiratory distress; diagnosed through radiographs and bronchoscopy; treatment involves corticosteroids and bronchodilators

Laryngeal paralysis

Predisposed in older large breed dogs, especially Labrador retrievers; caused by loss of function in the nerve controlling the larynx; clinical signs include noisy/raspy breathing, excess panting, coughing, gagging, regurgitating, exercise/heat intolerance, changes to the sound of their bark, cyanosis, and collapse; diagnosed through examination of the larynx; treatment involves medical management and surgery

HCM

Ventricular muscles of the heart thicken; genetic component, commonly associated with Maine Coon; clinical signs include asymptomatic, tachycardia, labored/rapid breathing, and lethargy; diagnosed through physical exam, radiographs, and echocardiogram; treatment involves controlling heart rate/blood pressure, alleviating pulmonary congestion, and controlling rhythmic disturbances

Mitral/Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

Chronic/degenerative disease resulting in valvular insufficiency and heart failure; begins in the mitral valve and progresses to the tricuspid valve; predisposed in small breed dogs, especially Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; clinical signs include murmur, exercise intolerance, chronic cough, and respiratory distress; diagnosed through physical exam, radiographs, and echocardiogram; treatment involves controlling blood pressure, alleviating pulmonary congestion, removing pleural fluid, and controlling rhythmic disturbances

DCM

Dilation of both sides of the heart resulting in low contractility; secondary to a grain-free diet; predisposed in Doberman, Irish wolfhound, Great Dane, and Cocker Spaniel; higher prevalence in males; most commonly seen in 4-10 years of age; clinical signs include rapid breathing, increased respiratory effort, coughing, weakness, exercise intolerance, and inappetence; diagnosed through radiographs, echocardiogram, and ECG; treatment involves controlling blood pressure, alleviating pulmonary congestion, removing pleural fluid, and controlling rhythmic disturbances; prognosis is poor

Hemangiosarcoma

Neoplasia that originates from vascular endothelium; genetic component, predisposed in German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and Labs; commonly found in the spleen, right atrium, subcutis, and liver; clinical signs include lethargy, exercise intolerance, inappetence, pleural effusion, difficult breathing, collapse, abdominal distension, pale gums, and arrhythmias; diagnosed through radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and bloodwork; treatment involves complete surgical resection and chemotherapy; prognosis is poor

Pericardial effusion

High volume of fluid within the pericardial sac; can result in cardiac tamponade; causes include idiopathic, clotting disorders, neoplasia, infectious, congenital, and trauma; diagnosed through radiographs and echocardiogram; treatment involves pericardicentesis for cardiac tamponade and surgery to remove the pericardial sac

HGE

Characterized by sudden onset of vomiting and bloody diarrhea in formerly healthy dogs; cause is unknown; not contagious; predisposed in young, toy, and miniature breeds; diagnosed through history, signalment, clinical signs, and blood work; treatment is symptomatic/supportive care

IBD

Inflammation without a known cause; clinical signs include vomiting, diarrhea, changes in appetite, and weight loss; diagnosed through B-12/folate levels and ultrasound; definitive diagnostic is biopsy; treatment involves hydrolized diet, antibiotics, and steroids