Disease Plus Slides

Common Diagnostic Test

Blood

• CBC = Complete Blood Count

Chemistry panel - proteins, glucose, etc

Urine - specific gravity, cells/bacteria

Common Diagnostic

• Fecal analysis - float for worm eggs

• Skin scraping

• Bacterial/fungal culture

• Fine needle aspirate of a mass

• Tissue biopsy

Imaging

• Radiograph

• Computed (axial) tomography - CT (or CAT) scan

• Ultrasound - sonogram

• Magnetic resonance imaging - MRI

• Endoscopy

Radiography

• Using X-rays

  • Image internal structures

Radiation safety

• X-rays are ionizing radiation

Can kill living cells

Can damage genetic material in spermatozoa and ova

Injury tends to be cumulative

Producing digital x-ray images

• Software can enhance and manipulate the image

  • Allows images to be saved, stored, retrieved, transmitted

Radiograph interpretation

• Dense tissues such as bone permit few x-rays to penetrate

Bones appear white in the image

• Does not distinguish between different soft tissues

Computed tomography

• Uses X-rays and computer technology to produce images

• At veterinary teaching hospitals

• Patient must remain motionless

General anesthesia required

• The images are thin, cross-sectional slices

Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Tool

• Image produced using ultrasound is called a sonogram

Use sound waves

• Images displayed on monitor is real-time

Allows visualization of beating heart or fetal movement

• Safe for personnel and patient

  • Does not require sedation

  • Best for measuring

Ultrasonography is used for?

• Echocardiography

• Diagnose pregnancy

• More!

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• Uses magnetic fields and radio wave energy to produce an image

• Expensive, in only referral veterinary hospitals

• Generally risk free except for anesthesia

  • Images are cross sections of body parts

  • Animal must remain motionless

    • General anesthesia required

• Producing the image

  • Like CT, images are in planes - sections of body parts

  • Extremely sensitive, distinguishes soft tissues

Endoscopy

• Long tubes contain fiber optics

• Images go to a projection screen

• Nonsurgical or surgical viewing body interior

Endoscopy as a Diagnostic Technique

• Wide variety of endoscopes available

  • Rigid

  • Flexible

  • Biopsy

  • “Grabbing” instruments to retrieve foreign bodies, parasites

Treatments

• Injections

  • Subcutaneous (s.c)

  • Intramuscular (i.m)

  • Intravenous (i.v.)

• Oral

Sterility 1st law

Surface has to be clean

Sterility 2nd law

Use a disinfectant correcly, such as iodine at appropriate strength and time (7 to 8 min)

Wetting the skin with 70% ethanol

could allow the water (30%) to

mobilize dirt and go into the

animal with the needle

Infectious companion animal diseases

• Canine distemper

• Canine adenovirus

• Parvovirus

• Kennel cough

• Leptospirosis

• Rabies

• rhinotracheitis

• Calicivirus

• Panleukopenia

Noninfectious Companion Animal Diseases

• Hip dysplasia

• Heart disease

• Kidney disease

• Feline urological syndrome

• Hepatic lipidosis

• Thyroid disease (hypo and hyper)

• Cataracts

• Glaucoma

• Diabetes

Recommended Vaccinations

• For common diseases that have significant morbidity and/or mortality

• Effective in preventing disease and safe

What types of vaccinations?

• Some have a modified live virus

• Some have killed virus

“Core” Dog Vaccinations

• Canine distemper, adenovirus 2, and

  parvovirus at 6-8 weeks; then 1

  month later then 1 month later, then

  at 1 year and yearly thereafter

• The vaccinations following the first

  are “boosters”

Response to a vaccine

Initial vaccination - Slow (over weeks) and low levels of antitbodies

Response to a vaccine - Subsequent vaccinations with same agent (“booster”)

Rapid “memory” response occurs in days with high antibody levels produced

Why the repeat of core dog vaccination?

Do not know when vaccination will be effective because

• Antibodies from the mother (through colostrum) may interfere

• Immune system of the pup may not be functional

“Core” Dog Vaccinations

 Killed rabies at 4 to 5 months and at

1 year of age

 Distemper, adenovirus, and

parvovirus at 1 year of age and every

year after

 Repeat rabies every year to 3 years

(depends on vaccines used)

Canine Distemper - Caused by

A Morbillivirus, it is inhaled or contacted directly

Canine Distemper - Early symptoms are

Flu - like: eye and nose discharge, fever, coughing, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea

• can cause death

Canine Distemper

 Severe and later symptoms involve the

central nervous system: seizures,

twitching, blindness, weakness, etc.

 Vaccinations are effective in preventing!

Canine adenovirus 1 /infectious canine hepatitis

 Rare cause of liver disease, fever,

vomiting, diarrhea, corneal edema

(cloudiness)

 Related to CAV 2 – part of infectious

tracheobronchitis

 vaccine is effective for both CAV1 and

CAV2

Canine Parvovirus

 Enteritis (diarrhea)

 Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers

are more susceptible than other

breeds

 Vaccines may not provide 100%

immunity

 Supportive care may save the animal

Rabies

 All mammals susceptible

 Common reservoirs are bats, skunks, foxes,

raccoons

 Travels via nerves to brain (CNS)

 Behavior changes (”dumb” and “furious” forms),

hypersalivation & difficulty swallowing

(“hydrophobia”), paralysis, death

Rabies transmitted by

 A rhabdovirus, transmitted by saliva contact with

wound (usually a bite)

What to do if you are bitten by a dog or cat with rabies

 Get pet and owner identification/ location

 Wash the wound with soap and water

 Consult doctor to decide if need post-exposure

prophylaxis

 One dose of antirabies immunoglobulin

 Rabies vaccine on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 post-

exposure

Recommended Dog Vaccinations

 Optional vaccines

 Kennel cough (Bordetella and canine

parainfluenza) if going to a kennel or a

dog show – 1 week prior

 Leptospirosis if exposed to livestock or

wildlife or areas they inhabit

Kennel cough

 Infectious tracheobronchitis (upper airway)

 Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine adenovirus 2,

canine herpesvirus, canine parainfluenza

 Dogs have “honking” cough

 Highly contagious, especially where dog density

is high.

 Usually self-limiting in 2 weeks

 Vaccine-induced immunity is short (6 months)

Leptospirosis

 Bacteria Leptospira

icterohaemorrhagiae or L. canicola

 Environmental contamination infects

(particularly urine from infected

animals)

 Can be asymptomatic or cause liver

and kidney disease

 Humans are susceptible – zoonosis!

Recommended Cat “Core” Vaccinations

 Feline rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus 1),

calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia

 Vaxccinate at 6-8 weeks; then 1 month

later then 1 month later.

 Rabies vaccinate at 4 months

 Revaccinate for all at one year of age

and then every year after that

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR) / herpesvirus 1 - Transmission

Upper respiratory virus spread by direct contact

Feline Vira Rhinotracheitis (FVR) / herpesvirus 1 - Reservoirs

Recovered cats are reservoirs for the disease

Feline Vira Rhinotracheitis (FVR) / herpesvirus 1 - Symptoms

Symptoms most severe in kittens: eye and nose discharges, fever, anorexia

usually recover in 1 week

Feline Calicivirus

Upper respiratory virus

Feline Panleukopenia - other name

Also called feline parvoviral enteritis

Feline Panleukopenia - transmission

Highly infectious, fecal-oral transmission

Feline Panleukopenia - Symptoms

Fever, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, low white cells (so susceptible to secondary infections)

Feline Panleukopenia - Treatment

Supportive treatment

Recommended Cat Vaccinations

 Feline Leukemia if cat roams outdoors

or lives with a feline leukemia-

infected cat

 Two doses at 2 to 4 week intervals,

then annual boosters

Feline Leukemia - caused by

An oncovirus

Feline Leukemia - transmission

Exposure to secretions (saliva) of infected cat

Feline Leukemia - symptoms

Variable symptoms: fever, enlarged lymph nodes, depression, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, secondary infections or cancers

Feline Leukemia - Tests

Tests available

Feline Leukemia - Treatment

Is only symptomatic

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus - cause

“Feline AIDS”, a retrovirus like AIDS

Feline Immunodeficiency virus - Transmission

Transmitted primarily by bites, so outdoor aggressive male cats are most infected

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus - Symptoms

Over years, immune system weakens and cats get sick from other disease (poor coat, fever, inappetance are common)

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus - Treatment

No treatment - have antibody tests

Vaccination protection not complete

Best to protect cat from getting bites

Feline Infectious Peritonitis - Cause

Causes by coronavirus

Feline Infectious Peritonitis - Transmission

Transmission cat to cat

Feline Infectious Peritonitis - Symptoms

Many organs affected. See fever, poor appetite, distended abdomen (in “wet form”), respiratory distress

Feline Infectious Peritonitis - Treatment

None, usually fatal

Vaccine

• Vaccine - minimally effective if at all

Vaccination problems

• Adverse reactions

  • Cats can get vaccine - associated sarcomas from rabies, feline leukemia and other vaccine

• Vaccination failure

Hip dysplasia - What is it?

Arthritic changes in the hip due to poor conformation - cartilage damage, inflammation, instability and bone spur growth

Hip dysplasia - Diagnosis - radiology and symptoms

Radiology diagnosis - does not always correlate with lameness

Hip dysplasia - Prevent symptoms

• Weight control, exercise,

glucosamine+chondroitin sulfate, heat

• Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs

Hip Dysplasia - Surgery for advanced Hip dysplasia

 Triple pelvic osteotomy - <10 months

 Hip replacement - > 10 months

 Femoral head ostectomy

Degenerative Joint Disease - Treatment

 Weight control, exercise,

glucosamine+chondroitin sulfate,

heat

 Non-steroidal antiinflammatory

drugs

Heart Disease - cause

Cardiomyopathy, especially prevalent in giant breed dogs but also occurs in cats

Heart Disease - Symptoms

Cardiac muscle fails. The heart enlarges, fluid build up in lungs

Symptoms are weakness, coughing, fainting, sudden death

Heart Disease - Treatment

Treatment - Drugs to slow heart rate and lessen body fluids (diuretic)

Eventually, the heart will fail completely

Kidney Disease - cause

Chronic renal failure (also acute ethylene glycol toxicity)

Extremely common in old dogs and cats

Kidney Disease - symptoms

Kidney fails to concentrate urine so animal has polyuria and polydipsia (PU/PD) Nitrogenous metabolites build up in blood causing depression

Kidney Disease - treatment

Restricted diet should decrease protein and phosphorus. In humans, dialysis or kidney transplant

Feline Urological Syndrome - Cause & Symptoms

Or Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Crystals form in urine, irritate the bladder and can block in urethra (worse in males because of longer urethra

Feline Urological Syndrome - Treatment

May include catheterization and surgery

Feline Urological Syndrome - Prevention

By decreasing minerals (Mg, Ca and P, “Ash”) and protein in the food

• If crystal type is known, control pH in the urinary tract

  • Struvite (“Triple phosphate’’) crystals from in alkaline urine so feed to acidify urine

  • Calcium Oxalate crystals form in acidic urine so feed to make urine alkaline

Hepatic Lipidosis in Cats (Fatty Liver Disease)

• Adult cat quits eating and liver accumulates fat and quits functioning

• Symptoms - jaundice, vomiting and depression

  • Force feed protein

Hyperthyroidism - common in what species?

Hyperthyroidism - Cause

Relatively common in middle-aged cats

Hyperthyroidism - Symptoms

Enlargement of thryoid gland, PU/PD, increased appetite

Hyperthyroidism - Treatment

can surgically remove the thyroid gland or use radioactive iodine or medications to inhibit.

Hypothyroidism - Common in what species?

Relatively common in middle-aged dogs, especially Golden Retriever and Doberman Pinscher breeds

Hypothyroidism - Symptoms

Dull hair, hair loss, lethargy, weight gain, cold intolerance

Hypothyroidism - Treatment

Treat with synthetic thyroid hormone drugs

Cataracts

• Opacity in the lends - usually progressive

• Treatment - surgery - same as humans

  • Phacoemulsification* of the lends

  • Replacement with a synthetic lens

Glaucoma

• Common in older toy dogs

• Increased fluid/pressure inside the eye

• Painful, cause corneal opacity (blindness)

• Treat with eye drops, surgery

Diabetes - cause

Insulin deficiency

Common in middle age or older cats

Diabetes (type 1) - symptoms

Polyuria/polydipsia (PU/PD), weight loss, high levels of glucose in blood and urine, ketoacidosis can cause vomiting, cataracts

Diabetes Type 1 treatment

Treat with insulin injections

Cancer - cause

Cell loses growth regulation

Cancer - forms

Can be solid tumor or circulating cells (leukemia), Symptoms vary

Cancer - symptoms

kills by interfering with normal function of a vital organ (slow)

Cancer - treatment

Includes chemotherapy

• Used moderately to prolong life quality (instead of cure cancer, as in human medicine)

Dental disease

• Good oral health is important for dogs and cats

  • for overall health

  • For freedom from pain

  • For longevity

Dental disease - symptoms

• Bad breath

• Loose teeth, discolored teeth, teeth covered in tartar)

• Drooling or dropping food

• Bleeding gums

Periodontal (gum) disease

• Minimize plaque (bacterial film)

• Prevent tartar (mineralization of plaque)

• Save the teeth

• Infection, no fever usually

Home care for dog’s teeth

• Brush teeth

• Tooth brushes and pet toothpaste

• Chlorhexidine oral rinse

• Diets and chews

  • Bones and hard nylon not recommended because they break teeth

Home care for cat’s teeth

• Brush teeth

  • gradual training

• Dental rinses

• Some chews

Veterinary cleaning for teeth

• Uses anesthesia

• Ultrasonic instrument

• Can remove broken or problematic teeth

Ten most Common Dog Poisons:

Chocolate

Mouse and Rat Poisons (rodenticides)

Vitamins and Minerals (e.g., Vitamin D3, iron, etc.)

NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.)

Cardiac Medications (e.g., calcium channel

blockers, beta-blockers, etc.)

Cold and Allergy Medications (e.g.,

pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, etc.)

Antidepressants (e.g., selective serotonin

reuptake inhibitors)

Xylitol

Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol)

Caffeine Pills

from pet poison helpline

Ten most common Cat poisons:

Topical spot-on insecticides

Household Cleaners

Antidepressants

Lilies

Insoluble Oxalate Plants (e.g., Dieffenbachia,

Philodendron, etc.)

Human and Veterinary NSAIDs

Cold and Flu Medication (e.g., Tylenol)

Glow Sticks

ADD/ADHD Medications/Amphetamines

Mouse and Rat Poison