Alimentary System (Tract)

Question 1

Oral Cavity

Answer 1

Dogs & Cats: Neoplasia
Ruminants & Pigs: Infectious
Horses: Colic (intestinal displacements)

Question 2

Oral or gastro-intestinal mucosa

Answer 2

Should be smooth & shiny

Question 3

Common sample that is an important sign of health

Answer 3

Feces

Question 4

Pathogenic agent entry points:

Answer 4

Ingestion (most common)
Lungs: cough & swallow
Systemic
Migration through body (parasites)

Question 5

Oral congenital anomalies

Answer 5

Palatoschisis
Cheiloschisis
Brachygnathia
Prognathia

Question 6

Palatoschisis

Answer 6

Cleft palate: central defect in the midline fusion of the palatine shelves resulting in communication between the oral and nasal cavities

Question 7

Cheiloschisis

Answer 7

Cleft lip:

Question 8

Causes of Palatoschisis & Cheiloschisis

Answer 8

Genetic (usually)
Toxins: Veratrum californicum, teratogenic plants (lupines, poison hemlock in cattle & sheep)
Maternal exposure to drugs: griseofulvin in queens and mares; steroids in primates

Question 9

Malocclussions

Answer 9

Failure of the upper and lower incisors to interdigitate properly. Can result in prehension and mastication difficulties.

Question 10

Brachygnathia

Answer 10

Short lower jaw

Question 11

Prognathia

Answer 11

Protruston of the lower jaw

Question 12

Dental attrition

Answer 12

Loss of tooth structure caused by mastication

Question 13

Step mouth

Answer 13

Abnormal wearing; most commonly seen in herbivores

Question 14

Peridontal disease cased by:

Answer 14

Resident bacteria. They set up a film that produces enzymes & acids. These lead to enamel, gingival, and peridontal ligament damage. Resulting in dental plaque and dental calculus (mineralized dental plaque)

Question 15

Primary tongue diseases are rare. What is the one exception?

Answer 15

Wooden tongue. Actinobacillosis (Actinobacillus lignieresii). Primarily in cattle. Can also be in swine & sheep.

Question 16

Thrush is caused by? in what age group usually?

Answer 16

Candida species (ex: Candida albicans). Usually in young animals with prolonged antibiotic exposure or underlying disease.

Question 17

Lingual lesions are often…

Answer 17

a manifestation of systemic diseases such as: renal disease (uremic glossitis), BVD, and viral infections (ex. FMD)

Question 18

Stomatitis can be caused by…

Answer 18

Infectious agents
Trauma
Chemical injury
Auto-immune
Idiopathic

Question 19

Vesicles

Answer 19

Raised lesion (up to 1 cm in the largest dimension) filled with clear (serous) fluid located within the epithelium or between the epithelium and lamina propria

Question 20

Bulla

Answer 20

Larger version of a vesicle

Question 21

What should you rule out when you find vesicles in the oral cavity of dogs & cats?

Answer 21

Immune mediated diseases.

Cats can result in Calicivirus infections

Question 22

What should you rule out when you find vesicles in the oral cavity of food animals and large animals?

Answer 22

Rule out major viral diseases.

Usually non-fatal, but can cause large economic losses.

Question 23

Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD)

Answer 23

Picornavirus
Ruminants & Pigs
NOT in HORSES

Question 24

Vesicular Stomatitis (VS)

Answer 24

Rhabdovirus

Ruminants, pigs, horses

Question 25

Vesicular Exanthema of Swine (VES)

Answer 25

Calicivirus

Pigs ONLY

Question 26

Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD)

Answer 26

Enterovirus

Pigs ONLY

Question 27

(T or F) FMD, VS, VES, & SVD are reportable in both the US & Canada

Answer 27

True

Question 28

Four major things to look for in the esophagus

Answer 28

Megaesophagus
Secondary megaesophagus
Choke
Inflammation

Question 29

Three major things to look for in the forestomach

Answer 29

Bloat (tympany)
FB: traumatic, reticuloperitonitis
Rumenitis & acidosis (carb overload)

Question 30

Ruminal Tympany or bloat

Answer 30

Over distention of the rumen & reticulum by gases produced during fermentation.
Primary cause: new diets. Promote stable foam formation
Secondary cause: Physical of functional esophagus obstruction resulting in failure to eructate (ex. vagus indigestion, esophagel papillomas, lymphosarcomas, etc.)

Question 31

Abomasal displacement

Answer 31

Post parturition dairy cows and calves (most common)
Left sided: most common. Generally non-fatal. Partial obstruction of abomasal flow.
Right sided: ~15% of cases. 20% of which result in abomasal volvulus.
Both lead to abdominal pain, increased heart rate, anorexia, dehydration, decrease peristalsis with lack of feces, and abomasal tympany (high pitch elicited by percussion)