Animal Nursing Flashcards
Name two organs found in a dog’s abdominal cavity.
Kidneys, liver, spleen, stomach, intestines, ovaries
Name two organs found in a dog’s thoracic cavity.
Heart, lungs
What does RTC stand for?
Road Traffic Collision
What does TPR stand for?
Temperature, Pulse, Respiration
What does NAD stand for?
No Abnormality Detected
What does BAR stand for?
Bright, Alert, Responsive
What does MM stand for?
Mucous Membrane
What does CRT stand for?
Capillary Refill Time
What is the definition of disease?
A change in the bodies ability to function
What are the two generalised causes of arthritis?
Developmental (genetic), acquired (traumatic injuries, immune disease or infections)
Provide two signs of arthritis.
Behavioural changes, reluctance to walk, licking joints, lameness, limping, difficulty getting comfortable, difficulty toileting, postural changes
How is arthritis diagnosed?
Identifying changes in the animal, examination of joints, blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, joint fluid collection, response to anti-inflammatory medication
What is colitis?
Inflammation or irritation of the colon or large intestine
Provide two possible causes of colitis.
Intestinal parasites, stress, pancreatitis, intolerance/allergy, dietary indiscretion, bacterial infection, viral infection, foreign body, irritable bowel disease, bowel cancer
Provide two signs of colitis.
Blood and/or mucus in faeces, straining to defecate, frequent defecation, straining without producing faeces, chronic indicators (poor appetite, weight loss, general lethargy)
How is colitis diagnosed?
Blood investigation, electrolyte tests, abdomen x-rays, endoscopy, rule out viral infections, pancreas tests, faecal tests
How is colitis treated?
Non specific, fasting, hypoallergenic diet, increasing dietary fibre content, anti-inflammatory meds, drugs that modify the colon’s motility (buscopan), probiotics
What is pancreatitis?
Inflammation of the pancreas causes the flow of enzymes into the digestive tract to become disrupted, forcing the enzymes out of the pancreas and into the abdominal area.
Provide two signs of pancreatitis.
Fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, weight loss, dehydration, fatigue, abdominal pain, depression, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing
Provide two possible causes of pancreatitis.
High levels of fat in the blood (lipaemia), high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia), trauma to the pancreas, and some drugs or toxins, obesity linked to a high fat and low carb diet, high fat gorging
How is pancreatitis diagnosed in dogs?
blood work, x-ray, pancreas and liver enzyme measuring, insulin measured
How is pancreatitis treated?
fluid therapy, electrolyte supps, food and fluids stopped, pain relief and anti-emetics, antibiotics, acid reduction, low fat diets
Provide two signs of chronic renal failure.
Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhoea, constipation, depression, weight loss, thirst, anorexia, acute blindness, seizures and comas, blood in urine, increase in frequency and amount of urination
How is chronic renal failure diagnosed?
Blood profile, blood count, urinalysis, x-ray or ultrasound
How is chronic renal failure treated?
Fluid therapy, restricted dietary protein, reducing and slowing progression, specially formulated diet, phosphorus binders and vitamin D supps, Anti-hypertensives, dialysis (rare)
Provide two signs of urinary tract disease.
Inability to urinate, bloody or cloudy urine, fever, loss of bladder control, increased frequency/amount of urine, straining/pain when urinating, soiling, licking of urinary opening, strong odour of urine, lethargy, vomiting, changed appetite, weight loss, severe back pain, thirst
How is urinary tract disease diagnosed?
Physical exam, urinalysis and urine culture, blood work, radiographs or ultrasound
How is urinary tract disease treated?
Antibiotics, meds or supps, dietary changes, increased water intake, urine acidifiers or alkalinises, fluid therapy, surgery, treatment of causal underlying condition (e.g. diabetes)
What’s the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 is insulin dependant, type 2 is insulin resistant
Provide two early signs and two later signs of diabetes.
Early-excessive urination, thirst, hunger, weight loss, elevated blood glucose, glucose in the urine. Later-anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, cataracts, weight loss, recurrent infections
Provide two possible causes of diabetes.
Genetic predisposition, some medical conditions (Cushing’s, pancreatitis, obesity)
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Medical history, blood count, chemical profile, urinalysis
How is diabetes treated?
Twice daily insulin injection combined with diet and exercise, strict diet plans and high fibre foods
What three locations are mostly affected by congestive heart failure?
Directly into the lungs (pulmonary oedema), in the space around the lungs (pleural effusion), in the abdomen (ascites)
How is congestive heart failure diagnosed?
Echocardiogram, x-rays, electrocardiogram, heart murmur or arrhythmias can be heard
Provide two signs of congestive heart failure.
Constant panting, coughing, exercise intolerance, increased respiratory rate, difficulty breathing, noisy breathing, blue gums, distended abdomen, coughing up blood, collapse, acute death
How is congestive heart failure treated?
Oxygen therapy, diuretics, heart meds, heart monitoring, blood pressure meds, symptomatic support, sometimes removal of fluid from the chest cavity or abdomen
What is pyometra?
As secondary infection of the uterus as a result of hormonal changes in the reproductive tract
What is the difference between open and closed pyometra?
Open allows the pus to flow out via the cervix and vaginal discharge in evident. Closed is where the cervix is closed and the pus expands and fills the uterus with no obvious external signs
Provide two signs of pyometra.
Increased thirst, fever, lethargy, anorexia, depression, diarrhoea
How is pyometra diagnosed?
Abdominal x-ray, ultrasound, full haematology
How is pyometra treated?
Ovariohysterectomy (spay)
How are abscesses treated?
Lance the abscess, drain pus, flush the cavity, antibiotics
Provide two signs of an ingested foreign body.
vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal tenderness, decreased appetite, straining, lethargy, changes in behaviour
Provide two examples of foreign bodies that are not ingested.
Grass seeds, wheat/barley sheaf, stick injuries, bones wedged in oral cavities
What is a comminuted fracture?
Three or more fragments of bone