Canine Top Twenty Diseases - Part 2

Question 1

what is the classic case presentation of canine heart failure?

Answer 1

coughing, exercise intolerance, abdominal distension, harsh lung sounds +/- crackles, & +/- heart murmur/arrhythmia

Question 2

what is seen on thoracic radiographs in a dog with heart failure?

Answer 2

heart enlargement

enlarged pulmonary veins

interstitial to alveolar pulmonary pattern in caudodorsal lung fields

Question 3

what is seen on echocardiogram in a dog with heart failure?

Answer 3

left atrial +/- left ventricular enlargement causing pulmonary edema

+/- poor contractility

valvular insufficiency

right atrial & ventricular dilation causing ascites

Question 4

how is heart failure diagnosed?

Answer 4

thoracic radiographs & echocardiogram

Question 5

what treatment is used for acute heart failure?

Answer 5

diuretics - furosemide

oxygen therapy - nasal cannula or cage

positive inotrope & vasodilator - pimobendan

decrease stress - mild sedation if needed

Question 6

what treatment is used for chronic heart failure?

Answer 6

diuretics - furosemide

positive inotrope & vasodilator - pimobendan

ACE inhibitor

restrict exercise & dietary salt

Question 7

what is the prognosis for heart failure?

Answer 7

guarded prognosis

Question 8

this echocardiogram was performed on a dog in heart failure due to DCM - what chambers of the heart are enlarged suggestive of this disease?

Answer 8

marked left atrial & left ventricular dilation

Question 9

what is the classic case presentation of a dog with heartworm disease?

Answer 9

cough/exercise intolerance

abdominal distension

weight loss/poor body condition

Question 10

why may a heartworm positive dog have a false negative antigen SNAP test?

Answer 10

antigen/antibody complex formation

no adult female worms - immature females or males on

light parasite load

Question 11

how does the SNAP heartworm test work?

Answer 11

detects antigen/protein secreted by adult female worms 5 months post infection

Question 12

what annual screening is recommended for heartworm disease?

Answer 12

annual antigen SNAP test

annual microfilaria - modified knotts, filter test, or direct smear of anti-coagulated blood

Question 13

what is seen on thoracic radiographs in a heartworm positive dog?

Answer 13

enlarged, tortuous, blunted pulmonary arteries

pulmonary parenchymal disease

right-sided heart enlargement

Question 14

what is seen on an echocardiogram in a heartworm positive dog?

Answer 14

pulmonary artery dilation

right heart dilation

visible heartworms in the pulmonary artery

Question 15

what is caval syndrome?

Answer 15

heartworms are visible in the right ventricle +/- right atrium

Question 16

why is doxycycline used as a part of heartworm treatment?

Answer 16

doxycycline reduces wolbachia, intracellular bacteria that is necessary for worm survival, so it makes worms more susceptible for treatment

Question 17

T/F: 7% of heartworm infected dogs are negative on SNAP test but are positive for microfilaria

Answer 17

true

Question 18

when is surgery indicated for a heartworm positive dog?

Answer 18

caval syndrome - surgical extraction of worms

Question 19

in treating heartworms, what medication must be given daily for 30 days prior to starting adulticide therapy?

Answer 19

doxycycline

Question 20

what therapy is started 2 months prior to adulticide when treating heartworms? why?

Answer 20

heartworm prevention - macrocyclic lactones

used to prevent new infections & to eliminate susceptible larvae/microfilaria - pretreat with diphenhydramine & corticosteroids if microfilaria positive)

Question 21

what medication is used for adulticidal therapy for heartworms?

Answer 21

melarsomine dihydrochloride

Question 22

what is the protocol for adulticidal therapy for heartworms?

Answer 22

3 dose protocol:

IM once - wait 1 month, then 2 doses given 24 hours apart

kills 98% of heartworms - strict exercise restriction during adulticidal therapy & continuing for 6-8 weeks after

Question 23

why are corticosteroids used for treating heartworm infections?

Answer 23

tapering anti-inflammatory dose to control clinical signs of pulmonary thromboembolism

start 1-2 months prior to adulticidal therapy if the animal is symptomatic or microfilaria positive

Question 24

what is the prognosis for dogs with heartworms?

Answer 24

good to guarded depending on the severity

poor to grave for dogs with caval syndrome

Question 25

what is the classic case presentation of a dog with a pyometra?

Answer 25

intact, middle aged female that is 3-4 weeks post-estrus +/- mucoid, purulent, or hemorrhagic vulvar discharge, PU/PD, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, & an enlarged, palpable uterus

Question 26

what is seen on abdominal radiographs that is seen with pyometra?

Answer 26

distended, tubular, enlarged, fluid-filled uterus

Question 27

what is seen on vaginal cytology with pyometra?

Answer 27

degenerative neutrophils +/- phagocytized bacteria

Question 28

how is ultrasound used to diagnose pyometra?

Answer 28

differentiates between pyometra & pregnancy

Question 29

what treatment is used for pyometra?

Answer 29

stabilization - IV fluids, broad spectrum antibiotics, & analgesia surgery - emergency OHE, main choice for animals not intended for breeding medical - option for young breeding animals, so referral is recommended

Question 30

what is the prognosis of pyometra?

Answer 30

guarded to good if uterus is intact

Question 31

T/F: for any systemically ill intact female dog, pyometra should be ruled out

Answer 31

true

Question 32

what is the classic case presentation of flea allergy dermatitis?

Answer 32

acute onset of moderate to severe pruritus that is more common in warmer seasons but can be year round excessive self-grooming & hair loss especially on the rear half of the body +/- visible fleas

Question 33

how is flea allergy dermatitis diagnosed?

Answer 33

history & physical exam flea comb to find fleas/flea dirt positive response to flea eradication

Question 34

what treatment is used for acute flea allergy dermatitis?

Answer 34

tapering dose of steroids for pruritus topical/oral flea adulticide

Question 35

what treatment is used for chronic flea allergy dermatitis?

Answer 35

ongoing use of oral/topical flea adulticide oral monthly flea development inhibitors - lufenuron environmental control - frequent vacuuming & removal of outdoor organic debris

Question 36

T/F: 15% of dogs with flea allergy dermatitis do not have evidence of fleas upon presentation

Answer 36

true

Question 37

what is the classic case presentation of hip dysplasia?

Answer 37

'bunny hopping' gait, lameness, difficulty rising, & a positive ortolani sign indicating hip laxity

Question 38

what dogs are most commonly affected by panosteitis, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, & OCD?

Answer 38

young medium to giant breeds - most common in males with acute lameness & a fever

Question 39

what is the classic case presentation of panosteitis?

Answer 39

acute lameness, fever, & pain in the long bones

Question 40

what is the classic case presentation of hypertrophic osteodystrophy?

Answer 40

acute lameness, fever, swollen & warm distal limbs, & metaphyseal pain

Question 41

what is the classic case presentation of legge-perthes disease (avascular necrosis of the femoral head)?

Answer 41

3-12 month old small or toy breed dogs with pelvic limb lameness

Question 42

what is seen on radiographs of hip dysplasia?

Answer 42

shallow acetabulum flattening of the femoral head <50% of the femoral head is covered by the acetabular rim thickened femoral neck

Question 43

what is seen on radiographs of panosteitis?

Answer 43

multiple long bones have an increased medullary opacity & periosteal new bone formation

Question 44

what is seen on radiographs/CT of OCD?

Answer 44

flattening of subchondral bone, joint mouse, joint effusion always image both limbs!!!

Question 45

what is seen on radiographs of avascular necrosis of the femoral head?

Answer 45

loss of bone opacity at the femoral epiphysis with a moth eaten appearance of the femoral head & neck

Question 46

what treatment is used for hip dysplasia?

Answer 46

medical - NSAIDS, weight loss, & joint supplements surgical - triple pelvic osteotomy, FHO, & THR

Question 47

what treatment is used for panosteitis & hypertrophic osteodystrophy?

Answer 47

anaglesia

Question 48

what treatment is used for OCD?

Answer 48

surgical debridement medical therapy with joint supplements/analgesia

Question 49

what treatment is used for avascular necrosis of the femoral head?

Answer 49

FHO or total hip replacement analgesia

Question 50

what radiographic method is most accurate for diagnosing hip dysplasia at a younger age?

Answer 50

PennHip is more accurate than the OFA method

Question 51

how is OCD prevented?

Answer 51

avoid excessive food, calcium, & vitamin D supplements

Question 52

what is the prognosis of avascular necrosis of the femoral head?

Answer 52

good to excellent with surgery

Question 53

what is the prognosis of panosteitis & hypertrophic osteodystrophy?

Answer 53

excellent but flare ups may occur & repeat radiography may be necessary to diagnose

Question 54

what is seen on radiographs of hypertrophic osteodystrophy?

Answer 54

double physeal line