CATS Flashcards
Cat specific questions
What is the most common cause of bacterial conjunctivitis?
Chlamydophila felis. However, it can’t be distinguished from feline Herpesvirus-1 based on clinical appearance alone. Diagnosis of Chlamydophila felis is made by visualizing typical elementary bodies in the cytoplasm of conjunctival epithelial cells or obtaining a positive fluorescent antibody (FA) test on a conjunctival scraping.
What clinical finding is most supportive of hyperthyroidism in a cat?
Palpable nodule in the area of the thyroid gland. Other clinical exam findings include: weight loss, low BCS, hyperactivity, polyphagia, dull haircoat, PU/PD, vomiting, diarrhea, and aggression.
In mild to moderate cases of constipation what is the treatment plan?
Aggressive re-hydration, increased water consumption, an enema, laxatives and cisapride.
Toxoplasmosis gondii
What is it, what problems does it cause
is a protozoal organism that the cat is a definitive host for. Most cats become infected when they consume an exposed rodent with bradyzoites encysted in their tissues. Only recently infected cats generally shed oocyts in their stool and cats typically only shed these oocysts for 1-2 weeks. Toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects to human children who’s mothers have been exposed to Toxoplasmosis. If an owner has owned cats for a long while, it is possible that they may have previously been exposed and therefore have mounted an immune response to the organism. If so, the owner should have Toxoplasma antibody titers done and if they have sufficient antibody titer it will mean the client is protected from infection during the first trimester.
What is the treatment for a prolapsed uterus?
One option would be to anesthetize the cat and reduce the uterus with lubrication and external pressure followed by flushing the uterus with saline. Another option would be an Ovariohysterectomy and removal of the external portion - likely necessary in cases with marked edema and tissue trauma present.
What breeds of cats are prone to amyloidosis?
Abyssinian, Siamese, and Oriental Shorthair
How do you obtain a diagnosis of Amyloidosis?
Renal or liver biopsies can confirm the diagnosis. Congo red staining of biopsy samples should be requested because hematoxylin and eosin staining do not always show amyloid deposits.
What is a positive Marcus Gunn sign?
Flashlight test used in ophthalmologic exams to check pupillary response
When light is directed into the ABNORMAL eye, the pupil in the normal eye stays dilated.
Normally, when light is directed into the eye, the signal is transferred from the retina, through the optic nerve, past the chiasm and down the optic tract. From there, it is directed to both oculomotor nerves to cause pupil CONSTRICTION BILATERALLY. When there is a pre-chiasmal lesion, light shining in the ABNORMAL eye will have an interrupted signal that cannot get past the chiasm and BOTH pupils stay dilated. When light is shone into the normal eye, both pupils will constrict due to cross-over fibers that stimulate the oculomotor nerve of the abnormal eye.
Cuterebra Infestation
What is it, how does it occur and what is the treatment
Cuterebra are large bee-like flies that do not bite or feed. They lay eggs on stones, vegetation, or near the openings of animal burrows. The larvae can attach to animal fur and enter the body during grooming or via open wounds. They don’t typically enter through the skin, but migrate and localize to the skin of the neck, head and trunk. The larva should be carefully removed and the wound should be enlarged enough to allow the entire larva to be removed without breaking it, retained parts can cause anaphylactic shock.
How is Demodex gatoi diagnosed?
Superficial skin scrape. This is the only Demodex that is contagious. It is also very itchy. It infects the epithelium .
How is Demodex cati diagnosed?
Deep skin scrape. Demodex cati is a long slender mite that infects the hair follicle. Does not typically cause pruritis.
How do you test for dermatophytes and follicular mites?
Trichogram - refers to analyzing the hair.
What is the best feeding treatment for pancreatitis?
Feed a regular commercial diet if eating. Cats do not require a low-fat nor a low-protein diet and usually do not require a period of being NPO. Withholding food for an extended period may be likely to induce hepatic lipidosis in some cats.
What are the characteristics of a benign skin mass?
well circumscribed, slow-growing, with minimal inflammation incited.
What are the characteristics of a malignant tumor?
tend to have more ill-defined margins, grow faster, have more associated inflammation, may ulcerate, and tend to be fixed to underlying tissues.
What patient could you consider a DDAVP trial on?
A DDAVP trial is generally performed in animals that are PU/PD after ruling out other causes (Diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, hypercalcemia, liver failure, hyperadrenocorticism, hyperthyroidism, etc) to determine if PU/PD is due to diabetes insipidus or psychogenic polydipsia. Patient should have normal renal values and a LOW specific gravity in the face of adequate hydration. Dehydrated patients should not be started on DDAVP. Patients with elevated renal values and isosthenuric urine should also not be tested because renal insufficiency is the likely cause of their PU/PD. Patients with concentrated urine also do not need a DDAVP trial because they are able to concentrate their urine.
Calicivirus
What is it and what signs does it cause
This is an upper respiratory tract pathogen that is known for causing oral ulcers in cats along with nasal discharge, chemosis, and other upper respiratory signs. Highly virulent and often lethal feline calicivirus infections have been seen, which is referred to as “Virulent systemic feline calicivirus”. Typically cats develop severe acute upper respiratory disease followed by characteristic signs of cutaneous edema and ulcerative lesions on the skin and paws. Edema is located mainly on the head and limbs. Some cats may be jaundiced due to hepatic necrosis and/or pancreatitis. Thromboembolism and coagulopathy caused by DIC may be observed including petechiae, ecchymoses, epistaxis or hematochezia.
What is the treatment plan for a cat in renal failure?
IV fluids, gastric protectants, appetite stimulant (miratazapine) especially if the cat is eating small amounts on their own. An E-tube would only be considered if the cat is not eating.
What cell type is least likely to be infected by feline immunodeficiency virus?
Platelet. The following cells: B cell, Macrophage, T helper (CD4+), and Cytotoxic T-cell (CD8+) are affected. After inoculation, replication occurs in lymphoid and salivary tissues. Eventually, the virus spreads to mononuclear cells, while viremia is suppressed by the host immune response (asymptomatic carrier phase) that can last several years. A slow decline in the number of CD4+ cells is seen, resulting in failure of the immune system. Cats are often about 10-15 years old by the time this occurs.
What is the treatment for hydrocephalus?
Treatment is aimed at reducing the formation of CSF. Medical treatments include prednisolone, furosemide, oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and surgical placement of a shunt from the ventricles of the brain into the peritoneal cavity. Anti-convulsant drugs may be recommeded if seizures occur.
What is hydrocephalus?
Dome shaped head, patients are often ataxic when walking. The cause can be genetic, particularly in Siamese cats or due to exposure to toxins, such as griseofulvin during gestation or exposure to the feline panleukopenia virus during gestation.
Unilateral Facial Nerve
Paresis
Most common cause is idiopathic; however in cats it can sometimes be caused by things such as nasopharyngeal polyps, neoplasia and trauma. Prognosis for recovery is guarded and the clinical signs are typically permanent. The unaffected facial nerve can become affected as well. Treatment for idiopathic disease is supportive including eye lubrication, and management of corneal ulcers. Drooling usually resolves over several weeks. Otitis media-interna and chronic ear disease can make animals a higher risk for nerve paralysis and a CT of the bulla is recommended rather than radiographs. Bulla osteotomy may be recommended for animals with middle ear diseae or those prone to chronic otitis media-interna.
Lice
Lice are host specific and therefore not considered zoonotic. They spend their entire life-cycle, which is approximately 21 days, on the host. Lice will lay their eggs (nits) on hair shafts which may be identified as white flakes on the hair shafts. There are two types of lice: Anoplura (sucking louse) and Mallophaga (biting louse). They are very susceptible to most insecticides (selamectin, ivermectin, imidacloprid, pyrethrin spray, fipronil, lime sulfur dip, etc.) It is recommended that treatment be repeated 10-14 days after the initial treatment to eliminate any nits that may have hatched after the first treatment. It is also a good idea to clean any bedding and the environment and treat all animals of the same species in the household.
What are post-operative complications of thyroidectomy in cats?
Hypocalcemia can occur due to damage or excision of the parathyroid glands. Horner’s syndrome occurs when the sympathetic trunk running through the neck is damaged. Laryngeal paralysis occurs with damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve running through the neck. Hypothyroidism can occur secondary to removal of the affected thyroid gland or glands.