Clinical Disease in Dog and Cat Flashcards
What should you look at when there is vulval discharge? What does it tell you?
Colour of the discharge Mucopurulent (creamy white) = pus Haemorrhagic (red) = blood Greeny black = placental separation Clear = fine
What do you need to establish about vulval discharge?
The origin - uterus or vagina
A bitch comes in with purulent discharge from the vulva but otherwise seems healthy, what could be the cause?
Vaginitis
What two types of vaginitis are there? Describe them
Juvenile (prepubertal) - secondary to bacterial contamination, will resolve spontaneously
What is pyometra?
Filling of the uterus with pus
What are the two types of pyometra? What is the difference?
Open - the cervix is open so mucopurulent vaginal discharge and slightly enlarged uterus
Closed - the cervix is closed so no discharge, grossly enlarged uterus and a systemically sick animal
Why is closed pyometra more dangerous?
No discharge means the clinical signs show when the disease is already far along with a high build up of toxins in the uterus
What are the most common tumours in the bitch?
Smooth muscle tumours of vaginal or vestibule
How do you tell the difference between vaginal hyperplasia and vaginal prolapse?
There is a hole in a vaginal prolapse
How does vaginal prolapse/hyperplasia come about?
Excessive response of vaginal mucosa to oestrogens during follicular phase of oestrus cycle
Define dystocia
Disturbance during parturition when normal delivery of the foetus through the birth is interrupted
What are the three types of dystocia?
Maternal - Maternofoetal - Foetal
What should cause concern during pregnancy?
Fluids 2-3 hours ago but no birth - Straining for 20-30 mins but no birth - Green/red vulval discharge - Sickness of dam
What is the most common maternal causes of dystocia?
Disturbance of labour - uterine inertia
What is the relationship between dystocia and litter size?
The smaller the litter size the more chance of dystocia
What is uterine inertia? Which type is most common?
Uterus doesn’t push out the foetus - Primary
What is the difference between primary and secondary uterine inertia?
Primary - failure to respond to foetal signals
Secondary - exhaustion of the myometrium secondary to an obstruction of birth canal
When should there be medical management of dystocia? Give a few examples
When there is no evidence of obstruction - exercise the dam, feather roof of vagina, treatment of oxytocin, treat hypocalcaemia (if present)
What is the name for a missing testicle?
Cryptorchidism
Why are pedigree dogs more likely to have missing testicles? Why are they dangerous?
Thought to be a sex linked autosomal recessive trait - They are susceptible to torsion and neoplasia
What is testicular hypoplasia and anorchism/monorchism?
Hypoplasia - testicle is retained and smaller than normal
Anorchism/monorchism - testicle just hasn’t developed
What can cause an increase in the size of a testicle?
Neoplasia - Orchitis/epididymitis - Torsion
Is testicular neoplasia common in small animals?
Second most common in dogs - Rare in cats
What are the three common tumours in the small animal testicle?
Seminoma - Interstitial cell tumour - Sertoli cell tumour
