Clinical Exam and Investigation of Respiratory Disease Flashcards
What observations from a distance could indicate a respiratory problem?
TAKE RR OUTSIDE OF BOX
General demeanour and behaviour
Effort and pattern of breathing
Inspiratory and expiratory noise
Flared nsotrils
What general clinical exam findings could point towards a respiratory problem?
Poor BCS Posture Abdominal effort Hypertrophy of abdominal muscles MMs Eyes for discharge Jugular vein
What should be noted on clinical exam about the nares and nasal passage?
Airflow obstructions
Discharges
Symmetry
How can you assess the movement of the larynx in the horse?
Slap the withers and should normally contract the muscle of the larynx on the opposite side.
Is it possible to auscultate the equine thorax?
Yes, but may not hear anything in healthy animal
What abnormal noises can be heard on auscultation of the equine lungs?
Absence of noise may be normal or consolidation
One quiey area may be fluid accumulation
Radiating heart sounds with pleural effusion
What do crackles indicate?
Small airways and alveoli disease
What do wheezes indicate?
Partial obstruction of larger airways
What can be visualised on equine resp endoscopy?
Nasal passages Guttural puch Nasopharynx Soft palate Larynx Trachea
What uses does endoscopy of the respiratory system have for further diagnosis?
Tracheal aspirate
BAL
Biopsy
Foreign body removal
What can be visualised on small animal resp endoscopy?
Trachea
Main bronchi
What laboratory tests can be used to identify viral infections of the respiratory tract?
Paired serology
Virus isolation from blood or swab
Viral antigen from swab
PCR
What is a bacteria that can be diagnosed in equids from a nasopharyngeal swab?
Strep equi
What are you sampling with a tracheal aspirate?
Lung secretions
What are the disadvantages of tracheal aspirates in the horse?
Sample may be contaminated with pharyngeal flora
What are the main lymph nodes to asses in the head of a horse?
Mandibular
Retropharygneal
Parotid
What is the main thing to do when carrying out a thoracocentesis?
Maintain a closed system and maintain sterility
Explain how a thoracocentesis is carried out in a horse…
Under US guidance
Between 7th and 8th intercostal muscle above the lateral thoracic vein
Install LA at site and prepare site surgically
Make a stab incision and use a blunt teat cannula
Explain the process of carrying out a thoracocentesis in small animals…
Must do cranial or caudal to the heart - US guided
If an even distribution of fluid then can be carried out ribs 8-9
Use LA except cats (get stressed)
Must ensure you keep a closed system
What can be analysed from a thoracocentesis sample?
Cytology - types of cells
Protein - Transudate/mod/exudate
Triglycerides - cholestrol ratio
Culture ans sensitivity
What would you specifically be looking for in a faecal sample when investigating resp disease?
Angiostrongylus vasorum (lung worm)
