Companion Exotic Animal Cardiac Diseases Flashcards
1
Q
small mammal cardiology
A
- largely similar to others
- similar to cats for clinical signs: high stress, fast HRs, challenging to localize murmurs, cardiomyopathies
2
Q
rabbit cardiology
A
- common animal model for CV disease
- high fat diet leading to metabolic syndrome: hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, vascular disease
- coronary arteries have limited collateral circulation: good human model
3
Q
what is different about rabbit cranial vena cava?
A
they normally have right AND left cranial vena cava (left drains into coronary sinus). dogs and cats usually only have R
4
Q
rabbit cardiology signs/exam
A
- cough uncommon ddx like cats
- prey species: hides clinical signs
CV exam normal: - normal HR 200-300/min
- limit stress and injury!
- don’t push too hard! can cause blood flow turbulence and induce a murmur
- can get gallop sounds, abnormal lung sounds
5
Q
why do rabbits have high incidence of resp disease?
A
relatively small lungs, diaphragm is the only muscle for breathing
6
Q
what is the normal HR of a rabbit?
A
200-300/min
7
Q
rabbit thoracic radiography
A
- rule out CHF, cardiomegaly (resp disease more common vs CHF)
- cranial cardiac silhouette often obscured bc of fat or persistent thymus
- tiny thorax vs trunk size
- obsese rabbits –> false positive cardiomegaly (like cats)
- lungs: challenging, compare with healthy rabbit if inexperienced
8
Q
rabbit echo
A
- ideal to rule out CV disease, ID cause of murmur, ID chamber enlargement
- physiologic/stress murmurs are common!!!
- similar views/imaging to dogs and cats
- right size normally closer to left heart size
9
Q
what can you see on radiology in rabbits with CHF?
A
- interstitial or alveolar pulm pattern
- pleural effusion: POCUS
- overt cardiomegaly
10
Q
rabbit ECG
A
- if you auscultate an arrhythmia!!
- sternal recumbency
- fast sweep speed to stretch complexes out, increase amplitutde (20 mm/mV)
11
Q
valvular dz in rabbits
A
- degenerative, acquired AV valve dz
- older rabbits, mitral > tricuspid
- infectious: endocarditis, infx systemically
12
Q
cardiomyopathies in rabbits
A
- dilated, hypertrophic possible
- rare in pet rabbits
- alpha 2 agonists can induce necrosis and fibrosis in NZ whites!!
- stress induced CMs
- arrythmias: anything possible
- congenital heart dz rare?
- vascular dz possible
13
Q
palliation of CV disease in rabbits
A
- centesis + oxygen
- same approach as dogs: diuretics, pimobendan, RAS blocking drugs
- no known ATE risk (unlike cats)
14
Q
ferret cardiology
A
- cardiac dz relatively common!
- full spectrum possible
- DCM
- arrhythmias: esp brady
- acquired valvular disease
15
Q
what exotics species is a definitive host for heartworm?
A
ferrets
16
Q
clinical presentation of ferret cardiac issues
A
- similar to others: cough possible with CHF, HW disease
- HL weakness –>generalized weakness
- nonspecific left parasternal murmurs common
- gallops possible
- NOTORIOUS FOR BRADYARRHYTHMIAS: don’t really know why
- sinus arrhythmias and mobitz type 1 degree AV block (pauses) possible: good because telling you that vagal tone is predominating and they are chill
17
Q
what is the normal HR of a ferret?
A
180-250
18
Q
what is unique about ferret thoracic radiography?
A
- used to screen for cardiomegaly, CHF, etc. manifests similar to cats: PE. PLEff
- FLOATING heat appearance can be normal
19
Q
ferret echo?
A
- POCUS for pleural effusino
- similar views dogs and cats
- image similar to cats
- pseudohypertrophy in dehydrated ferrets: false + HCM
20
Q
ferret ECG?
A
- largely based on physical exam
- often need restraint/sedation
- fast sweep speed: >50
- low amp P waves normal
- high amp QRS
21
Q
T/F: ferrets are known for getting cardiomyopathies
A
true
22
Q
common etiologies of cardiac dz in ferrets
A
- DCM: most common?
- valve degeneration: 2nd most common
- HCM
- AV block
- heartworm
23
Q
ferrets and heartworm disease
A
- NATURAL HOST!! need to be on preventatives!
- presentation similar to dogs: cough, breathing difficulty, ADR
- low worm burden like cats, Ag + Ab testing ideal
- melarsomine poorly tolerated/fatal (like cats)
- HW extraction for caval syndrom
- prevention = KEY!!! macrocylic lactones/preventatives are well tolerated and effective in ferrets
24
Q
other small mammals cardiac
A
- chinchillas: physiologic/stress murmurs
- mice: naturally occurring myocardial mineralization
- hamsters: also have L and R cranial vena cava
- guinea pigs: can recruit collateral coronary arteries
- captive african hedgehogs seem to have a high incidence of CV disease
25
avian cardiology
- unique anatomy!!
- muscular right AV valve w no chordae
- right and left vena cava
- coelomic cavity: no diagphragm
- RA > LA
26
avian physiology
- high oxygen demand during flight: HR can increase to 1,000/min!
- rapid conduction by completely penetrating purkinje fibers (like ruminants and horses)
27
what are the 2 types of purkinje fibers and what species have these?
1. type A: dog, cat, ape, man: don't fully penetrate: stepwise. septum to apex to base: towards the L ventricle
2. type B: horse, ruminants, pig, birds: 2 phases. rapid succession from apex to base super fast in opposite direction of other species
all bc of how their purkinje fibers penetrate the heart
28
unique avian cardiology features
- completely penetrating purkinje fibers like ruminants and horses
- negative QRS normal!
29
how can you recognize clinical CV disease in birds?
- hard bc of nonspecific signs of illness
- pulse challenging to palpate!
- auscultation difficult: HR very very rapid: 300+
- pericardial or coelomic effusion, pulmonary edema = CHF
30
avian CHF
- pericardial or coelomic effusion, pulmonary edema = CHF
- intra coelemic air sac compression
- poor coelomic detail
- cardiomegaly
- pulmonary edema
- dilation or mineralization of great vessels!
31
where do you echo birds?
under keel, limited acoustic windows
32
important avian CV diseases
1. arteriosclerosis: in older, pet or captive birds esp parrots
- high fat/cholesterol diets, inactivity, stenosis and mineralization of vessels
2. CM possible in turkey poults
3. nutritional: gout myocarditis, vit E/selenium
