Electrolytes

Question 1

What is the function of electrolytes

Answer 1

Maintenance of water balance
Fluid osmotic pressure ( Na)
Muscular and nerve function (Ca)

Question 2

List some electrolytes

Answer 2

Calcium
Inorganic phosphorus
Magnesium
Potassium
Chloride
Sodium
bicarbonate

Question 3

What is the function of calcium in the blood

Answer 3

99% is in the bone 1% ionized in blood
Maintenance of neuromuscular excitability and tone ( muscle contraction)
Co-enzyme in Blood coagulation and other enzyme
It is mainly extra cellular
Inverse relationship with Phosphorus

Question 4

What can elevations of calcium mean and cause

Answer 4

Elevations of Ca cancer ( lymphoma)- paraneoplastic syndrome

Hypercalcemia can cause PUPD

Hypocalcemia eclampsia

Question 5

What happens if there is a Ca:P imbalance in the diet

Answer 5

If there is a Ca:P imbalance in the diet

All meat diet  XS phosphorus  secondary nutritional or renal hyperparathyroidism

Low Ca causes parathyroid gland to produce xs PTH

Question 6

Describe the function of phosphorus in the body

Answer 6

80% is in Bone
20%
Energy storage and release
In nucleic acids and phospholipids
Most phosphorus in whole blood is on RBC s organic phosphorus
Hemolyzed samples will have a falsely elevated inorganic phosphorus concentration

Question 7

What does elevated phosphorus usually mean

Answer 7

Elevation is often seen with kidney failure

Question 8

Describe the function of sodium in the body

Answer 8

major cation of plasma and interstitial, or extracellular, fluid.
NB in water distribution and body fluid osmotic pressure
Aldosterone (adrenal gland) controls levels of Na and K

Question 9

What is hypernatremia

Answer 9

In the kidney, sodium is filtered through the glomeruli and reabsorbed back into the body through the tubules in exchange, as needed, for hydrogen ions.

In this manner, sodium plays a vital role in pH regulation

Question 10

When do you see hyponatremia

Answer 10

addisons

Question 11

What is the function of potassium in the body

Answer 11

Needed for normal muscular function,
cardiac function,
nerve impulse transmission, and carbohydrate metabolism

Question 12

When do you see hyperkalemia

Answer 12

Addison’s dse, blocked cats- hyperkalemia

Question 13

What are the clinical signs of hyperkalemia

Answer 13

Clin signs- weakness, collapse, arrhythmias, bradycardia

Question 14

When do you see hypokalemia

Answer 14

inadequate intake, alkalosis, or fluid loss resulting from vomiting or diarrhea.

Cats that are PUPD
Animals on IV fluids especially cats


Question 15

What are the clinical signs of hypokalemia

Answer 15

ventroflexion, weakness, depression

Question 16

Describe the effects of hypokalemia on the body

Answer 16

The main effect of severe hypokalemia is generalized muscle weakness.
cats have difficulty in getting up and walking, and may appear almost “drunk” because of their weakness.
A common and characteristic sign of the muscle weakness is the inability to raise the head into a normal position, so that the head is held down..

Question 17

What is the function of magnesium in the body

Answer 17

Magnesium is the fourth most common cation the body and the second most common intracellular cation
In all body tissues– 50% in bones
Magnesium activates enzymes
required for many enzyme-based reactions
Imbalance of the magnesium calcium ratio can result in muscular tetany

Question 18

What is the function of chloride in the body

Answer 18

predominant extracellular anion.
maintenance of water distribution, osmotic pressure, and the normal anion/cation ratio
relationship to sodium and bicarbonate levels
Hyperchloremia /Hypochloremia

Question 19

What is the function of bicarbonate in the body

Answer 19

Bicarbonate is the second most common anion of plasma.
pH balance
Bicarbonate/carbonic acid buffer system
aids in transport of carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs
Arterial blood-lithium heparin-chilled for bicarbonate determinations

Question 20

What is the function of lactate in the body

Answer 20

Lactate concentration in blood is a measure of anaerobic metabolism, which occurs when cells are not getting enough oxygen to support normal aerobic energy production.
An elevated lactate level is most commonly caused by a decrease in blood flow to the cells, systemically or locally.

Question 21

What does the anion gap measure

Answer 21

The Anion Gap measures the difference between the amount of the major cations and anions

Question 22

What is the focal occult blood test done for

Answer 22

To determine small amounts of blood loss

Dramatic bleed evident as black feces (melena) or frank fecal blood (hematochezia)

meat free diet for 3 days before the test

Question 23

What is the focal proteolytic activity test done for

Answer 23

the evaluation of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cats and other species

X-ray film

Question 24

Describe how the lipid absorption test is done

Answer 24

12 hour fast
Take blood- no lipemia
Give corn oil- take blood every hour look for lipemia

Repeat test with digested corn oil to help differrerentiate b/n maldigestion /malabsorption

Question 25

What is the NT-proBNP test used for

Answer 25

NT-proBNP– USE AS A screening test

For dogs with murmurs etc

Question 26

What is the cardiac toponin 1 test

Answer 26

Marker of cardiac myocyte injury

Test is done on Serum

Question 27

What is the mucin clot test used for

Answer 27

Synovial fluid forms a mucin clot when added to acetic acid

Eveluate hyaluronic acid in joint