Endocrine

Question 1

What percentage of hepatic function must be lost before you see hypoglycemia?

Answer 1

Over 70%

Question 2

What are common causes of hypoglycemia?

Answer 2

Juvenile/toy breeds, insulin overdose, sepsis, hepatic failure, paraneoplastic, addison’s disease.

Question 3

What are uncommon causes of hypoglycemia?

Answer 3

Toxin induced, glycogen storage disease, hunting dog hypoglycemia.

Question 4

True or false: Glycogen storage disease is hereditary and can be treated.

Answer 4

False. Glycogen storage disease is congenital and there is no treatment.

Question 5

True or false: Severe hypoglycemia can result in cerebral edema.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Why is the treatment of insulinoma notoriously difficult?

Answer 6

Because administration of dextrose can trigger the tumor to release insulin and result in rebound hypoglycemia.

Question 7

How is malignant hyperthermia initiated in the body?

Answer 7

It’s triggered pharmacologically by disturbance of calcium metabolism. Typically triggered by inhalant anesthetics and muscle relaxers.

Question 8

What treatments can you initiate when dealing with malignant hyperthermia?

Answer 8

Total body cooling and removal or reversal of the causative agent.

Question 9

What are some endocrine disorders that can cause hyperthermia?

Answer 9

Hyperthyroidism and pheochromocytoma.

Question 10

You use methadone and midazolam as pre-meds for a surgery on a cat. 2 hours Post-operatively the cat spikes a significant temperature of 107.5. What might you suggest to the DVM as treatment and why?

Answer 10

Reversal of the agents +/- active cooling should be considered before jumping to antibiotics. Opiates in cats, along with benzos, especially as pre-med before anesthesia, can cause hyperthermia to occur post op.