Exam 3 - Oral Cavity & Esophageal Disorders

Question 1

what are the major similarities between actinomyces bovis & actinobacillus ligniersii in regards to pathogenesis?

Answer 1

both are common inhabitants of the oral cavity

an oral wound then allows access to other soft tissue/bony structures in the mouth allowing for spread

Question 2

what may predispose a cow to developing wooden tongue?

Answer 2

rough feedstuff

Question 3

what is the etiology of wooden tongue?

Answer 3

actinobacillus ligniersii - granulomatous infection of the tongue primarily seen in cattle

Question 4

what is the pathogenesis of wooden tongue?

Answer 4

oral wound allows the bacteria access - infection begins at the base of the tongue & moves forward

may infect other soft tissues of the oral cavity

Question 5

what are the clinical signs associated with wooden tongue?

Answer 5

anorexia, abnormal chewing, ptyalism, enlarged firm tongue, & regional lymphadenitis

Question 6

how is wooden tongue diagnosed?

Answer 6

gram stain of aspirate/biopsy - gram negative rods +/- sulfur granules

clinical signs & response to treatment

Question 7

what is the prognosis of wooden tongue?

Answer 7

excellent

Question 8

what is the treatment used for wooden tongue?

Answer 8

sodium iodide IV, antibiotics - oxytetracycline, florfenicol, etc

Question 9

what agent is seen on this sample?

Answer 9

actinobacillus ligniersii

Question 10

what is the etiology of lumpy jaw?

Answer 10

actinomyces bovis, gram positive rod, common inhabitant of the oral cavity

Question 11

what is the pathogenesis of lumpy jaw?

Answer 11

oral wound allows agent access & leads to osteomyelitis of the jaw preferentially affecting the mandible before the maxilla

Question 12

what are the clinical signs of lumpy jaw?

Answer 12

initially - painless bony swelling on the mandible/maxilla

later - periosteal response, fibrous tissue reaction, draining tracts, decreased appetite, abnormal/difficulty chewing, ptyalism, weight loss, & may cause other infections in the head/esophagus/forestomach

Question 13

what agent likely caused this?

Answer 13

actinomyces bovis

Question 14

how is lumpy jaw diagnosed?

Answer 14

gram stain of pus - gram positive filamentous branching rods +/- sulfur granules

clinical signs

radiography - osteomyelitis, tooth root involvement, & pathologic fractures

Question 15

what agent is seen on this?

Answer 15

actinomyces bovis

Question 16

what is the treatment used for cows with lumpy jaw?

Answer 16

consider culling

sodium iodide IV, antibiotics (PPG, florfenicol, isoniazid - animals can’t enter food chain)

curette & flush bony lesions & draining tracts

Question 17

what is the prognosis for animals with lumpy jaw?

Answer 17

prognosis can be good if caught early in infection but becomes poor later in infection

Question 18

tooth root abscesses are most common in what animals? what teeth? when may it occur?

Answer 18

camelids - mandibular molars!!!!

after fighting teeth have been removed

Question 19

what are the clinical signs associated with tooth root abscesses in camelids?

Answer 19

can be asymptomatic

swelling in mandible/maxilla, +/- sinusitis, & may have draining tracts

Question 20

how are tooth root abscesses diagnosed?

Answer 20

oral exam & rads - bony lysis of lamina dura, periodontal sclerosis, & periosteal reaction

Question 21

what is seen in the mandible of this radiograph?

Answer 21

tooth root abscess

Question 22

what is the treatment used for tooth root abscesses?

Answer 22

antibiotics for facultative anaerobic bacteria - 60% recovery

surgical treatment - tooth extraction

Question 23

what is the etiology of balling gun injury?

Answer 23

aggressive use of instruments in the mouth - more likely to occur in cases when the animal isn’t restrained well

Question 24

what are some clinical signs of a balling gun injury?

Answer 24

anorexia/dysphagia, fever, hypersalivation, laryngeal edema, peripharyngeal swelling/pain, bad breath, inspiratory dyspnea, & aspiration pneumonia

Question 25

how is a balling gun injury diagnosed?

Answer 25

history, physical/oral exam, endoscopy, & rads

Question 26

what is the treatment used for balling gun injury?

Answer 26

antibiotics, NSAIDS, IV fluids, avoiding coarse feeds, trach & rumenostomy if needed

Question 27

what animals are common offenders of choke?

Answer 27

camelids

Question 28

what is the etiology of choke?

Answer 28

obstruction of the esophagus

Question 29

what are some common anatomical sites of choke?

Answer 29

cranial portion of the cervical esophagus thoracic inlet base of the heart

Question 30

what are the big clinical signs of choke in camelids? what are some other general signs?

Answer 30

anxiety, swinging of the head/staggering, & waves of motility in cervical esophagus free gas bloat, dysphagia, & salivation

Question 31

how is choke diagnosed?

Answer 31

physical exam, pass a stomach tube, endoscopy, & rads

Question 32

what are some major differentials for choke?

Answer 32

RABIES, megaesophagus (camelids), tetanus, botulism, balling gun injury

Question 33

what is the treatment used for choke?

Answer 33

wear gloves!!!!! remove the obstruction - cervical esophagus & distal obstructions, gently massage!!!! bloat should resolve once choke is antibiotics & correct fluid/acid-base abnormalities

Question 34

what treatment can be used for stubborn obstructions in choke?

Answer 34

trochar/temporary rumen fistula, sedation, & anesthesia

Question 35

what clinical signs should you watch for in secondary esophageal dysfunction associated with choke?

Answer 35

anorexia, regurgitation, hypersalivation, & recurrence of choke

Question 36

what should you do with animals with esophageal dysfunction?

Answer 36

cull or consider a rumenostomy

Question 37

what is the etiology of megaesophagus?

Answer 37

idiopathic or sequelae of choke

Question 38

what is the pathophysiology of megaesophagus?

Answer 38

chronic distention leads to poor aboral motility

Question 39

what clinical signs are associated with megaesophagus?

Answer 39

esophageal waves, anorexia, dysphagia, & respiratory signs - increased rate/effort & abnormal sounds

Question 40

how is megaesophagus diagnosed?

Answer 40

history, endoscopy, & rads

Question 41

what condition is seen in this rad?

Answer 41

megaesophagus in a camelid

Question 42

what is the treatment used for megaesophagus?

Answer 42

avoid coarse feeds & pelleted feeds elevate the feed, feed them alone, & slow the intake of food by putting obstructions in their bowls (tennis balls)