Gastroenterology Flashcards
Define dysphagia
Difficulty eating and/or swallowing
Define pseudoanorexia
The animal is hungry, but pathology prevents it from eating
List 5 possible physical causes for dysphagia in the oral cavity
- Stomatitis
- Growths
- Foreign body
- Cleft palate
- Traumatic injury
List 5 possible functional causes of dysphagia
Masticatory myositis, rabies, tetnus, trigeminus neuritis, facial paralysis
All are neuromuscular conditions
Define regurgitation
A passive process, with no heaving or abdominal muscle contraction, and no prodromal signs (incl. nausea, hypersalivation and pacing)
It basically just falls out of the oesophagus
From where in the oseophagus can regurg originate?
3 places
Luminal (inside), intramural (in the wall) and extramural (outside the wall)
List 3 possible causes of luminal regurg
- FB
- Neoplasia
- Granuloma (inflammatory response)
List 3 possible causes of intramural regurg
- Megaoesophagus
- Oseophagitis
- Dysmotility
In which breeds would you most likely see regurg due to intramural oesophageal dysmotility?
Why?
Brachycephalics
The negative pressure in their chest (caused by difficulty breathing) pulls the oseophagus in different directions
List 3 possible causes of extramural regurg
- Vascular ring anomaly (PRAA - aortic arch wraps around the oesophagus)
- Mediastinal mass
- Hiatial hernia (stomach pushes up into chest through the hiatus in the diaphragm)
List 4 clinical signs of oseophageal foreign bodies
- Regurgitation
- Anorexia
- Drooling
- Pain with swallowing
How would you treat an oesophageal foreign body?
Pull it out or push it through
Define oseophageal stricture
An abnormal narrowing of the oesophageal lumen
List 4 common mediastinal masses
- Lymphomas
- Thyomas
- Mesotheliomas
- Carcinomas
Which is more common, a mediastinal or oesophageal mass?
Mediastinal
What are the two general groups of differentials for megaoesophagus?
Local disease and systemic disease
What condition is secondary to local/idiopathic megaoesophagus?
Oesophagitis (inflammation)
List 2 systemic disease differentials for megaoesophagus
- Myasthenia gravis
- Paraneoplastic syndromes (ex. mediastinal mass)
What would you test for if you’re suspicious an animal has myasthenia graivs?
AchR-antibodies
MA is when Abs target AchR on the postsynaptic terminal
Describe the management for idiopathic/congenital megaoesophagus
Start with a course of stomach protectants/antacids to treat oesophagitis, then move onto feeding management (make sure they are fed upright)
Sildanafil - new treat to help w opening of LES
What is the treatment for megaoesophagus caused by myasthenia gravis?
Acetlycholine esterase blockers
How would you generally go about finding a cause for and treating megaoesophagus?
Test for a number of specific differentials (MG, neoplasms, hypothyroidism, lead intoxication etc.), and if you can’t find anything specific then start a trial treatment for oesophagitis/MG and manage feeding
List 4 clinical signs of GI dysfunction
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea/melena
- Weight loss
- Abdominal pain
You are presented with a dog with acute vomiting, what are some possible differentials?
- Shock
- GDV
- Foreign body
- Infectious enteritis
- Drug reactions
- Extra-GI pathology (look at the other organs)
List 4 reasons for vomiting originating from inside the GI tract
- Food intolerance
- Infectious agent
- Foreign body
- Toxin
List 8 possible questions you would ask on a Hx when presented with an animal with GI problems
- Breed & age
- Is it vomiting or regurg?
- Vx and worming status
- Past medical Hx
- Dietary Hx
- Environmental Hx
- Treatments
- Other body systems (Resp., PU/PD)
What would be your diagnostic approach when presented with acutely or chroncially vomiting animal that looks very ill?
- Haematology & biochem
- Imaging
- Basal cortisol & canine pancreatic lipase in dogs
- Thyroid, feline pancreatic lipase, FELV/FIV in cats
What would be your diagnositc approach when presented with a chronically vomiting animal that does not appear very ill?
- Supportive therapies
- Diet trials
List 4 GI causes for haematemesis
- Drugs (NSAIDs; gastric ulcers)
- Gastric Neoplasia
- Foregin bodies
- Chronic enteropathy
List 4 extra-GI causes for haematemesis
- Liver, kidney or pancreas dysfunction
- Neoplasia
- Sepsis/shock
- Heat stroke
What is a primary cause of haematemesis and/or melena in cats
GIT tumours (lymphoma, polyps, or adenocarcinomas)
How would you manage a patient that presents GI issues with no haematemesis and is otherwise clinically well?
- Anti-emetic (maropitant)
- Nutrition (blended or elim. diet)
- Gastro-protectant (sucralfate)
- Probiotics
How would you manage a patient that presents GI issues with haematemesis and is otherwise clinically well?
- Anti-emetic (maropitant)
- Nutrition (blended or elim. diet)
- Gastro-protectant (sucralfate)
- Probiotics
- Antacids (omeprazole - proton pump inhibitor to decrease acid production in the stomach)
What are your options for managing a patient that presents with GI issues and is clinically unwell?
- IV fluids
- Blood transfusion
- Surgery to repair ulcers if needed
- Endoscopy
- Feeding tube
- Parenteral feeding
You are presented with a dog with chronic vomiting, what are some possible differentials?
- Chronic enteropathy/IBD
- Recurrent pancreatitis
- Parasitic infection
- Gastric neoplasia
- Chronic renal disease
- Chronic colitis
You are presented with a young dog with diarrhoea, what is the most likely cause?
An infectious agent
Ex. Parvo or Distemper
List 5 points from a Hx that would suggest an animal is infected with an infectious agent?
- Young animal
- Unvaccinated
- Recent boarding at a kennel
- Poor husbandry
- Pyrexia
If an animal presents with acute diarrhoea, but is otherwise clinically well, what are two ddx?
- Dietary indiscretion
- Parasitic infection (nematodes or protozoa)
How would you treat a clinically well patient presenting with acute diarrhoea?
- Fluids
- Electrolytes
- Anti-emetic
Possibly anti-diarrhoea or acid-base balance
List 3 indications with acute dirrahoea that warrant Ab treatment
- Fever and neutropenia
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Suspected sepsis
Why would you consider Abs for parvo, but not for other causes for acute diarrhoea?
In parvo, animals are febrile and present with severe neutropenia
List 5 parameters you want to monitor in a patient with parvo virus
- Hydration
- Body weight
- PCV and TP
- Glucose and potassium
- WBCs
Differentiate between the clinical signs for SI vs LI disorder
Appetite
SI: decreased
LI: no change
Differentiate between the clinical signs for SI vs LI disorder
Abdominal discomfort
Moderate for both
Differentiate between the clinical signs for SI vs LI disorder
Weight loss
SI: significant (if chronic)
LI: mild
Differentiate between the clinical signs for SI vs LI disorder
Vomiting
SI: moderate/severe
LI: mild
When is diarrhoea considered chronic?
After 3 weeks
Differentiate between the clinical signs for SI vs LI diarrhoea
Mucus
SI: not present
LI: present
Differentiate between the clinical signs for SI vs LI diarrhoea
Frequency
SI: less frequent
LI: very frequent
Differentiate between the clinical signs for SI vs LI diarrhoea
Tenesmus & dyschezia
Need to defecate even when bowel is empty and straining to poop
SI: no
LI: yes
Differentiate between the clinical signs for SI vs LI diarrhoea
Presence of blood
SI: melena
LI: haematochezia
List 4 potential causes of diarrhoea
- Infectious
- Parasitic
- Diet
- Additives/chemicals
When presented with a clinically well dog with acute diarrhoea, what are your top 3 differentials?
- Dietary indiscretion/change
- Nematodes (roundworms and hookworms)
- Protozoa (isospora, crypto, giardia)
Which protozoal parasite is a common cause of diarrhoea in puppies and kittens?
Isospora
What are 2 treatment options for an animal presenting with a parasitc infection causing acute diarrhoea?
- Pyrantel/praziquantel (drontal)
- Moxidectin/imidacloprid (advocate)
How would you rule out a parasitic infection as a cause of acute diarrhoea?
- Treatment trial with drontal or advocate
- Faecal smear
What are your options for treating a clinically well patient with acute diarrhoea?
- Fluids
- Electrolytes
- Anti-emetics (short course)
Possibly acid-base balancers and anti-diarrhoeal’s, but generally no
Suggest a possible diet plan for an animal recovering from acute diarrhoea
Small, frequent meals consisting of low fat, high fibre foods
Can be boiled chicken, rice, potatoes or pumpkin
What are your options for treating a clinically unwell patient with acute diarrhoea?
Same as clinically well (fluids, anti-emetics and electrolytes), but you can also consider appetite stimulants, an anti-diarrheal, and oral protectants
What is the risk associated with anti-diarrheal’s?
They increase the animal’s risk of toxin absorption and bacterial proliferation
SO, if you’re going to use them only use for a couple of days
Describe the signalment of parvovirus in 4-12 week puppies
Anorexia and vomiting in the first 1-2 days, then diarrhoea and haematochezia
List 5 treatment options for a patient with parvovirus
- Fluids
- Correct electrolyte imbalances
- Anti-emetics
- Feeding !!!
- Faecal transplant
Abx only if febrile & severe neutropenia
In which breeds is acute haemorrhagic diarrhoeal syndrome more common?
Small and toy breeds (middle age)
What is the clinical presentation of an animal with AHDS?
- Acute onset haematochezia
- Maybe vomiting
- Maybe anorexia
- Dehydration/hypovolaemia
How would you treat an animal with AHDS?
Fluids and potassium as needed
No Abs if uncomplicated
List 3 bacterial agents that can cause bacterial enteritis in the SI and LI
- Campylobacter
- Clostridia
- Salmonella
What anti-parasitic would you use to treat a dog with a suspected parasitic infection?
Presents as clinically well with acute diarrhoae
Fenbendazole
Bacterial enteritis is rare, what would be some of your other ddx’s?
- Parvo
- Parasites
- Dietary indiscretion
- AHDS
What diagnostic tools are available to diagnose the cause of diarrhoea?
SNAP tests, PCR, haematology, biochemistry, radiology (more severe cases)
What are 5 hallmarks of chronic enteropathy (diarrhoea)
- Lasts more than 3 weeks
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Abdominal pain
What is your primary ddx when presented with an animal with chronic enteropathy?
There is a dietary problem
After you’ve ruled out extra-intestinal disease as a cause of chronic diarrhoea, what is your pyramid of ddx’s?
- Food-responsive enteropathy (treat w diet)
- Microbiota-modifying enteropathy (used to be Abs - really try not to though)
- Immuno-modulator pathology (try immunosuppresives)
- Non-responsive
Prior to starting a diet trial, what do you want to rule out? How?
Rule out extra-intestinal disease with a faecal smear and deworming (fenbendazole)
What is the primary allergen listed in dogs and cats?
Beef
How quickly are you expecting an improvement with a diet trial?
Within 2 weeks
What are the advantages of a home-cooked diet vs a commerical one in a diet trial?
Home cooked has no preservatives and cross contamination is unlikely
How long should you continue a diet trial for if you see an improvement after 2 weeks?
6 weeks
If you try a diet trial for an animal with chronic enteropathy and it doesn’t work, what are your next steps?
- Haematology, biochem, and urinalysis
- Faecal flotation +/ PCR
- Check TT4 for cats (indicator of hyperparathyroidism)
- Check TLI (indicator of pancreatitis or EPI)
What is a possible dddx for a dog with chronic enteropathy and a low basal cortisol (<40nmol/L)?
What else would you see on the haematology?
Addisions disease
High eosinophils and low cholesterol
Where is folate absorbed?
In the proximal SI
Where is cobalamin absorbed?
In the distal SI
How long should you orally supplement B12?
12 weeks (recheck concentrations 1 week after finishing)
How long should you supplement B12 SQ?
6 weeks (recheck concentrations 1 month after finishing)
If you have a patient with chronic enteropathy that is not responsive (bottom of the pyramid), what can be your next steps?
Radiographs (thoracic and abdominal), ultrasound or biopsy
How would you biopsy a section of the intestine if there is a lesion vs no lesion?
Lesion: biopsy the site and around it
No lesion: multiple biopsies
What is a specific ddx for cats presenting with chronic diarrhoea?
Tritrichomonas foetus
More infectious in cats than dogs - could also think FIP or salmonella
Which groups of cats are most at risk to tritrichomonas foetus?
Young pedigree, multi household cats
How would you treat tritrichomonas foetus in cats?
What do you want to be careful of?
Ronidazole
CNS signs
What are 3 forms of protein losing enteropathy?
- Primary (congential) lymphangiectasia
- Secondary (acquired) lymphangiectasia bc of inflammation
- Secondary (acquired) lymphangiectasia bc of neoplasia
What is most important to rule out as a cause of PLE?
Intestinal lymphoma
Describe the pathogenesis of primary (congential) lymphagiectasia
Lymph leakage from lymphatic problems causes inflammation (but it is hard to differentiate cause from effect)