General Care and Emergency Nursing

Question 0

What information would you collect from an owner, who has phoned up with a suspected toxin ingestion?

Answer 0

1. Owner details and animal details
2. Clinical signs: depressed, collapsed, severe vomiting, bleeding, neurological signs (uncoordinated, behaviour abnormalities), breathing difficulties/very rapid.
3. Access to toxins: handbag on floor? Access to utility room with rat poison in etc. Was animal being watched sufficiently before clinical sings to rule it out?
4. What toxin? Can they describe the ingredients, how much was eaten?

Question 1

What are the SIX criteria for successful home care plans? E

Answer 1

1) Owner education
2) accessibility of instructions, clear
3) achievable in the domestic environment.
4) regular progress reviews
5) owners ability to carry out instructions
6) owner and animal compliance with this plan

Question 2

How would you triage and stabilise an intoxicated patient?

Answer 2

ABC! Assess MM, CRT, RR, HR. Treat life threatening conditions first eg seizures (diazepam for cats, propofol for dogs) and arrythmias. Collect samples during vomiting, urintion. Take blood. ET tube if mentation affects breathing/ if there is a risk of aspiration. Manual ventilation may be required. IVF required if in shock, dehydrated, if toxin is excreted by kidneys (induce diuresis). MONITOR VITALS.

Question 3

How would you induce emesis? Why may induced emesis be contraindicated?

Answer 3

Drugs. Apomorphine in dogs, alpha-2 agonist in cats, sodium carbonate at owners home.
Contraindicated in patients with compromised mentation, loss of gag reflex, has had or could have seizures, animal is Hypoxic, if the toxin is corrosive

Question 4

How would you conduct a gastric lavage?

Answer 4

Anaesthesia, ET with cuffed tube, large bore stomach tube (measured from canine to last rib), pass 10ml/kg of warm water into tube via funnel. Gentle physical massage of stomach. Lower head and tube to drain. Repeat until fluid runs clear.

Question 5

What is the maintenance rate for small rodents ?

Answer 5

100ml/kg/day

Question 6

Name some common medical problems associated with small rodents.

Answer 6

Tumours, fractures, respiratory problems, bite wounds, abscesses, ringworm, mites, dentistry

Question 7

What is the normal temperature range for a rabbit?

Answer 7

38.3 - 39.4 C

Question 8

What is the fluid maintenance rate for a rabbit?

Answer 8

100ml/kg/24hrs

Question 9

Where is best take a blood sample from a rabbit?

Answer 9

Lateral saphenous vein. Rabbit restrained in lateral

Question 10

How would you treat a rabbit with gut stasis?

Answer 10

Fluids, prokinetics (ranitidine), syringe feeding, buprenorphine. Monitor for droppings. Identify cause.

Question 11

Describe the oestrus cycle of the bitch.

Answer 11

Pro-oestrus (9 days, sexual behaviours, will not accept mate, serosanguinous discharge)
Oestrus (9 days, pinky discharge, accepts mate)
Pregnancy/dioestrus (lasts 60 days, increase in progesterone)
Anoestrus lasts 90-150 days

Question 12

Describe the oestrus cycle of the queen.

Answer 12

Pro-oestrus (1-2 days, sexual behaviour but doesn’t accept mate)
Oestrus (average 7 days but could last up to 16, induced ovulator)
Interoestrus (if no mating, no induction of oestrus, 1-10 days then back into pro-oestrus)
Pregnancy(ovulation and fertilisation took place during oestrus, no inter oestrus)
Anoestrus (after pregnancy or interoestrus near winter)
Anoestrus (

Question 13

What are the sings of dystocia? Would the owner need to come in?

Answer 13

More than 2 hours between puppies, early establishment but stops for 12-24 hours, no contractions, or unproductive prolonged straining, placenta coming out in bits, owner needs to come In

Question 14

Describe the stages of parturition

Answer 14

1) nest making, quiet place, vocalising (cats), off food, enlargement of vulva, temp drops
2) panting vomiting, shaking - puppies!
3) placenta
4) post-Natal care

Question 15

Why must Doxycycline be given with food/water?

Answer 15

Can cause oesophageal structures if stuck in oesophagus

Question 16

How do you monitor hydration status in a foal compared to a horse?

Answer 16

Horse =TP and PCV

foal =USG

Question 17

How should you care for a recumbent foal?

Answer 17

Reposition to avoid sores, keep clean and dry (incontinence pads, barrier creams), keep in sternal (bean bag, foam wedge), give mares milk, or milk replacement if no mare. monitor parameters every 4-6 hours, changes can happen quickly, urinary catheter care, catheter care, intranasal oxygen/ventilation may be necessary, monitor BP, urine output and dehydration

Question 18

What is the normal temperature range for a foal and an adult?

Answer 18

Foal= 37.5-39

Adult=37.5-38.5

Question 19

What kind of oestrus cycle does the horse have? Describe a dams oestrus cycle.

Answer 19

Is seasonally polyoestrus. Between early spring and late autumn, will cycle in and out of oestrus.
Oestrus cycle lasts 21 days
Oestrus lasts 2-7 days, rest is diestrus
Will ovulate on last day of oestrus, will receive male and display sexual behaviours.

Question 20

Describe the stages of parturition for a dam.

Answer 20

1= lasts 1-4 hours, contractions from tip of horns down to cervix. Vulva softens and cervix contracts. Dam is displaying signs of colic, sweating. Foal engages in the birth canal. 
2= amniotic sac breaks, foal comes out forefeet first, then nose. Slips out after shoulders pushed out, cervical and voluntary abdominal contractions. 
3= passage of whole placenta, any uterine fluids.

Question 21

What is the difference between osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis?

Answer 21

Osteochondrosis = ischaemia during development of epiphysis, blood supply required to convert cartilage into bone, therefore incomplete endochondral ossification takes place, fissures form, may heal but may get worse and break off. 
Osteoarthritis = degradation of cartilage leads to release of breakdown products into the joint capsule, leads to inflammation of synovial cells, which release proteases and cytokines. Leads to further breakdown of cartilage. Negative feedback until osteoarthritis is diagnosed.