General Signs of Illness Flashcards
Characterized by an increase in body temperature above normal range
Pyrexia / Fever
Transfer of heat between objects NOT in direct contact
Radiation
Removal of heat from a surface area
Evaporation
Transfer of heat through air current
Convection
Direct heat transfer
Conduction
General adaptations in insulation
-Skin
-Feather
-Fur
General circulatory Adaptations
-Vasoconstriction
-Vasodilation
General adaptations by evaporative heat loss
-Panting
-Sweating
Thermoregulation Mechanism during heatloss
-Panting
-Cutaneous vasodilation
-Postural changes
-Seeking cooler environment
-sweating
Thermoregulation during heat gain
-Catecholamine thyroxine production
-increased muscle activity
Thermoregulation during heat conservation
-Cutaneous vasoconstriction
-Piloerection
postural changes
seeking warm environment
Thermoregulatory center
pre-optic region of hypothalamus
Physiological causes of increased body temperature
Severe exercise
stress
menstruation
pregnancy
Pathological causes of increased body temperature
heat stroke
fever
Produced by variety types of pathogens: viruses, yeast, gram + & - bacteria
Exogenous pyrogens
Produced by host organisms in response to injection of external pyrogen
-what are the cytokines involved
Endogenous Pyrogens
-Interleukins 1&6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon
Non-infectious activators are caused by
Ag-Ab complexes
- Non-infectious inflammation caused by irritants
-Etiocholanolone (steroids)
Benefits of fever
Immune function
Improved antibody productions
Activates T cells
Produces cytokines
Enhances neutrophil and macrophage function
Downside of fever
Increase cardiac output
Increased O2 consumption
Increased CO2 productions
Increased Metabolic rate
Pain
Delirium
Body temperature remains elevated above normal for a longer period (weeks or days)
Sustained/Persistent
febrile episodes lasting for 1 or more days with intervening periods of normal Body temp
Intermittent/ Undulating
Daily increase in Body temp with intervening periods of normal or subnormal temp. (Bacterial infections)
Remittent
Antipyretic agents used in the management of fever
-Acetylsalicylic acid
-Acetaminophen (contraindicated-cats)
-Dipyrone
-Flunixin meglumine (not reco in cats)
An unregulated rise in BT beyond the unchanged hypothalamic thermostatic setpoint
Hyperthermia
Management of Hyperthermia
-Cold IV fluids (NSS)
-place animal in cold water bath
-glucocorticoids vs shock
-close patient monitoring until BT returns normal
When normal thermoregulatory mechanisms no longer maintain core body temperature
Hypothermia
Physical processes of heat exchange (Thermal Regulation)
- Radiation
- Evaporation
- Convection
- Conduction
Causes of Hypothermia
- Acute decompensated CHF
-Severe Hypothyroidism - Prolonged immobilization
-Prolonged exposure to extreme cold
Clinical signs of hypothermia
-shivering
decreased level of consciousness
-bradycardia
-weak pulse
-Depressed respiration
-Muscled stiffness
Management for hypothermia
-actively rewarm the animal
- Bubble wrap, heating pads
-Warm IV fluids
Decreased Body weight due to depletion of total body reserves of nitrogen and fats
Weight loss
General Physical wasting and malnutrition
-Loss of weight, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness and significant loss of appetite
Cachexia / wasting syndrome
State of severe weight loss induced by prolonged malnutrition or undernutrition
Emaciation
Major causes of weight loss
- feeding diets insufficient to meet normal physiological needs
- Impaired desire or ability to eat
- increased nutrient requirements due to a disease process
Reasons of weight loss in livestock
- Bacterial/ viral infections
- Parasitic infections
- exposure to toxic substances, plants
- Mineral deficiencies (cobalt)
Results from intake of calories that exceed expenditure
Obesity
An adipocyte hormone wherein it acts on receptors in hypothalamus where it inhibits appetite
Leptin
Anorexia of infection (IL1)
Promotes the release of Corticotrophin Releasing Factor which suppresses feeding behavior
Anorexia of infection (IL6)
Is associated with the insulin resistance of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus
The habit of some animals of feeding on many different types of food
-Insatiable appetite
Polyphagia
Primary polyphagia
-Brain
-destruction of satiety center by hypothalamic tumor
- overfeeding (Psychological in origin)
Secondary Polyphagia (Physiological)
-Gestation
-Lactation
-Strenuous exercise
-Exposure to environmental temperatures
Secondary Polyphagia (Pathological)
-disorders resulting in negative caloric balance
-Maldigestion
-Malabsorption
-Diabetes Mellitus
-Cushing’s disease
