GIT 1 Flashcards
Dysphagia
Difficulty with prehension, chewing, and/or swallowing of food
What are the main differences between vomiting and regurgitation? (4)
Vomiting:
* Active;
* Nausea;
* Stomach and proximal SI;
* Primary or secondary GI disease;
Regurg:
* Passive;
* No nausea;
* esophagus;
* Swallowing or esophageal problems
What are the main differences between small bowel and large bowel diarrhea?
Stool size and frequency
Mucous
Blood
Fat
Vomiting
Gas
Diarrhea
Small bowel:
Large, 2-3x/day; No mucous; Melena; Sometimes fat; Sometimes vomit; Sometimes gas; Often weight loss
Large bowel:
Small, >3x/day; Mucous; Fresh blood; No fat; Vomiting, gas, and weight loss not typical
Most common singular clinical sign, especially in cats, of GIT disease
Anorexia/hyporexia w/ associated weight loss (not very specific eh?)
What are the 3 main steps of a GIT workup in small animal?
- History (esp. dietary history; issues with dietary indiscretion or intolerance)
- Identify the primary complaint (the most specific complaint)
- Determine if its acute or chronic
True or false. Dental disease is not an important cause of GI disease
True (:o oh mai gawd)
For acute GI disease with no GI urgency markers, would a therapeutic diet trial or diagnostic tests be more indicated?
Therapeutic diet trials
For acute GI disease with GI urgency markers, would a therapeutic diet trial or diagnostic tests be more indicated?
Diagnostic tests
For chronic GI disease with no GI urgency markers, would a therapeutic diet trial or diagnostic tests be more indicated?
Therapeutic diet trial
For chronic GI disease with GI urgency markers, would a therapeutic diet trial or diagnostic tests be more indicated?
Diagnostic tests
Chronic GI disease
GI disease lasting more than 2-3 weeks
Justify why you would do a diet trial in a patient with acute diarrhea and anorexia. Describe the different components
Patient is stable and has no GI urgency markers. First I would recommend deworming as it is a simple way to rule out disease. Then I would recommend either a therapeutic diet trial to see if that helps alleviate clinical signs. Simultaneoulsy, I would provide anti-nauseant medication, and a probiotic to treat concurrent signs. May recommend SQ or IV fluids. Give patient a few days to recover, if not, or patient gets worse, recommend diagnostic workup
For an acute vomiting patient w/ no GI urgency markers, what at minimum should you do for a therapeutic trial?
NPO trial w/ GI diet
For an acute diarrhea patient w/ no GI urgency markers, what at minimum should you do for a therapeutic trial?
Probiotics + GI diet
For a chronic vomiting patient, what would your therapeutic diet trial look like at minimum?
Elimination diet
For a chronic diarrhea patient, what would your therapeutic diet trial look like at minimum?
Elimination diet; Probiotics; Fibre (if large bowel)
What GI diet would you recommend for an acute vomiting animal w/ no GI urgency markers? How would you recommend dietary transition?
Highly digestible/low residue (low fat) diet; Recommend for 1 week, and then gradual transition onto regular food