Laboratory Procedures

Question 1

Diabetes mellitus

Answer 1

common endocrine problem in dogs and cats caused by inadequate insulin production or peripheral insulin resistance

Question 2

Two types of Diabetes:

Answer 2

• Type I - pancreas is no longer producing insulin

* Type II - usually caused by insulin resistance (rare in the dog, more common in the cat)

Question 3

Clinical signs of a Healthy Diabetic

Answer 3

o PU/PD (Polyuria and polydipsia)
o Polyphagia (increased appetite) and weight loss
o Recurrent infections
o Plantigrade stance from diabetic neuropathy (cats) o Cataracts (dogs)

Question 4

Clinical signs in Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Answer 4

o Anorexia
o Vomiting
o Weakness
o Severe metabolicacidosis
o Blood glucose > 500 mg/dl
o May have previous history of the signs of a “healthy diabetic”

Question 5

Diagnosis of Diabetes

Answer 5

Based on Clinical Signs and bloodwork/ UA

Can see hypoglycemia, glucosuria,

Question 6

Humulin-R

Answer 6

o Short-acting regular insulin, used most often in cases of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

Question 7

Humulin-N, Vetsulin

Answer 7

o Intermediate-or longer-acting insulins, for maintenance therapy

Question 8

Lantus (glargine)

Answer 8

“Peakless” insulin, approved and recommended for use in cats

Question 9

Polycythemia

Answer 9

increased number of RBC

Question 10

Rouleaux

Answer 10

RBC that form stacks

Question 11

Agglutination

Answer 11

RBCs that form irregular clumps

Question 12

Polychromasia

Answer 12

RBCs with blue or lilas tinge

Question 13

Poikilocytosis

Answer 13

increased variation of RBC shape

Question 14

Spherocytosis

Answer 14

cells that are spherical in shape with lost central pallor

Question 15

Schistocyte

Answer 15

fragmented RBCs that are usually angular

Question 16

Purple/ Lavender top tube

Answer 16

• Contains EDTA; It prevents coagulation by binding to calcium ions
• Cell constituents are stable for up to 24 hours in a purple-top tube.
• running a complete blood count (CBC), hematocrit/packed cell
volume, reticulocyte count, used for collecting fluid that may clot from body cavities in which cell counts need
to be performed.

Question 17

Plain Red top tube

Answer 17

Glass tubes have no additive; plastic tubes have clot activators. Used in immunology and in most serologic tests such as chemistry panels.
Can also be used as a sterile tube for collecting samples for culture such as urine.

Question 18

Tiger Top Tube

Answer 18

• Serum separator tubes
• Used for chemistry panels requiring a serum sample. (BUN, creatinine, ALT, ALP, triglycerides, cholesterol, electrolytes, etc.).

Question 19

Light Blue Top Tube

Answer 19

• Contains Sodium citrate- binds calcium in the blood.
• Must be completely filled to recommended level.
• Check for coagulation disorders which may include testing of Prothrombin time (PT), Partial
Thromboplastin Time (PTT), Fibrin Degradation Products (FDP), D-dimer, von Willebrand Factor, and other factor and fibrinolysis assays.

Question 20

Green Top Tube

Answer 20

• Plasma separator tubes (PST).
• contain heparin - heparin activates antithrombins, which block coagulation.
• Produces a whole blood/plasma sample and is used for collecting a plasma sample.

Question 21

Grey Top Tubes

Answer 21

• Contain sodium fluoride, a glucose preservative, and some contain potassium oxalate.
• Used if an accurate glucose measurement is needed and sample processing will be delayed.

Question 22

Toxocara Canis

Answer 22

Roundworm in cats and dogs;
• Zoonotic disease Ocular Larval Migrans
• Treated with piperazine, pyrantel, or fenbendazole
• Fecal-oral, trans-placental infection most common
• Live in the small intestine

Question 23

Hookworms

Answer 23

• Most common: Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala
• Zoonotic disease Cutaneous Larval Migrans, which occurs via skin penetration; in percutaneous infection
• Treated with fenbendazole, pyrantel
• Can cause hemorrhagic severe anemia
• Fecal-oral, transmammary, percutaneous infections

Question 24

TRICHURIS VULPIS

Answer 24

• WHIPWORM
• Fecal-oral transmission
• Severe infection may lead to hyperkalemia and hyponatremia
• Large intestinal parasite
• Eggs have bipolar plugs on the ends
• Treated with fenbendazole

Question 25

Nematodes

Answer 25

Roundworm, hookworms, whipworms

Question 26

Cestodes

Answer 26

tapeworms

Question 27

Dipylidium caninum

Answer 27

Tapeworm in dogs and cats; the eggs are contained within the segments (proglottids)
Praziquantel is the treatment of choice (Drontal and Profender)

Question 28

Fasciola hepatica (trematode)

Answer 28

Liver fluke; the adults can be found in the hepatic bile ducts.
• Seen most commonly in cattle or sheep that have been grazing in endemic areas
• require a snail as an intermediate host; most common in areas of high rainfall or moist environments
• Treated most commonly with albendazole

Question 29

Giardia

Answer 29

• Flagellated protozoan
• Fecal-oral transmission, often through contaminated water sources; causes watery diarrhea
• Potentially zoonotic
• Treated most often with fenbendazole (Panacur) or metronidazole (Flagyl)
• Cysts may be seen on a fecal flotation, but Giardia ELISA is the most sensitive test

Question 30

Isospora

Answer 30

• Single celled-intestinal microscopic parasites
• Species-specific
• most common coccidian in dogs and cats
• Eimeria is most commonly in poultry/birds, rabbits
• Treated with Sulfadimethoxine (Albon)
• Eimeria stiedai - causes Hepatic coccidiosis in lagomorphs (rabbits)
• Seen on a fecal float or sometimes a direct smear