Lecture 8: NAI

Question 1

physical injury that has been inflicted deliberately

Answer 1

non-accidental injury

Question 2

types of NAI

Answer 2

Blunt/sharp force trauma
burns, 
gunshot wounds, 
asphyxia, 
drowning, 
poisoning

Question 3

SHORT ANS: potential indicators that raise the suspicion of NAI

Answer 3

a. Implication of the perpetrator
b. Hx inconsistent with findings
c. Variable hx; more than one explanation given, multiple people give different explanations
d. Changing explanations
e. Client behavior
f. Multiple/repetitive injuries; review medical hx of all animals in house and may uncover hx of trauma
g. Animal’s behavior towards owner
h. Violence in the home/evidence of abuse to owner
i. Animal is indoor only (not exposed to unk traumas)
j. No hx of accidental trauma (HBC)

Question 4

Animals most at risk for NAI

Answer 4

a. Young animals <2yo
b. Male dogs
c. Mixed breed dogs and pit bulls
d. DSH cats

Question 5

injuries are most associated with NAI?

Answer 5

Superficial
internal
fractures

Question 6

what injuries/where do superficial NAI occur most common in dogs

Answer 6

bruising (abdomen, thorax, head, limbs), scleral/conjunctival hemorrhage

Question 7

what injuries/where do superficial NAI occur most common in cats

Answer 7

abdominal/inguinal bruising, epistaxis, scleral/conjunctival hemorrhage

Question 8

most common place for NAI fractures

Answer 8

femur
skull/teeth
ribs (dogs more)

usually multiple and bilateral compared to HBC

Question 9

internal injuries seen in NAI dogs

Answer 9

pneumothorax, ruptured spleen or liver

Question 10

internal injury commonly seen in NAI cats

Answer 10

ruptured diaphragm

Question 11

hallmark of battered pet syndrome

Answer 11

repetitive pattern of injury

Question 12

r/o for NAI

Answer 12

HBC
dog or predator attacks, 
clotting disorders
skeletal disease
high-rise fall syndrome 
solar dermatitis 

*NAI is usually bilateral, multiple injuries with multiple stages of healing

Question 13

differences in wound patterns for intentional mutilation vs. predation

Answer 13

a. mutilation (occult or ritualistic animal abuse) may involve cutting/removing body parts (bloody in antemortem injury)
b. predation - coyotes prefer internal organs, wounds are irregular with evidence of crushing/tearing, will typically observe chewing/splintering of bones. Tongue/eyes/other soft tissues may be removed by scavengers

Question 14

What should you do if you suspect NAI

Answer 14

a. Report suspected abuse to law enforcement.

Know who - local animal control, humane investigator, police. Policies should be established at your clinic prior to a case arising

Question 15

repetitive injuries

Answer 15

fractures most common

soft tissue and internal organ injuries

Question 16

noted commonly over the thorax, abdomen and neck/head than over the limbs

Answer 16

bruising