Mid-Sem 2 Exam Flashcards
“Coco” a 5 month old male entire chihuahua presents to you with a history of dullness since early puppyhood & failure to learn house training skills. On physical exam you notice an enlarged dome-shaped head & open fontanelles. You perform a neurological exam & abnormal findings include dull mentation, bilateral ventrolateral strabismus, bilateral absent menace response with intact pupillary light reflexes & postural reaction deficits in all 4 limbs.
- What is the most likely differential diagnosis?
- Assuming the owner has no financial constraints list 3 diagnostic tests you could perform to confirm your most likely differential diagnosis.
- Hydrocephalus (congenital)
- Ultrasound examination of the brain through open fontanelles
- CT of the head
- MRI of the head
- Ultrasound examination of the brain through open fontanelles
Sally, a 3 year old female spayed Golden Retriever presents to your clinic after having her first generalised seizure. Outline your initial diagnostic approach.
- History - e.g. possible access to toxins
- Physical & neurological exam
- CBC, serum biochemistry & urinalysis to rule out extracranial disease (fasting glucose & liver function test)
- Establish a pattern of frequency & severity
- Advanced imaging (MRI) & CSF tap
Methocarbamol would be a rational choice of medication for managing which kinds of intoxication?
- Grape / raising poisoning in dogs
- Permethrin, metaldehyde, strychnine & some mycotoxicoses
- Lily poisoning in cats
- Ingestion of non-polar medications such as propanol, lidocaine, moxidectin or bupivacaine
- Ethylene glycol intoxication
- Permethrin, metaldehyde, strychnine & some mycotoxicoses
What medication can you give to counteract the severe depression sometimes caused by apomorphine?
Naloxone
How does activated charcoal work in the management of certain toxicities?
- It binds to heavy metals under acidic conditions
- It has a large surface area, some toxins adsorb to it
- It binds to highly polarised (ionic) toxins
- It binds covalently to alcohols & other hydrocarbons
- It has a large surface area, some toxins adsorb to it
What are likely clinical features of unsalted macadamia nut intoxication in dogs?
- Seizures
- Acute kidney injury
- Acute hepatopathy & jaundice
- Hind limb weakness, vomiting & diarrhoea
- Hind limb weakness, vomiting & diarrhoea
What are likely consequences of xylitol (e.g. sugar-free gum) intoxication in dogs?
- Petechial haemorrhages especially retinal haemorrhages
- Hyperkalaemia & hyperphosphataemia
- Hypoglycaemia & sometimes hepatopathy
- Hyperglycaemia & sometimes nephropathy
- Hypoglycaemia & sometimes hepatopathy
Sammy is a 9 year old male castrated domestic short haired cat that presents to you with clinical signs of chronic kidney disease.
a) List 2 clinical signs that might be found in Sammy
b) Apart from azotaemia list 2 other possible clinicopathological abnormalities you might find on haematology or biochemistry profiles in Sammy if he has chronic kidney disease.
c) You diagnose Sammy with stage III chronic kidney disease with hypertension. Describe an appropriate treatment plan for Sammy.
a) List 2 clinical signs that might be found in Sammy
- Weight loss, polyuria, polydipsia, inappetence, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, lethargy, dull dry coat, poor body condition
b) Apart from azotaemia list 2 other possible clinicopathological abnormalities you might find on haematology or biochemistry profiles in Sammy if he has chronic kidney disease.
- Non-regenerative anaemia, stress leukogram, hyperphosphatemia, hypokalaemia, elevated SDMA, hypocalcemia
c) You diagnose Sammy with stage III chronic kidney disease with hypertension. Describe an appropriate treatment plan for Sammy.
- Renal diet
- Treatment for hypertension: Amlodipine, ACE inhibitor (Benazepril), telmisartan
- IV fluids / SC fluid
- Phosphate binder
- Anti-emetic (Maropitant, Metoclopramide)
- Gastric protectant (Omeprazole)
- Appetite stimulant (Mirtazapine)
- Potassium supplement
A 12 year old spayed Doberman Pinscher had a soft tissue sarcoma resection 9 months ago. Since surgery she has been treated with low dose cyclophosphamide & firocoxib to inhibit local tumour regrowth. She has had stranguria for the last week & a free catch urine sample shows haematuria on a urine dipstick analysis. What are the two most likely causes of these abnormalities?
- Cyclophosphamide-induced sterile haemorrhagic cystitis, bacterial cystitis
- Von Willebrand disease, cyclophosphamide-induced sterile haemorrhagic cystitis
- Bacterial cystitis, firocoxib toxicity
- Firocoxib toxicity, Von Willebrand disease
- Cyclophosphamide-induced sterile haemorrhagic cystitis, bacterial cystitis
A 9 year old entire male cattle dog is presented for a 2cm diameter raised pink epidermal mass with a partly ulcerated surface, located in the perianal region. What is the most appropriate diagnostic test & recommended therapy if you suspect a perianal gland adenoma?
- Fine needle aspiration for diagnosis, treat with wide margin surgical excision
- Fine needle aspiration for diagnosis, treat with piroxicam
- Incisional biopsy for diagnosis, treat with piroxicam
- Incisional biopsy for diagnosis, treat with castration
- Incisional biopsy for diagnosis, treat with castration
Regarding osteosarcoma in dogs, which of the following statements is correct?
- The prognosis for osteosarcoma is excellent with median survival time about 24 months with aggressive treatment
- The tumour most commonly metastasises to lungs, regional lymph nodes & spleen
- The commonest presenting complaint is pathologic fracture of the affected limb
- The recommended treatment of osteosarcoma is limb amputation followed by chemotherapy
- The recommended treatment of osteosarcoma is limb amputation followed by chemotherapy
An 8 year old male castrated kelpie is lame on the left forelimb. Investigation releaves hypercalcemia & a destructive lesion of the distal radius; the biopsy diagnosis is osteosarcoma. Amputation is declined. Which of the following drug combinations would be an appropriate first line approach for palliative treatment of this dog?
- Prednisolone & firocoxib
- Zoledronate & doxycycline
- Zoledronate & meloxicam
- Prednisolone & meloxicam
- Zoledronate & meloxicam
Regarding hemangiosarcoma in dogs which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
- Adequate staging for suspected splenic hemangiosarcoma should include thoracic radiographs & bone marrow examination
- Dermal, subcutaneous & visceral hemangiosarcoma display different biologic behaviours
- Surgery for splenic hemangiosarcoma should include splenectomy ideally followed by adjuvant chemotherapy
- Approximately 30% of dogs survive at least 12 months after surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy for splenic hemangiosarcoma
- Approximately 30% of dogs survive at least 12 months after surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy for splenic hemangiosarcoma
The serious adverse effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy are commonly seen in which organs?
- Liver & bone marrow
- Urinary tract & liver
- Gastrointestinal & urinary tracts
- Bone marrow & gastrointestinal tract
- Bone marrow & gastrointestinal tract
A dog is presented with polydipsia, polyuria & mild inappetence. Initial laboratory investigation shows mildly increased total serum calcium
1. Briefly outline the approach to determining whether this abnormality is significant
2. What pathologic process is the single most likely cause of hypercalcemia in dogs? In your answer give one specific example.
- Recheck total calcium - if still high then check ionised calcium
- Neoplasia - e.g. Lymphoma, anal sac apocrine carcinoma, osteosarcoma, myeloma
A 12 year-old pug dog has a 5mm diameter, raised pink, 7mm diameter slightly raised hairless epidermal nodule on the dorsal surface of the right carpus. The nodule has been present & unchanged for at least the last 8 months. Ipsilateral prescapular & axillary lymph nodes are not palpable. Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnoses the nodule as a mast cell tumour. Following surgical excision, the tumour is graded as Patanaik Grade 1 or Kiupel low grade, completely excised with narrow margins. From the following options, select the most appropriate advice for the owner.
- Prognosis for cure is poor, adjuvant chemotherapy is strongly advised
- Prognosis for cure is guarded & limb amputation is advised
- Prognosis for cure is fair to good, monitor for local recurrence
- Prognosis for cure is guarded, distant metastasis is likely
- Prognosis for cure is fair to good, monitor for local recurrence
Which neurological condition will not improve with spinal cord decompression surgery?
- Lumbosacral stenosis
- Cervical spondylomyelopathy
- Intervertebral disc extrusion
- Fibrocartilaginous embolism
- Fibrocartilaginous embolism
Which of the following statements is correct regarding the inter-fragmentary strain theory?
- A smaller fracture gap will always lead to a lower strain
- Mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into cells type needed for fracture healing irrespective of the inter-fragmentary strain
- Resorption of bone from the fracture gap will decrease the inter-fragmentary strain
- It is calculated by dividing the original fracture width by the fracture width when loaded
- Resorption of bone from the fracture gap will decrease the inter-fragmentary strain
You find a haematoma between the fracture fragments during open reduction of a non reconstructible comminuted humeral fracture. Which of the following statements is NOT CORRECT regarding the haematoma?
- It should be removed to allow fracture fragments to contact one another
- It is the first stage of secondary bone healing
- It signals the inflammatory cascade
- It is what biological fracture healing is based on
- It should be removed to allow fracture fragments to contact one another
Which of the following is not a function of autogenous cancellous bone grafts?
- Osseous structural support
- Osteogenesis
- Osteoinduction
- Osteoconduction
- Osseous structural support
Regarding ligamentous injuries in dogs, which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
- In second degree sprain injury to the medial collateral ligament of the hock of a dog, stressed radiographs of the region will show no instability of the tibiotarsal joint
- A second degree sprain of the lateral collateral ligament of the carpus of a great dane may require surgical stabilisation with ligament repair
- Conservative treatment with rest, support dressing and antiinflammatories are indicated in a first degree sprain injury to the medial collateral ligament of the hock in a cat
- A third degree sprain injury to the hock of a racing greyhound has a poor prognosis for return to racing
- In second degree sprain injury to the medial collateral ligament of the hock of a dog, stressed radiographs of the region will show no instability of the tibiotarsal joint
Regarding fracture of the metatarsal bones in dogs. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
- Fractures that affect large breed dogs or are significantly displaced may be best managed surgically
- A fracture of the base of the 5th metacarpal bone of the dog may cause collateral ligament instability
- Surgical stabilisation is always required if all 4 metatarsals are fractured
- Shaft fractures of the metatarsals can be treated with alignment & splinting
- Surgical stabilisation is always required if all 4 metatarsals are fractured
Regarding carpal arthrodesis in a dog. Which of the following statements are INCORRECT?
- The carpus must be arthrodesed at a weight bearing angle of around 10 degrees
- Despite use of a bone plate a cast is usually applied to the limb for 6-8 weeks after surgery
- Removal of all articular cartilage & application of bone graft to the joint spaces is indicated
- The most common indication is carpal hyperflexion injury from falls
- The most common indication is carpal hyperflexion injury from falls
Which of the following fracture repair methods cannot be made to provide inter-fragmentary compression?
- Plate & screws
- External skeletal fixator
- Pin & tension band
- Cerclage wire
- Lag screw
- External skeletal fixator
A 15kg 3 year old Kelpie has been in a motor vehicle accident & sustained a moderately displaced transverse fracture of the femoral diaphysis. You are developing a plan for stabilising this fracture. Considering the following stabilisation techniques, which would NOT be an appropriate method of fixation.
- Intramedullary pin & type 1 external fixator applied to the lateral surface of the femur
- Intramedullary pin & circumferential cerclage wire
- Intramedullary pin with supplemental plate fixation (plate / rod construct)
- Intramedullary locking nail
- Intramedullary pin & circumferential cerclage wire
You perform the Ortolani manouvre by abducting the leg & palpate a “klunk” which is diagnostic for hip dysplasia. This klunk is due to which of the following femoral head movements?
- Subluxation out of the acetabulum dorsally
- Subluxation out of the acetabulum ventrally
- Crepitus over the osteophytes
- Relocation into the acetabulum
- Relocation into the acetabulum
A 2 year old dog presents to you with a recent history of being hit by a car. The dog is non weight bearing in the right hind limb. He is painful in hip extention & stands with the limb externally rotated. Which is the most likely diagnosis?
- Craniodorsal hip luxation
- Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head
- Caudoventral hip luxation
- Femoral fracture
- Craniodorsal hip luxation
Which type of bandage should be used to protect the shoulder after reduction of a medial shoulder luxation?
- Ehmer sling
- Robert Jones bandage
- Velpau sling
- Carpal flexion bandage
- Velpau sling
You are presented with a 1-year-old maltese dog with intermittent hindlimb lameness with a skipping gait. Between episodes of non-weight bearing lameness he appears completely normal. What is your top differential diagnosis?
- Cranial cruciate ligament rupture
- Hip dysplasia
- Avascular necrosis of the femoral head
- Medial patella luxation
- Medial patella luxation
Regarding biopsy of a tumour which of the following is correct?
- Excisional biopsy is the preferred method as it gives a large sample of tissue including the margin to determine invasiveness
- A incisional biopsies are small they can be done with local anaesthesia & therefore do not require clipping or skin preparation in most cases
- Biopsy is indicated in almost every case except if the biopsy will not alter treatment or carries the same risk as the definitive surgery
- The biopsy wound does not need to be excised at the definitive surgery if it will compromise the wound closure
- Biopsy is indicated in almost every case except if the biopsy will not alter treatment or carries the same risk as the definitive surgery
Regarding surgical treatment of a soft tissue sarcoma on the lateral elbow of a dog, which statement is INCORRECT?
- Marginal resection & external beam radiation therapy might be an appropriate in certain circumstances
- Incisional biopsy is always indicated to determine the grade of the tumour prior to surgery
- Low grade tumours can be shelled out as they have a pseudocapsule that prevents tumour spread
- Wide excision with 3cm margins laterally & a deep fascial plane would be an adequate surgical plan
- Low grade tumours can be shelled out as they have a pseudocapsule that prevents tumour spread
Regarding traumatic wounds in cats which of the following statements are correct?
- Feline granulation tissue develops more quickly in cats compared to dogs so they are vulnerable to formation of indolent pocket wounds
- Enrofloxacin is the most appropriate antibiotic for a cat bite abscess as it is effective against the bacterial flora of the skin & oral cavity
- Feline granulation tissue develops more quickly compared to dogs but the processes of wound contraction & epithelialisation are slower
- Cat bite abscesses are best treated by drainage & lavage. Antibiotics are generally recommended.
- Cat bite abscesses are best treated by drainage & lavage. Antibiotics are generally recommended.
A 4-year-old cat sustained a large axillary skin defect secondary to a cat fight. Regarding axillary skin wounds in cats which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
- In this region, movement & skin tension may delay wound healing
- A suitable treatment option is to manage infection, close the wound & immobilise the area
- Granulation tissue in cats forms more rapidly & is more abundant compared to dogs
- In the region, loss of subcutaneous tissue as a result of trauma may delay healing
- Granulation tissue in cats forms more rapidly & is more abundant compared to dogs
Orthopaedic surgery - hyperextension / hyperflexability of the carpus. What are the treatments?
?
Orthopaedic surgery - Blood supply for bone healing.
?
Orthopaedic surgery - Strain, forces & bone healing.
?
Orthopaedic surgery - Shoulder with OCD what is the best treatment option & what is the prognosis?
Best treatment = Arthroscopy
Prognosis = ?
Orthopaedic surgery - Cat has a fracture, what do you use to fixate it? What are the contraindications of casting? Prognosis & stability of each treatment.
?
Orthopaedic surgery - Ligament stability for a joint; active & passive. i.e. biceps active vs passive = medial and cranial intra joint caudal ligament
What is its shape i.e. straight = cranial or y-shaped = caudal medial?
?
Oncology - Which is the most common chemotherapy used in general practice?
- Chlorambucil
- Cisplatin
- Vincristine
- Cyclophosphamide
?
Which chemotherapy is commonly used for cases of immune mediated thrombocytopaenia?
- Diagnose the thrombocytopaenia
- Then give immune suppressive steroid - Dog is lower dose than cats (>2mg is immunosuppressive dose in dogs, cats need
3-4mg/kg) BSA allometric scaling??
Boxer with a skin lesion. What is it likely to be?
Mast cell tumour
Doberman’s & German Shepherds are predisposed to what condition & how do we confirm it?
- Thrombocytopaenia
- Confirm with buccal bleeding test
Neurology - how to localise a lesion?
?
Which is not a common sign of chocolate toxicity?
- Vomiting
- Tachycardia
- Abdominal discomfort
- Abdominal discomfort
Rat bait toxicity scenario.
?
Urinary surgery section - Cystic calculi treatment & diagnosis.
Diagnosis:
- Palpation - may sometimes feel the stones through abdomen if large enough
- Urinalysis - may reveal presence of crystals, blood or bacteria
- Radiographs - can detect stones especially those that are radiopaque e.g. calcium oxalate & struvite
- Contrast study - contrast cystography where dye is introduced into the bladder before taking xrays
- Ultrasound - can detect both radiopaque & radiolucent stones. Can detect smaller stones than xray
Treatment:
- Diet modification - prescription diets can help dissolve certain types of stones e.g. struvite stones by altering the pH of the urine & reducing the concentration of stone-causing minerals.
- Urinary acidifier or alkalalinizer medications
- Cystotomy = surgically removing stones from bladder
- Urohydropropulsion = non-surgical technique used to flush small stones out of the bladder by filling the bladder with fluid & then applying pressure to expel the stones through the urethra
Urinary surgery section - Transitional cell carcinoma of bladder. How to diagnose & next treatment plan steps?
Diagnosis
- Use blood panel i.e. Lymphocytes, neutrophils, epithelial cells
- Neoplastic cells - abnormal shapes, nuclei & size, high mitotic figures = abnormal (most likely cancer)
Treatment:
- Thoracic radiographs for mets first for any mast cell tumours & transitional cell carcinomas before any treatments commence
How to neurolocalise to the forebrain (Cerebrum) - i.e. what are the functions of the forebrain?
Behaviour:
- Distance exam - assess your patient’s behaviour - changes can be due to a problem with the prefrontal cortex. E.g. dog is normally very friendly & then all of a sudden it becomes quite reserved / aggressive.
Vision:
- Absence of menace response - e.g. if there was a right forebrain issue (i.e. mass) you would get contralateral abscene of menace (absence of menace on left side)
Fine motor activity:
- Knuckling / paw placement test - left forelimb testing the knuckling goes to right forebrain - takes signal down & flips it to left side (if there is an issue with the forebrain the message might not get flipped to the opposite side)
Other clinical presentations of forebrain disease:
- Seizures
- Circling - towards side of lesion
- Head pressing
- Noxious nasal response (contralateral)
What are the functions of the cerebellum & hence possible signs of cerebellar disease?
Functions:
- Posture & equilibrium
- Muscle tone
- Fine movement coordination
Possible signs of cerebellar issues:
- Jerky / stiff movements
- Abnormal gait - hypermetric gait (overstepping) or over-reaching
- Trunk swaying
- Wide-based stance
- Intention tremor
- Menace deficit (ipsilateral)
Differentiate between peripheral & central vestibular disease.
Peripheral:
- Middle to inner ear
- Head tilt - towards lesion
- Ataxia - vestibular
- Nystagmus - fast phase AWAY from lesion
- CN dysfunction - VII facial paresis / paralysis
- No postural reaction deficits
Central:
- Lies in brainstem & cerebellum
- Head tilt - toward lesion (except paradoxical)
- Ataxia - vestibular +/- proprioceptive / cerebellar
- Nystagmus - fast phase away or toward lesion
- CN dysfunction - CN V-XII possible
- Postural reaction deficits - most reliable sign!
Differentiate between an upper motor neuron lesion & lower motor neuron lesion.
Upper motor neuron lesion (*Think upper = increased):
- Motor function - paresis or paralysis
- Reflexes - normal to increased
- Extensor muscle tone - normal to increased
- Muscle atrophy - mild / chronic
- Gait - long stride, “loppy”
Lower motor neuron lesion (*Think lower = less):
- Motor function - paresis or paralysis
- Reflexes - decreased to absent
- Extensor muscle tone - decreased to absent
- Muscle atrophy - severe / fast
- Gait - short / choppy
What 4 major questions should you ask yourself everytime with regard to neurological disease?
- Is the animal neurological?
- Where is the disease?
- Brain or spinal cord? C1-C5, C6-T2, T3-L3 or L4-caudal? - How severe is the problem?
- What types of disease process might explain clinical signs?
- DAMNIT V
Where do seizures always localise to?
The forebrain
List & define the 4 phases of seizure activity.
- Prodrome:
- Hours to days before
- Behaviour changes include: restlessness, clingy behaviour, vocalising, anxiety - Aura:
- Seconds to minutes before
- Hide, agitation or seeking behaviour - Ictus:
- The seizure itself - Post-ictal phase:
- Lasts minutes > days at times
- Prolonged seizures have longer post-ictal stage
- Blindness, disorientation, restlessness, ataxia, deafness