Review Flashcards
Stomatitis
Inflammation of the mouth, gums, tongue
What virus causes stomatitis and what age does this virus usually affect
Calici virus (feline herpes)
Affects kittens
Painful, infected
Can calculi virus (feline herpes) be cured? What treatments can you use
Calculi virus=stomatitis
Can’t be cured
May respond to anti-biotic, steroids , full mouth extractions , immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporin)
Extractions : better prognosis early on (especially molars/pre molars)
Some cats need all teeth removed.
Foreign objects in mouth
Fish hooks, porcupine quills, string (cats)
May be around mouth/in mouth or inside throat
Sticks, curled rawhide
Treatment for foreign bodies in mouth
Anesthetic/sedation to remove
Antibiotics and NSAIDS for pain relief
What does GDV stand for?
Gastric dilation and volvulus
What is GDV?
Gastric Dilation and Volvulus
Bloat
Starts with dilation of stomach filled by twisting or rotation of stomach which blocks both the entrance and exit of the stomach
What are the clinical signs of GDV?
Retching, may not bring anything up but white foam
Bloated abdomen, restless, tender, very sudden onset
How do you treat GDV
Gastric dilation and volvulus is treated by:
Fluid therapy
Immediate surgery because they can die within hours
Gastropexy:dogs stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall which prevents it from twisting
Gastropexy
Dogs stomach is sutured to the body wall to prevent it from twisting
How do you diagnose GDV
X-rays
Colitis
Inflammation of the colon
Very common cause of diarrhea
Often causes bloody mucoid diarrhea with straining , pain , numerous causes
Colitis symptoms
Diarrhea Watery/pudding like diarrhea Can have Frank blood Or melena (happened in the intestines) Usually pet normal otherwise
What can cause colitis
Bacteria over growth Infection (bacterial, parasitic, viral) Stress Diet Change antibiotics
How is colitis treated
Conservatively (home diarrhea therapy)
Metronidazole
Check fecal samples for parasites / other causes if concerns , non responsive. Other signs
Metronidazole
Antibiotic
Foreign bodies in stomach
Very common
May get stuck in stomach
Signs of foreign bodies in stomach
See vomiting
May cause no symptoms- sometimes it passes through
Intestinal tract foreign bodies
May cause obstruction
May perforate intestinal tract
Diagnosing foreign bodies in stomach/intestinal tract
X-Rays Barium series (contrast) Ultrasounds Exploratory surgeries Endoscopy
Barium series
Drink barium sulfate with water is ingested and X-ray’s are used to create radiographs of the areas of interest.
Barium appears white on the film and can show if there are any obstructions in the digestive tract.
Intestinal obstruction causes
FB Intussusception (telescoping of intestinal tract) Tumors Hernias Roundworms
Clinical signs of intestinal obstructions
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
No stool passed
Hernias in intestines
Loop of intestines can be caught in hernia and twist
Round worms in intestines
Can get to large numbers and obstruct area
How to treat intestinal obstructions
Need surgery
Endoscopy
What happens if you don’t get surgery right away when there is an intestinal obstruction
GIT will become necrotic and die
May need to stitch healthy sections back together
Flatulence
Gas
Common complaint
May be sign of malnutrition due to bacterial fermentation; typically due to nutrients that make it to the colon
What improves flatulence
Diet change
Peritonitis
Inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity
Causes of peritonitis
Usually due to leakage of intestinal contents into abdomen but can also result from viral infection (FIP)
Trauma (Bladder rupture, abdominal wounds)
Uterine rupture
Leakage of surgical site
Peritonitis Treatment
Need surgery to flush area, repair damage
Antibiotics
Pain medication
Can be fatal if not addressed quickly
Constipation
Absent, infrequent or difficult defecation.
Don’t confuse with colitis
Causes of constipation
Bladder obstruction (cats) Anorectal obstruction (matted hair around anus) Prostate enlargement in dogs , tumors. Rare in dogs Megacolon
Treatments of constipation
Enemas Laxatives Stool softeners Increasing water intake Increasing fiber (pumpkin) Drugs that increase intestinal motility Neuter if prostate Surgery if mega colon (surgery-colectomy) Shrink or remove tumor
Diarrhea
Single most common complaint from clients
Passage of loose, unformed stools
May include vomiting, usually an emergency when dog is having diarrhea in house
Causes of diarrhea
Garbage guts Salmonella Toxins Partial/full obstructions Food in tolerances Viral
Treatments of diarrhea
Conservative therapy to start if the pet looks good IV fluids Coating Agents Antibiotics - Metronidazole Probiotics Pain meds Antiemetics Intestinal diets Hypoallergenic diets
Tests of diarrhea
Fecal testing
Blood work
X-rays
Rectal obstruction causes
Prostatic hyperplasia: uneautered males, enlarged with testosterone
Tumors in rectum, anus, LN internally can press on anus
Fecal impactions can occur with constipation , megacolon
Pelvic fractures
Pseudo constipation
Matted stool around anus
Discuss grooming and sanitation
Hepatitis
Many things damage the liver Viruses Toxins Parasites Drugs Autoimmune disease Endocrine disease
Hepatitis treatment
Liver can repair itself if treated early because it’s regenerative
Usually severe disease to fail liver (needs to affect most of liver)
Can fix if cause treated early
Hepatitis Lipidosis
Fatty liver disease
Over weight cats stop eating , even for short period
Body breaks down extra fat for energy , which damages liver
Cat becomes very I’ll within few days; could progress to liver failure
Signs of hepatic lipidosis
Jaundice, vomit, anorexia, lethargic
Hepatic lipidosis treatments
Hospitalization IV fluids Feeding tube(usually esophageal) Vitamin K1 B12 supplements Antibiotics Steroids
After hospital stay with hepatic lipidosis
Sent home with feeding tubes which are used until cat is eating well
Prevent obesity in your cats !
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Disease of pancreas where there is inadequate production of digestive enzymes
Atrophy of pancreatic cells (usually immune-mediated)
Signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Eat but lose weight
Usually loose stool (may be different colour , more fragrant)
Generic component in German Shepard’s, rough collies
Flatulence
Stools covered in mucus
Diagnose Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Check trypsin levels in blood
Treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Digestive enzyme supplement injections
Pancreatitis
Digestive enzymes released into tissue of pancreas, causing massive inflammation and sometimes damaging the endocrine portion (islets) which can lead to diabetes
Pancreatitis symptoms
Vomiting Abdominal pain Fever Can be fatal if severe Anorexia Lethargy
Pancreatitis causes
Fat in diet (dogs) Toxin IBD (cats) Genetics (schnauzers) Drug side effects Cushings Hypothyroidism
Diagnostics
Cpl
Fpl
Abdominal ultrasound
Treatments of pancreatitis
If fluids Pain meds Entiemetics NPO dogs (feed cats) Antibiotics cats Steroids Liver meds Vitamin b12 injections Appetite Stimulants
Triad of pancreatitis , hepatitis , duodentitis
Commonly seen in cats due to proximity of pancreatic and bile ducts
Common to have IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) with pancreatitis and hepatitis because ducts/organs are all close
Vomit might force some bacteria up into pancreas
Cats gut has more bacteria for digestion than dogs
Usually need to treat all three at the same time
Metronidazole, feeding tubes
Hernias
Abnormal openings in the abdominal wall
Three locations : umbilical, inguinal, diaphragmatic
Abdominal contents, especially fat may push out through openings
If loops of intestines get trapped in hernias, can result in obstruction which can be fatal
Umbilical Hernia
Formed by incomplete closure of umbilical ring (belly button, where body comes together with nourishment) after birth Most contains fat May be reducible Diagnose by exam Suspect genetic, more common in dogs Fix at spay/neuter to avoid problems
Inguinal Hernia
More common in dogs, may be genetic Cavalier spaniels, chihuahua Pregnant females Overweight Trauma Diagnose by exam Needs to be corrected surgically
Diaphragmatic hernia
Tear in diaphragm , abdominal organs in chest
Most common as trauma but can be congenital
Cats/dogs
Often causes labored breathing
May be fatal
Diagnose by X-ray’s need surgery to fix
Will need to breath for pet
Mega colon
Abnormal distention of colon where feces collects in the colon
Intussusception
Part of the intestine folds into the part next to it
Megaesophagus
Enlarged esophagus
Pharyngitis
Sore throat, may include tonsillitis Usually infectious Common to find FB in throat May be reluctant to drink, may drool more, may drop food May cough/retch/gag May see changes in breathing May be infection (URTI) Could have fb or tumor Treat with antibiotics, anti inflammatories Tumor/FB removal
Common signs of abdominal swelling
Foreign bodies Ascites Pregnancy Organomegaly Puss filled uterus Enlarged bowel
Flatulence
Fermentation of bacteria of bacteria usually in the colon due to malabsorption or high fiber diet
Weakness
Possibly hypoglycemia
Malnutrition
Cardiovascular: nutrients not getting into tissue via blood stream
Muskuloskeletal : weakness, sore, unwilling to move
Easy to confuse with lethargy
Halitosis
Not always dental disease
Renal disease, diabetes, stomatitis
Kaopectate
Coating agent
Limits excretions of the intestines
Coats intestinal wall
Inhibits / slows growth of bacteria / inflammation
Pepto Bismol
Inhibits/slows growth of bacteria /infections
Coating agent, coats walls of intestines
Aspirin
Dangerous to pets
Don’t give on NSAIDS, if they have ulcers, on steroids
Antibiotics
Used for serious bacterial infections Upset normal flora in colon Can develop resistance to antibiotic, anorexia, allergies Finish full course of meds Call clinic if V/D continues 3x a day every 8 hours
Steroids
Anti-inflammatory Immunosuppressant PD/PU but don't discontinue water Watch dose because decreases functions of immune system Prednisone
Feeding tubes
Nasogastric
Esophagostomy
Gastrostomy
Antiemetics
Cerenia
Injectable/oral
Gravol - car sickness
Anorectal obstruction
Matted hair around anus
Show client how to properly clean up
Prostate enlargement
Neuter if prostate
Possible constipation problem
Megacolon
Possible constipation problem
