rumen prac

Question 1

Answer 1

Question 2

Answer 2

Question 3

Answer 3

Question 4

which enzymes clot milk in the pre-ruminant state and where are they made

Answer 4

• renin made by cheif cells in the abomasum –> acts on casein converting it to gel substance

Question 5

what are the enzymes that break down the milk clot anf what are the breakdown products

Answer 5

• pepsin secreted as pepsinogen by chief cells in the abomassum and activated into pepsin by HCl
• lipase produced by cells in abomassum breaks down milk fats

products: protein, fat carbohydrates

Question 6

what is the main milk sugar

Answer 6

lactose

Question 7

which enzyme breaks down lactose

Answer 7

lactase

Question 8

why is it a bad idea to let adult ruminants drink milk

Answer 8

reduced lactase activity

Question 9

apart from water, what else does saliva contain

Answer 9

• proteins
• amylase
• sodium ions (less than plasma)
• chloride ions (less than plasma)
• potassium ions (more than plasma)
• bicarbonate (more than plasma)

Question 10

state some signs of dental disease in small animals

Answer 10

• halitosis
• gingivitis
• gingival recession
• loose teeth/tooth loss
• difficulty eating or anorexia
• weight loss
• dislike of head/muzzle contact
• abnormal facial swelling, esp below eye

Question 11

which of these statements about the rumen is correct:
a. Food storage to allow large meals to be eaten.
b. Allows fermentation to occur.
c. Allows water absorption.
d. Allows mixing of gastric enzymes.

Answer 11

b. allows fermentation to occur

Question 12

Briefly describe how the small intestinal epithelium is regenerated under normal conditions.

Answer 12

• epithelial stem cells at base of crypts continuously divide
• epithelial cells migrate upwards and onto the villi
• lost at the villus tips (programmed cell death and detachment from matrix.)

Question 13

Which nerve(s) supplies/supply most of the parasympathetic supply to the gastrointestinal tract?
a. Lumbar splanchnics.
b. Dorsal vagus.
c. Dorsal and ventral vagus.
d. Perineal.
e. Pelvic ganglia.

Answer 13

dorsal and ventral vagus

Question 14

When assessing the health of teeth from a radiograph, which of these signs would indicate healthy teeth:
a. Even radiolucent band between aveolar bone and the tooth.
b. Radiolucent halo at the apex of the root.
c. Narrow pulp cavity.
d. Sclerosis of aveolar bone.
e. Radiolucent region around all of the root(s) of a tooth.

Answer 14

even radiolucent band between aveolar bone and the tooth

Question 15

And from the below list, which are radiographic signs of dental disease?
a. Even radiolucent band between aveolar bone and the tooth.
b. Radiolucent halo at the apex of the root.
c. Narrow pulp cavity.
d. Sclerosis of aveolar bone.
e. Radiolucent region around all of the root(s) of a tooth.

Answer 15

b. radiolucent halo at the apex of the root
d. sclerosis of alveolar bone
e. radiolucent region around all of the roots of a tooth

Question 16

When performing a double-contrast gastrogram, why is the animal’s position important?

Answer 16

a. Because the disposition of the stomach means that the positive (fluid) contrast settles in different parts of the stomach according to the animal’s position. Thus knowing the position, one can work out where the contrast is lying and thus make a judgement as to whether the region is normal or abnormal.

Question 17

Why does a right-sided aortic anomaly cause megaoesophagus?

Answer 17

Because the ductus arteriosus has to be longer to connect the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Thus the ligamentum arteriosum is longer. The position of the right aorta means that the lig. arteriosum crosses over the oesophagus, thus trapping it and compromising its function. (Reference: vascular ring anomalies).

Question 18

What is choke in horses? Do they really have an airway compromise like humans get?

Answer 18

The name given to the dramatic behaviour when a food bolus becomes lodged in the oesophagus. The horse will tense its neck and grunt and groan. They can become quite agitated. The airway is not blocked since the bolus is normally well down the oesophagus. Most cases clear spontaneously. If you get to a choke and it is still choking, then it needs treating! (Sedation, keep head down, flush oesophagus with warm water via a stomach tube and hand-pump).