SA Vomiting and Diarrhoea

Question 1

What can cause acute, non-fatal, self-limiting V&D?

Answer 1

Parasitism, dietary indiscresion

Question 2

What can cause acute, severe, life-threatening V&D?

Answer 2

Enteric infection - parvo, bacterial, HE, surgical disease

Question 3

What clinical signs and causes are associated with gastritis?

Answer 3

Acute, frequent vomiting, may have diarrhoea, self-limiting

Cause: garbage intox, fb, hairball, iatrogenic

Question 4

What clinical signs are associated with enteritis?

Answer 4

Acute, profuse, watery diarrhoea, may have vomiting, self-limiting
Cause: garbage intox, enteric infection

Question 5

What clinical signs are associated with colitis?

Answer 5

Acute, frequent, small volumes of diarrhoea, tenesmus, mucoid, haematochezia
Cause: garbage intox, whipworm, protozoa

Question 6

What specific bacterial agents cause acute v&d?

Answer 6

Salmonella, campy, E.coli

Question 7

What clinical signs are associated with HGE?

Answer 7

Acute haemorrhagic vomiting/ diarrhoea, haemoconcentration (PCV 60-80%), depression, shock

Question 8

How would you start treatment with a HGE case?

Answer 8

Fluid therapy - balanced electrolyes until normal PVC, antibiotics (augmentin first line), antidiarrhoeals - opioids or absorbents (kaolin), anti-emetics (central - metoclopride/ maropitant, anticholinergics - atropine)

Question 9

What physiological event leads to vomiting?

Answer 9

Stimulation of the vomiting centre of the brain - recieves info from CRTZ, GIT and pharynx. Stimulates pyloric contraction, LOS relaxation, abdominal contraction, UOS opening and antiperistalsis

Question 10

What primary causes lead to vomiting?

Answer 10

Gastritis, gastric retention, ulcers, IBD, alimentary lymphoma and other neoplasia

Question 11

What clinical signs usually characterise chronic gastritis? How can we treat it?

Answer 11

Intermittent chronic vomiting, bilious vomit, poor appetite, haematemesis, wt loss
Treatment - acid blockers, steroids, reduce gastric filling - small meals, low fat diet, hypoallergenic foods

Question 12

What pathological processes are considered gastric retention disorders?

Answer 12

Outflow onstruction - stenosis, granuloma, FB, pancreatitis

Defective propulsion - electrolyte, inflammatory, nervous

Question 13

Pyloric stenosis is seen in which breeds?

Answer 13

Brachycephalic

Question 14

Name three prokinetics.

Answer 14

Metoclopride - liquid emptying, cisapride - solid emptying

Question 15

What can cause haematemesis?

Answer 15

Gastric ulcers, gastric neoplasia, coagulopathies, inflammation, intestinal disease

Question 16

What can iatrogenically cause gastric ulceration?

Answer 16

NSAIDs

Question 17

What treatment should be used for gastric ulcers?

Answer 17

Fluids, correct acid-base balance (H2 antagonists/ proton pump inhibitors), Mucosal protectants - PGE2 analogue, anti-emesis, antibiosis, durgical resection

Question 18

What triple therapy is used in Helicobacter felis infection?

Answer 18

Amoxicillin and metronidazole + omeprazole

Question 19

Compare the differences between small and large intestinal diarrhoea

Answer 19

Small - increased volume, normal to slight increase in frequency, wt loss, flatulence, halitosis
Large - decreased volume, increased frequency, tenesmus, mucus and haematochezia, constipation, NO WT LOSS