Small Animal

Question 1

What results due to decreased absorption of water or increased secretion within the intestinal lumen?

Answer 1

Diarrhea

Question 2

What is the duration of acute vs. chronic diarrhea?

Answer 2

Acute = < 14 days
Chronic = >14 days, or intermittent diarrhea over weeks to months

Question 3

If a patient is dehydrated, has abdominal pain, depressed, has melena or severe hematochezia, is it more likely a self-limiting or life threatening diarrhea?

Answer 3

Life threatening

Question 4

A patient presents to your clinic for 4-day duration of diarrhea. There is increased frequency but decreased fecal volume, mucus present in feces, as well as frank blood (hematochezia). The owner occasionally describes tenesmus or dyschezia. Is this more likely small or large bowel diarrhea?

Answer 4

Large bowel diarrhea

Question 5

A patient presents to your clinic for diarrhea for the last 3 days. The owner reports the patient doesn’t seem to be going more frequently, but there is an increased fecal volume and the stool is very dark. The patient is also vomiting and the owner has noted weight loss. Is this more likely small or large bowel diarrhea?

Answer 5

Small bowel diarrhea

Question 6

What is the term for mixed bowel diarrhea in which there are signs of both small and large intestinal diarrhea?

Answer 6

Enterocolitis

Question 7

What is the most common cause of acute diarrhea?

Answer 7

Diet - indiscretion, poor quality, intolerance, diet change, etc.

Question 8

Is stress colitis usually a small or large bowel diarrhea?

Answer 8

Large bowel diarrhea

Question 9

A 5-year-old FS Yorkie presents to your clinic for diarrhea for the last 2 days. The owner describes it as looking like “raspberry jam”. On physical exam, you note the patient is 8% dehydrated, HR and RR are elevated, CRT 2 seconds, and there is abdominal pain on palpation. On CBC, there is an increased PCV (>60%) with low-normal albumin. What is your top differential?

Answer 9

Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE)

Question 10

What is your treatment plan for a patient with HGE?

Answer 10

Aggressive fluid therapy +/- antibiotics, and recommend bland diet for 3-5 days

Question 11

If you are only using zinc sulfate fecal floats, how many negative results must you have to say the patient does not have Giardia?

Answer 11

3 negative tests

Question 12

If you have a negative zinc sulfate fecal float and a negative direct saline smear, can you say the patient does not have Giardia?

Answer 12

Most likely

Question 13

What is the treatment for giardia?

Answer 13

Fenbendazole or Metronidazole or combination of the 2

Question 14

Why do we need to be careful with administration of Metronidazole to patients that have Giardia?

Answer 14

Have to give much higher dose than normal -> may start to see neurologic signs

Question 15

Whipworm infection in dogs can result in acute or chronic small/large bowel diarrhea.

Answer 15

Large bowel diarrhea

Question 16

Why might you not see whipworm eggs on a fecal float from one sample but you will see them from another sample from the same dog?

Answer 16

May be negative due to intermittent shedding

Question 17

What is the treatment for whipworm infections in dogs?

Answer 17

Fenbendazole for 3 days, repeat in 3 weeks and again in 3 months

Question 18

A dog had a negative fecal even though you suspected a whipworm infection. What are you going to do?

Answer 18

Empirical treatment

Question 19

What is the treatment for canine parvovirus?

Answer 19

Supportive care -> fluids, electrolyte therapy, nutrition, antiemetics, antibiotics

Question 20

Can the canine parvo fecal ELISA detect feline panleukopenia?

Answer 20

Yes

Question 21

Although clostridium infections can be hard to diagnose, what is probably the best method?

Answer 21

Enterotoxin (CPE) ELISA; although presumptive diagnosis most often made based on acute, hemorrhagic diarrhea

Question 22

What antibiotics can you use for treatment of Clostridium infections? 3 answers.

Answer 22

Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, or Tylosin (reserved for chronic cases)

Question 23

What antibiotics can you use for treatment of Campylobacter? 2 answers.

Answer 23

Erythromycin or Enrofloxacin

Question 24

What is the name of the antidiarrheal medication that can be given to dogs with acute diarrhea but is reserved for only if the patient needs symptomatic relief from intractable diarrhea?

Answer 24

Loperamide