Small Animal Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine: Examination, Pathophysiology and Management Flashcards
What signs might a dog with respiratory or cardiac disease present with?
Cough
Respiratory noise
Increased respiratory rate or effort- dyspnoea
Lethargy/exercise intolerance
Collapse
What conditions are of the Resp/CV system are certain breeds predisposed to?
CKC spaniels and other small breeds- Mitral valve disease/MMVD
Dilated cardiomyopathy in Dobermans and large giant breeds of dog
Yorkshire terriers predisposed to tracheal collapse
Cats- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
What history finddings may suggest cardiac/respiratory disease?
- Coughing- when, productive?, length
- Breathing rapidly, laboured, difficulty- constant/intermittent
- Change in voice- laryngeal problem
- Breathing noise
- Nasal discharge- uni/bilateral
- Excercise intolerance
- Collapse/wobbly episodes- get a full description
How can CV/Resp diseases be physically examined for?
Observation- RR, (20-30 in dogs/cats)
Dyspnoeic patient- look for obstructive- inspiration/expiration/restrictive
MM- cyanosis, anaemic
CRT- <2 seconds
Cardiac output- femoral pulse quality
Warmth of extremities
What are signs of foward heart failure?
- Lethargy, excercise intolerance
- Weak femoral pulses
- Pale mucous membranes
- Quiet heart sounds- precordial impulse difficult
- Cold extremities
- Sometimes core temperature reduced
What are signs of left sided CHF?
Increased respiratory rate often with increased effort
Restrictive breathing pattern
Sometimes- soft inspiratory crackles
Radiographs- gold standard
What are the signs of right sided CHF?
Abdominal distension (ascites) most common in dogs, fluid wave on ballotment
Hepatomegaly- if liver is palpable, due to hepatic venous congestion
May have visibly congested, distended jugular veins
Heptaojugular reflex- gentle cranial abdominal pressure will increase caudal vena cava flow- increased distension of the jugular veins
Pleural effusion can sometimes be due to R-CHF or biventricular failure
What is the normal BPM of dogs and cats?
Dogs- 80-140
Cats- 120-200
What should be listened out for with respiratory auscultation?
Check larynx and trachea
Bronchovesicular sounds are normal
Adventitious lung sounds- crackles- smaller openings, wheezes- narrowing
What are the 5 ways a heart murur is categorised?
Location- point of maximal intensity (3rd, 4th, 5th intercostal space)
Timing- Systolic, diastolic, continuous
Grade
Character
Radiation
How are heart murmurs graded?
I/VI- very quiet- only detected in optimal conditions
II/VI- less loud then heart sounds
III/VI- as loud as heart sounds
IV/VI- louder then heart sounds
V/VI- loud heart murmur with precodial thrill
VI/VI- very loud with a precordial thrill
What are the four characters of murmurs?
Early systolic murmurs
Mid-systolic murmurs
Holosystolic murmus- between S1 and S2
Pansystolic murmurs- At point of maximal intensity only hear the murmur
What is radiation of a heart murmur?
Next loudest position of the murmur from PMI
What do the following point of maximal intensities tell you about the location of heart murmurs?:
Left apex
Left base
Left cranio dorsal
Right side
Left apex- mitral valve
Left base- pulmonic/aortic valve
Left cranio-dorsal- patent ductus arteriosis
Right side- tricupsid valve, ventricular septal defects
What is the reynolds number and how is it calculated?
The change from laminar to turbulent flow
Re ~ velocity of blood x diameter of blood vesels x density of blood / viscocity of blood
What is an innocent murmus in puppies and kittens?
Present initially- get less loud over time
Usually
Diminish with growth
Disappear by 16-20 weeks old due to change of foetal to adult haemoglobin
What creates S1, S2, S3 and S4?
S1- closure of atrioventricular valves
S2- closure of the semilunar valves
S3- sound associated with early diastolic filling
S4- late diastolic filling with atrial contraction
What causes an increased chance of S3 and S4 being heard?
S4 is heard when animals which depend on atrial contraction to achieve ventricular filling- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
S3- when early diastolic filling is abruptly decelerated in a stiff, poorly compliant LV and filling pressures are high- dilated cardiomyopathy
How is the thorax percussed?
Percussing a cupped hand or directly on the chest wall checking for resonance- reduced with pleural effusion
How can thoracic compressability be assesed in cats?
Cranial to the heart- usually springy
With a mediastinal mass or large pleural effusion is is reduced
How can you distinguish between CV and Resp diseases with the following:
HR, Rythm, Coughing, Murmur, Diastolic gallops
How is heart disease classified with ACVIM?
ABCD
A- no risk/abnormality
B- structural abnormality, no clinical signs
B1- no evidence of remodelling, B2- evidence of significant remodelling
C- Congestive heart failre- acute or chronic
Moderate- home treatment, Severe- Hospitalisation
D- Persistent or end stage
How does ISAHC classify heart disease?
Class 1- no clinical signs
1a- no signs of compensation, 1b- mild chamber enlarmgent
Class 2- mild heart failure- signs only on strenuous excertion
Class 3- moderate- severe failure
3a- home treatment, 3b- hospital treatment