Week 4 - Approach to Disorders of the Upper Git Flashcards
What is true anorexia?
- decreased appetite
- the animal has no interest in eating
What is pseudoanorexia?
secondary anorexia, hungry, but appears unable to eat due to oral pain, unpalatable diets or environmental stress
What is sialadenitis?
Condition that causes inflammation of the salivary glands
What is cricopharyngeal achalasia?
Muscle doesn’t relax
Congenital/genetic
What is cricopharyngeal dysphagia?
Relaxes at incorrect time (asynchronous)
Fluoroscopy can differentiate the two
What is the effect of polymyopathy/ polyneuropathy on the upper GIT?
Cranial nerves (IX, X and XII) needed for
swallow reflex
Muscles relax and contract
Disorders of either can lead to dysphagia
Normally generalised signs
In what four locations does the oesophagus narrow?
- pharyngooesophageal
sphincter - gastro
-oesophageal
sphincter - thoracic inlet
- base of the heart
In what animals is regurgitation most commonly seen?
Most common sign in dogs/ cats
* usually fairly soon after eating
What is megaoesophagus?
Condition that causes the oesophagus to enlarge and therefore be unable to move food down
What is melena?
Digested blood coming out in stool
What is nausea?
Reduction in gastric/lower oesophageal sphincter and oesophageal motility, and
increased retrograde motility of small intestine
What is retching?
Contraction of abdominal muscles and marked abdominal effort (NOT in regurgitation)
What is gastric content expulsion?
Simultaneous contraction of abdominal muscles and diaphragm → negative intrathoracic pressure → movement of gastric contents into oesophagus/mouth
What are the clinical signs of a large intestinal issue?
- Diarrhoea
- Weight Loss (species dependant)
- Change in appetite (variable)
- Constipation
- Faecal incontinence (rare)
- Abdominal pain
What breeds is granulomatous colitis most common in?
- Boxer
- French bulldog
