Week of March 31 - VP Flashcards
Tricuspid dysplasia is similar to mitral valve dysplasia in the irregular valve leaflets, chordae tendinae, or papillary muscles of the valve. Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, and other ________ breed _______ (sex) are predisposed to the disease. Signs of _______ -sided heart failure, such as ________ and __________ occur in advanced disease. The prognosis for these animals is __________ to _____ depending on the severity of the regurgitation.
Tricuspid dysplasia is similar to mitral valve dysplasia in the irregular valve leaflets, chordae tendinae, or papillary muscles of the valve. Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, and other large breed males are predisposed to the disease. Signs of right heart failure, such as ascites and hepatomegaly occur in advanced disease. The prognosis for these animals is guarded to poor depending on the severity of the regurgitation.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital defect of the heart which includes _____________ stenosis, dextro-positioned ________ (over-riding), ______-sided ventricular hypertrophy, and a _____________ septal defect. It causes shunting of venous blood across the _____ into the arterial circulation which leads to ___________, and an increased drive for erythropoiesis, causing _____________.
Affected animals tend be underdeveloped in size and have a history of exercise intolerance, dyspnea, tachypnea, or syncope due to hypoxemia. Thoracic radiographs usually show a normal to ________ enlarged cardiac silhouette with right ventricular enlargement and pulmonary _____________ due to the shunting of venous blood into the arterial circulation.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital defect of the heart which includes pulmonic stenosis (not aortic stenosis), dextro-positioned aorta (over-riding), RIGHT ventricular hypertrophy, and a ventricular septal defect. It causes shunting of venous blood across the VSD into the arterial circulation which leads to hypoxemia, and an increased drive for erythropoiesis, causing polycythemia.
Affected animals tend be underdeveloped in size and have a history of exercise intolerance, dyspnea, tachypnea, or syncope due to hypoxemia. Thoracic radiographs usually show a normal to mildly enlarged cardiac silhouette with right ventricular enlargement and pulmonary hypoperfusion due to the shunting of venous blood into the arterial circulation.
How long should exercise be restricted in canine heartworm patients?
Strict activity restriction of the dog is very important once treatment is initiated. Dogs should be restricted in activity at least 4-6 weeks post treatment to decrease the likelihood of thromboembolic events and to allow the lungs to recover from injury due to worm death.
Which of the following has the least effect on heart rate?
A. Propofol
B. Morphine
C. Thiopental
D. Ketamine
Answer: A
The correct answer is propofol. Ketamine causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. It is considered seizureogenic and has poor muscle relaxation effects, however it provides good analgesia. Thiopental is an ultra fast acting thiobarbiturate that causes an increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and decreased cardiac contractility. It is also an arrhythmogenic agent. Morphine is an opioid that causes bradycardia. Propofol does not result in any significant cardiac changes. It is ultra-short in duration, can cause apnea and myoclonus, and is considered anticonvulsive. It may cause a mild bradycardia but you mainly see that when used in combination with other opiates. More recently propofol has been associated with myocardial depression and hypotension in critically ill dogs and may not be the induction agent of choice as a result. Despite these findings, propofol still has the least effect on heart rate.
What ECG is pictured here? How is it treated?
There are several general guidelines/recommendations regarding treatment of ventricular premature contractions which is what is shown on the ECG strip:
- HR must be > 180 bpm
- Presence of pulse deficits
- C/S of cardiomyopathy (arrhythmia, etc)
- VPCs > 20 seconds
There are many dogs with intermittent VPCs that are not of clinical importance.
However, it is recommended that the patient be evaluated regularly and ideally have a consultation with a cardiologist to ensure the progression of heart disease is being minimized.
Medical tx for VPCs = Mexilitene (anti-arrhythmic)
Define Electrical alterans and pulsus paradoxus.
Electrical alternans is an ECG finding in which the height of QRS complexes alternate due to the physical swinging of the heart as it contracts within the pericardial effusion.
Pulsus paradoxus is an exaggerated decrease in arterial pulse quality during inspiration caused by increased right-sided filling at the expense of reduced left ventricular filling because the heart is constrained by the pericardial effusion.
Define cardiac tamponade. List some possible causes.
Cardiac tamponade comes from excessive accumulation of fluid in the pericardium resulting in an increased intra-pericardial pressure impairing diastolic filling of the heart.
Causes include: Hemangiosarcoma, heart base tumors, right sided congestive heart failure, idiopathic pericardial hemorrhage, peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia, infectious pericarditis, trauma, foreign body, coagulopathy, and hypoalbuminemia.
Complete, or 3rd degree AV block, in the dog most commonly develops due to ______-related degeneration/fibrosis of the cardiac conduction system. Medical therapy for 3rd degree AV block involves increasing the heart rate with __________ or __________; however, success with medical therapy is limited, so _________ implantation is the therapy of choice.
Complete, or 3rd degree AV block, in the dog most commonly develops due to age-related degeneration/fibrosis of the cardiac conduction system. Medical therapy for 3rd degree AV block involves increasing the heart rate with atropine or isoproterenol; however, success with medical therapy is limited, so pacemaker implantation is the therapy of choice.
What test should be run to monitor the efficacy of treatment for an Addisonian dog being treated with supplemental mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids?
A. Serum chloride and phosphorus
B. ACTH stimulation test
C. Resting cortisol level
D. Urine cortisol creatinine ratio
E. Serum sodium and potassium
Answer: E
Topic: Parathyroid adenoma
Post-operatively, it is important to monitor for hypocalcemia daily for the first seven days regardless of the absence of clinical signs for hypocalcemia. The higher the pre-operative serum calcium concentration, the more likely the patient will become hypocalcemic post-operatively. Post-operative monitoring of serum calcium should be daily for the first seven days, then weekly for 4 weeks. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation should be given accordingly. Serum calcium concentration should be maintained in the low normal range, not below normal, to stimulate production of PTH by the parathyroid cells.
In a dog with normal kidneys, glucose does not begin to spill into the urine until the blood glucose is around ______ mg/dl. In a cat, glucose does not begin to spill into the urine until the blood glucose reaches between _____-___ mg/dl. Another cause for the PU, PD should be sought in this patient. When the blood glucose is high enough to spill into the urine, the polyuria seen is caused by an osmotic diuresis resulting from the osmotic pull of the glucose in the urine. The kidneys are not refractory to antidiuretic hormone with DM.
In a dog with normal kidneys, glucose does not begin to spill into the urine until the blood glucose is around 180 mg/dl. In a cat, glucose does not begin to spill into the urine until the blood glucose reaches between 200-280 mg/dl. Another cause for the PU, PD should be sought in this patient. When the blood glucose is high enough to spill into the urine, the polyuria seen is caused by an osmotic diuresis resulting from the osmotic pull of the glucose in the urine. The kidneys are not refractory to antidiuretic hormone with DM.
What conditions can disrupt a diabetic cat’s glycemic control, making them go into DKA?
Pancreatitis, urinary tract infection, or other underlying infections are responsible for disrupting a diabetic’s glycemic control, making them go into DKA.
How can you tell if a patient’s insulin regimen is working for them?
If BG Nadir is between 80-150
If the insulin duration of action is appropriate
Majority of values < 250
Cats with hyperthyroidism are likely to develop hypertension. If this is severe enough (>_____-_______ mmg ________), they can be at risk for acute retinal detachment or hemorrhage resulting in blindness.
Cats with hyperthyroidism are likely to develop hypertension. If this is severe enough (>180-200 mmg systolic), they can be at risk for acute retinal detachment or hemorrhage resulting in blindness.
Facial pruritis leading to self-induced excoriations is one of the side effects that can be seen with methimazole therapy. If it occurs, it is typically seen during the first ________ months of therapy. Along with facial excoriations, clinical signs can also include crusting of the ears.
The recommended treatment is to discontinue methimazole and either switch to the Hill’s y/d diet or consider surgery or I-131 therapy.
Other causes of skin lesions include atopy, food allergy, and allergic flea dermatitis, but methimazole sensitivity should be considered in any cat with facial excoriations regardless of how long they have been taking the drug.
Facial pruritis leading to self-induced excoriations is one of the side effects that can be seen with methimazole therapy. If it occurs, it is typically seen during the first three months of therapy. Along with facial excoriations, clinical signs can also include crusting of the ears.
The recommended treatment is to discontinue methimazole and either switch to the Hill’s y/d diet or consider surgery or I-131 therapy.
Other causes of skin lesions include atopy, food allergy, and allergic flea dermatitis, but methimazole sensitivity should be considered in any cat with facial excoriations regardless of how long they have been taking the drug.
The two 9-week-old Weimaraners in the photo came in to see you about 4 hours ago for puppy exams. They both appeared healthy and you administered pyrantel orally, applied selamectin topically, and vaccinated both dogs against distemper and parvovirus. They now present and the dog on the left in the photo has developed angioedema primarily affecting the head. The sibling is unaffected. Before you complete your exam, the dog becomes very restless and starts vomiting. Which is the most appropriate intervention to reverse the signs of anaphylactic shock?
A. Administer diphenhydramine orally
B. Administer diphenhydramine intravenously
C. Administer meloxicam intravenously
D. Administer prednisone orally
E. Administer epinephrine intravenously
Answer: E
The dog’s clinical presentation is consistent with anaphylaxis from a vaccine reaction. The most important intervention for dogs in anaphylactic shock is intravenous epinephrine, which can reverse bronchial constriction and portal-mesenteric vasodilation that occurs.
Additional supportive measures such as fluids to support the dog’s blood pressure are also critical. Because of the rapid onset, antihistamines and oral medications do not provide sufficient benefit. Intravenous diphenhydramine can potentially cause severe hypotension and is not recommended.
Why is 4-MP the preferred EG treatment?
B/c 20% ethanol can cause severe CNS depression, hyperosmality and MA. 4-MP is given IV.
A 10-year old intact Siberian Husky presents with a history of regurgitation and exercise intolerance. On physical examination, you note the patient is thin. Blood work is unremarkable other than a stress leukogram and a slightly decreased albumin. What is the next diagnostic test you wish to recommend?
A. Chest radiographs
B. Prescaputar lymph node aspirate
C. Abdominal ultrasound
D. Brain MRI
The correct answer is chest radiographs. Based on the clinical signs of regurgitation and exercise intolerance, you should be considering a thymoma. These tumors arise in the cranial mediastinum and are associated with causing myasthenia gravis and megaesophagus as paraneoplastic syndromes. If a cranial mediastinal mass is present, your top two differentials should be thymoma or lymphoma.
As long as thymomas are well encapsulated, the prognosis is relatively good, and surgery via a median sternotomy should be recommended.
An abdominal ultrasound would be reasonable but not the next best choice as a diagnostic test. There are no examination findings that would indicate the necessity of a brain MRI. A prescapular lymph node aspirate will likely be low-yield given the presentation and the fact that there was no enlargement indicated on physical examination.
What is the isotonic crystalloid shock dose in dogs? Cats?
The isotonic crystalloids shock dose in dogs is 90 ml/kg. 1/4 to 1/3 of this volume should be administered initially and the patient reassessed. In cats, the isotonic crystalloids shock dose is 40-60 ml/kg. Synthetic colloids can be administered at a dose of 10-20 ml/kg in dogs and 5-10 ml/kg in cats and hypertonic saline at a dose of 5 ml/kg.
Which of the following is true about doxorubicin used in cats?
It causes neurotoxicity
It causes sterile hemorrhagic cystitis
It commonly causes heart failure
It causes renal toxicity
In cats, doxorubicin does not cause clinical problems with the heart as commonly as it does in dogs. Its effects on the kidneys is generally thought to be more of a concern in cats. Sterile hemorrhagic cystitis is caused by cyclophosphamide in dogs, but not in cats. 5-fluorouracil causes neurotoxicity in cats and should never be used in
The correct answer is a large percentage of cats are seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii but are not necessarily shedding oocysts. Infected cats will usually only shed oocysts for ___-___ _______ when they are initially infected. They usually don’t shed again unless they become severely immune-compromised. Paired serum titers should be taken 1-2 weeks apart in order to determine the stage of infection. A rise in the consecutive titers would mean the cat was recently infected. Titers that aren’t significantly different can be interpreted as the cat having an old infection and is less likely to be actively shedding oocysts. Infectivity of the oocysts occurs with sporulation, which occurs within 1-5 days after shedding.
The correct answer is a large percentage of cats are seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii but are not necessarily shedding oocysts. Infected cats will usually only shed oocysts for 1-2 weeks when they are initially infected. They usually don’t shed again unless they become severely immune-compromised. Paired serum titers should be taken 1-2 weeks apart in order to determine the stage of infection. A rise in the consecutive titers would mean the cat was recently infected. Titers that aren’t significantly different can be interpreted as the cat having an old infection and is less likely to be actively shedding oocysts. Infectivity of the oocysts occurs with sporulation, which occurs within 1-5 days after shedding.
Topic: Nitrate Toxicity Pathophysiology
Nitrates are converted in the rumen to __________, which convert hemoglobin to __________ (Fe+3), which cannot ______ or _______ oxygen.
Nitrates are converted in the rumen to nitrites, which convert hemoglobin to methemoglobin (Fe+3), which cannot bind or transport oxygen.
Since Mycoplasma lack a cell wall, drugs that act on the cell wall such as __________ and __________ are never the best choice.
Since Mycoplasma lack a cell wall, drugs that act on the cell wall such as penicillins and cephalosporins are never the best choice.