ACVIM flashcards
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- Vertebral heart score
- Sum of the cardiac long axis and short axis measured in vertebral bodies on a lateral radiograph; normal canine range is 8.5–10.5.
- ACVIM stage B2
- Asymptomatic mitral valve disease with cardiomegaly (VHS >10.5 or LA/Ao >1.6); pimobendan is recommended to delay congestive heart failure.
- Feline arterial thromboembolism
- Distal aortic occlusion causing cold painful pelvic limbs, absent femoral pulses, and cyanotic nail beds; often secondary to cardiomyopathy.
- Pulmonary hypertension echo criterion
- Tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity >2.8 m/s corresponds to estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure >36 mmHg.
- Equine metabolic syndrome
- Adiposity with basal insulin >20 µIU/mL or exaggerated post-TRH insulin response; associated with laminitis risk and managed with diet and exercise.
- Equine PPID diagnosis
- Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction diagnosed by basal ACTH (seasonally adjusted) or dexamethasone suppression test; pergolide is standard therapy.
- Bovine ketosis threshold
- Blood beta-hydroxybutyrate >1.2 mmol/L is diagnostic; treated with IV dextrose followed by oral propylene glycol.
- Equine gastric ulcer therapy
- Squamous ulcers treated with omeprazole 4 mg/kg PO q24h; glandular disease responds less predictably and may need misoprostol or sucralfate.
- Bovine respiratory disease pathogens
- Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni are primary bacteria; Mycoplasma bovis causes chronic unresponsive disease.
- Modified Glasgow Coma Scale
- Scores motor activity, brainstem reflexes, and level of consciousness; total score ≤8 indicates poor prognosis in canine head trauma.
- Myasthenia gravis diagnosis
- Acetylcholine receptor antibody titer is definitive; megaesophagus and focal weakness are common; edrophonium response is supportive only.
- Status epilepticus first line
- Benzodiazepines (diazepam or midazolam) are first-line; then levetiracetam or phenobarbital; refractory cases need propofol or pentobarbital coma.
- Peripheral vestibular signs
- Horizontal or rotary nystagmus that does not change with head position, no proprioceptive deficits, and no cranial nerve deficits beyond facial nerve.
- Phenobarbital therapeutic range
- Serum phenobarbital 15–45 µg/mL is therapeutic; monitor liver enzymes and consider levetiracetam as adjunct for refractory seizures.
- Resting energy requirement
- RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 kcal/day; maintenance is roughly 1.2–1.6 × RER in dogs and 1.1–1.4 × RER in cats.
- Feline weight loss rate
- Cats should lose 0.5–1% of body weight per week; losses >2% per week increase risk of hepatic lipidosis.
- Feline essential nutrients
- Obligate carnivores require taurine, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A; taurine deficiency causes dilated cardiomyopathy and retinal degeneration.
- Grain-free diet risk
- Grain-free and boutique diets are associated with canine dilated cardiomyopathy; diet history should be obtained in any dog with unexplained DCM.
- Hepatic lipidosis feeding
- Start enteral feeding at 25–50% of RER and advance over several days to avoid refeeding syndrome in cats with hepatic lipidosis.
- Food allergy trial
- Elimination diet with hydrolyzed or novel protein for 8–12 weeks is required; serologic allergy testing is unreliable for diagnosis.
- Canine lymphoma
- Multicentric form is most common; immunophenotype and stage guide prognosis; CHOP-based chemotherapy is standard for B-cell lymphoma.
- Osteosarcoma treatment
- Most common primary bone tumor in dogs; amputation plus carboplatin or doxorubicin; pulmonary metastases are common.
- Mast cell tumor grading
- Patnaik or Kiupel grading systems; c-kit mutation testing guides toceranib or masitinib; H2 blockers and omeprazole manage GI signs.
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Splenic or right atrial mass often presenting with hemoabdomen; surgery plus doxorubicin-based chemotherapy modestly improves survival.
- Transitional cell carcinoma
- Most common canine bladder tumor; BRAF mutation testing aids diagnosis; piroxicam with mitoxantrone or vinblastine is used.
- Paraneoplastic hypercalcemia
- Most often lymphoma or anal sac adenocarcinoma; measure ionized calcium and PTHrP to distinguish from primary hyperparathyroidism.
- Canine Cushing's testing
- Low-dose dexamethasone suppression and ACTH stimulation tests are used; urine cortisol:creatinine ratio is a screening test only.
- Hypothyroidism diagnosis
- Total T4 and free T4 with TSH; TSH is elevated in primary hypothyroidism but can be normal in 20–40% of cases.
- Canine pancreatitis marker
- Canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) is sensitive and specific; treatment is supportive with fluids and antiemetics.
- Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia
- Spherocytes, positive Coombs test, and regenerative anemia; rule out Babesia and Mycoplasma; prednisone plus azathioprine or cyclosporine.
- Feline hyperthyroidism
- Elevated total T4; treat with methimazole, radioiodine, or thyroidectomy; monitor renal function after treatment.
- IRIS grading
- International Renal Interest Society grading uses creatinine and urine output to stage acute kidney injury and guide fluid therapy.