KA Vet Tech case studies

KA Vet Tech · Put your knowledge to work in context.

The Knowledge Assessment (KA) Veterinary Technician Examination is a multiple-choice credentialing-style test intended for veterinary assistants, technician students, and practicing technicians who want an independent check of their clinical knowledge. It is not a license and does not replace any state or provincial credential; it is a structured way to measure whether your working knowledge matches what a veterinary practice expects of a technician. The KA Vet Tech case studies are 5 cases and about 4,353 words.

Grade 3 Murmur, Grade 8 Teeth: Anesthetizing a Dog Whose Owner Declined the Workup

Bella, an 11-year-old spayed female Yorkshire terrier weighing 7.4 kg with a body condition score of 8/9, is presented for a dental prophylaxis and extraction of a fractured maxillary fourth premolar. Auscultation reveals a grade 3/6 left apical systolic murmur; the owner reports no cough or exercise intolerance, and radiographs taken a year ago showed mild left atrial enlargement.

860 words, about 4 min 2

Blocked Cat at 2 a.m.: Hyperkalemia, Bradycardia, and the Order of Interventions

Simba, a 5-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair weighing 5.1 kg, is presented at 2 a.m. after his owner noticed 20 hours of straining with only drops of urine.

805 words, about 4 min 3

Day 7 After Carboplatin: A Fever, a Low Neutrophil Count, and a Receptionist Holding the Next Appointment

Rocco, a 6-year-old male neutered golden retriever weighing 34 kg, is seven days into his third carboplatin treatment for appendicular osteosarcoma. He was treated on the Wednesday; on the following Wednesday his owner calls to say he is quiet, has vomited once, and is not eating.

849 words, about 4 min 4

Three Breaks in One Field: Prioritizing Sterile Technique Mid-Procedure

A 4-year-old female Labrador retriever weighing 28 kg is undergoing an elective ovariohysterectomy. The patient is stable under isoflurane, the surgeon is working in the caudal abdomen, and the clock is at 55 minutes.

962 words, about 5 min 5

Three Milliliters Missing: A Colleague Who Wants the Log Backdated

You are the lead technician at a three-doctor small animal practice. On Monday morning you perform the weekly controlled substance inventory.

877 words, about 4 min