Animal Health and Disease Flashcards

An Animal Control Officer responds to a report of a stray puppy. The puppy is extremely lethargic, has a foul-smelling bloody diarrhea, and is vomiting. These clinical signs are most characteristic of which highly contagious and often fatal disease?

Answer: Canine Parvovirus

The combination of severe, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and extreme lethargy in a young puppy are classic signs of Canine Parvovirus. This viral disease attacks the gastrointestinal tract and requires immediate veterinary intervention for the best chance of survival.

Which of the following is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans, posing a significant public health risk?

Answer: Rabies

Rabies is a well-known zoonotic disease that is fatal to both animals and humans if not treated post-exposure. It is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, typically via a bite. The other diseases listed are specific to their animal hosts and are not transmitted to people.

A shelter takes in a large group of cats from a hoarding situation. They appear healthy, but their vaccination and exposure history is unknown. What is the correct term for separating these apparently healthy animals from the general population to monitor them for the development of disease?

Answer: Quarantine

Quarantine is the process of separating and restricting the movement of animals that have been potentially exposed to a contagious disease but are not currently showing clinical signs. Isolation is reserved for animals that are already confirmed to be sick.

An ACO is called to a large-breed dog that has a distended, hard abdomen, is drooling excessively, and is retching repeatedly without bringing anything up. These signs are indicative of what immediate, life-threatening medical emergency?

Answer: Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV)

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), or 'bloat', is a condition where the stomach fills with gas and twists on itself. The classic signs are a swollen abdomen and unproductive retching, and it requires emergency surgical intervention to prevent rapid death.

While cleaning a kennel, an ACO notices what appear to be small, white, rice-like segments in the feces and around the anus of a recently impounded cat. This is a tell-tale sign of an infestation with which parasite?

Answer: Tapeworms

The rice-like segments seen in feces or on the fur near the anus are proglottids, or egg-containing segments, of the tapeworm. As the segments dry, they break open and release eggs into the environment.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which of the following are all considered 'core' vaccines that should be administered to every dog, regardless of lifestyle?

Answer: Canine Distemper, Parvovirus, Adenovirus, and Rabies

The AAHA designates core vaccines as those protecting against diseases with significant morbidity and mortality that are widespread. These include canine distemper virus, parvovirus, adenovirus, and rabies. Vaccines like Bordetella and Lyme are considered 'non-core' and are recommended based on a dog's individual risk and lifestyle.