DVM General Practice 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 6-month-old intact female large-breed dog is spayed. Which early spay complication is this patient at increased risk for compared to spaying after first estrus?
- Urinary incontinence (Correct answer)
- Pyometra
- Mammary tumor
- Ovarian remnant syndrome
Correct answer: Urinary incontinence
Early spay before first estrus in large-breed dogs increases risk of hormone-responsive urinary incontinence due to incomplete urethral sphincter development.
Question 2: A dog presents with sudden onset of blindness, dilated unresponsive pupils, and elevated IOP of 52 mmHg OD. Which treatment should be initiated immediately?
- Topical latanoprost and IV mannitol (Correct answer)
- Topical corticosteroids
- Enucleation
- Oral prednisone
Correct answer: Topical latanoprost and IV mannitol
Acute glaucoma requires emergency reduction of IOP using topical prostaglandin analogues and hyperosmotic agents like mannitol to preserve vision.
Question 3: Which blood type system is most clinically relevant in cats, and which type requires special care before transfusion due to natural alloantibodies?
- AB system; Type B cats have strong anti-A alloantibodies (Correct answer)
- DEA system; Type 1.1 negative cats
- AB system; Type A cats have weak anti-B alloantibodies
- Mik system; all Mik-negative cats
Correct answer: AB system; Type B cats have strong anti-A alloantibodies
Feline type B cats have strong naturally occurring anti-A alloantibodies, making transfusion of Type A blood to a Type B cat potentially fatal.
Question 4: A 9-year-old Golden Retriever presents with exercise intolerance, weight gain, cold intolerance, and a symmetrical truncal alopecia. T4 is 0.3 µg/dL (normal 1.5-3.5). Which treatment is standard?
- Levothyroxine sodium (Correct answer)
- Methimazole
- Prednisone
- Trilostane
Correct answer: Levothyroxine sodium
Canine hypothyroidism is treated with synthetic levothyroxine (L-thyroxine) administered orally, with dose adjustments based on post-pill T4 monitoring.
Question 5: A bird of prey is found grounded and unable to fly. On exam, you note dull mentation, crop stasis, and green urates. Lead level is 0.8 ppm. Which chelation agent is the treatment of choice for lead toxicosis?
- Calcium EDTA (Correct answer)
- Penicillamine alone
- Deferoxamine
- Dimercaprol (BAL)
Correct answer: Calcium EDTA
Calcium EDTA is the preferred chelation agent for lead toxicosis in raptors and other birds, administered IM and repeated for several days.
Question 6: Which of the following conditions best explains a positive Schirmer Tear Test result of 4 mm/min in a dog presenting with thick ocular discharge, corneal vascularization, and pigmentation?
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) (Correct answer)
- Corneal ulcer
- Entropion
- Epiphora
Correct answer: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)
A Schirmer Tear Test <10 mm/min confirms KCS (dry eye), which causes mucoid discharge, corneal pigmentation, and vascularization due to chronic dryness.
Question 7: A 4-year-old Quarter Horse presents with sudden onset of severe colic, sweating, and pawing. Rectal exam reveals a tympanic large colon displaced to the left. Which condition is most likely?
- Left dorsal displacement of the large colon (nephrosplenic entrapment) (Correct answer)
- Right dorsal displacement
- Cecal impaction
- Duodenal obstruction
Correct answer: Left dorsal displacement of the large colon (nephrosplenic entrapment)
Nephrosplenic entrapment (left dorsal displacement) occurs when the large colon entraps over the nephrosplenic ligament and is confirmed by palpating colon over the left kidney per rectum.
DVM General Practice 4
A 6-month-old intact female large-breed dog is spayed.
Which early spay complication is this patient at increased risk for compared to spaying after first estrus?