DVM General Practice 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 12-year-old cat presents with weight loss despite polyphagia, vomiting, and a palpable ventral neck mass. T4 is 8.2 µg/dL. Which drug is the most common first-line medical treatment?
- Methimazole (Correct answer)
- Levothyroxine
- Propranolol
- Radioactive iodine
Correct answer: Methimazole
Methimazole inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis and is the primary medical management for feline hyperthyroidism before surgery or radioiodine therapy.
Question 2: A puppy presents with intussusception confirmed via ultrasound. Which predisposing condition should be ruled out after surgical correction?
- Parvoviral enteritis (Correct answer)
- Pancreatitis
- Hepatic lipidosis
- Urinary tract infection
Correct answer: Parvoviral enteritis
Canine parvovirus causes severe enteritis and hypermotility that predisposes puppies to intussusception, and its presence determines additional management.
Question 3: Which of the following findings on abdominal ultrasound is most consistent with Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism) in a dog?
- Small, thin adrenal glands bilaterally (Correct answer)
- Large adrenal glands with mineralisation
- Adrenal mass unilaterally
- Normal adrenal size with hepatomegaly
Correct answer: Small, thin adrenal glands bilaterally
Primary hypoadrenocorticism causes adrenocortical atrophy, resulting in adrenal glands that appear smaller than normal (<3 mm) on ultrasound.
Question 4: A small mammal owner brings in a 3-year-old guinea pig with open-mouth breathing, nasal discharge, and lethargy. Radiographs show pulmonary infiltrates. Which bacterium is the most common primary respiratory pathogen in guinea pigs?
- Bordetella bronchiseptica (Correct answer)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Pasteurella multocida
- Mycoplasma pulmonis
Correct answer: Bordetella bronchiseptica
Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most frequent primary bacterial respiratory pathogen of guinea pigs, often acquired from dogs, cats, or rabbits in the household.
Question 5: A dog is presented after ingesting grapes approximately 1 hour ago. The dog is alert and asymptomatic. What is the most appropriate immediate treatment?
- Induce emesis with apomorphine or hydrogen peroxide, then administer activated charcoal (Correct answer)
- Observe for 24 hours before treating
- Administer IV fluids only
- Perform gastric lavage under general anesthesia only
Correct answer: Induce emesis with apomorphine or hydrogen peroxide, then administer activated charcoal
Grape and raisin toxicity can cause acute renal failure in dogs; early emesis and activated charcoal are indicated in asymptomatic patients presenting within 2 hours.
Question 6: A llama presents with bottle jaw, weight loss, and a packed cell volume of 12%. Fecal flotation reveals eggs measuring 75-100 µm with an 8-cell morula. Which parasite is most likely responsible?
- Haemonchus contortus (Correct answer)
- Fasciola hepatica
- Eimeria spp.
- Trichuris discolor
Correct answer: Haemonchus contortus
Haemonchus contortus (barber pole worm) is a blood-sucking abomasal nematode causing hypoproteinemia, submandibular edema, and anemia in South American camelids.
Question 7: Which vaccine is classified as a non-core vaccine in dogs and recommended only for animals with frequent exposure to standing water or wildlife?
- Leptospira spp. vaccine (Correct answer)
- Distemper vaccine
- Parvovirus vaccine
- Adenovirus vaccine
Correct answer: Leptospira spp. vaccine
Leptospirosis vaccine is non-core and recommended for dogs exposed to wildlife, stagnant water, or rural environments due to geographic and lifestyle risk factors.
DVM General Practice 5
A 12-year-old cat presents with weight loss despite polyphagia, vomiting, and a palpable ventral neck mass.
T4 is 8.2 µg/dL.
Which drug is the most common first-line medical treatment?