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Canine Internal Medicine Flashcards

7 cards from real ICVA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Canine Internal Medicine flashcards as text

  1. A dog with chronic small bowel diarrhea has a serum folate of 0.5 µg/L (reference 7.7–24.4) and a serum cobalamin of 890 ng/L (reference 251–908). Where is the likely lesion?

    Answer: Proximal small intestine (duodenum/jejunum)

    Folate is absorbed in the proximal small intestine; low folate with normal cobalamin localizes disease to the duodenum or jejunum.

  2. A 6-year-old Miniature Schnauzer presents with acute pancreatitis confirmed by elevated cPLI. Which dietary modification is appropriate during recovery?

    Answer: Low-fat, highly digestible diet introduced early once vomiting resolves

    Early enteral feeding with a low-fat, highly digestible diet supports intestinal integrity and recovery without overstimulating the pancreas.

  3. Which antibody titer is used to screen dogs for Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) caused by Rickettsia rickettsii?

    Answer: IFA for R. rickettsii

    Indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) testing is the reference method for detecting antibodies to Rickettsia rickettsii in dogs.

  4. A dog on long-term phenobarbital therapy develops elevated ALP, mildly elevated ALT, and clinical signs of hepatopathy. The most appropriate next step is:

    Answer: Measure serum bile acids and consider liver biopsy

    Serum bile acids and liver biopsy help determine the severity of hepatotoxicity before making medication changes, as abrupt withdrawal risks seizure relapse.

  5. Tracheal wash cytology from a dog with chronic cough shows >70% eosinophils with no infectious organisms. This finding is most consistent with:

    Answer: Eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy

    Eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP) is characterized by eosinophilic airway inflammation without identifiable infectious cause and typically responds to corticosteroids.

  6. A dog presents with acute-onset neck pain and tetraparesis. MRI reveals a hyperintense T2 lesion within the spinal cord at C4. Which condition should be highest on the differential list?

    Answer: Intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH)

    Cervical IVDH is a common cause of acute tetraparesis with neck pain in dogs, and MRI is the imaging of choice to localize disc material.

  7. Which finding is most specific for a diagnosis of Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism) in a dog?

    Answer: Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia with Na:K ratio <27

    A sodium:potassium ratio below 27, confirmed by a blunted cortisol response on ACTH stimulation, is the hallmark of primary hypoadrenocorticism.