Mixed Deck — All VTNE Topics Flashcards

A rabbit is to receive enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg SID. The rabbit weighs 2.2 kg. The available concentration is 22.7 mg/mL. How many mL per dose?

Answer: 0.48 mL

2.2 kg × 5 mg/kg = 11 mg; 11 mg ÷ 22.7 mg/mL ≈ 0.48 mL.

Which of the following statements about endotoxins is FALSE?

Answer: Antibiotics are used to treat endotoxic shock.

A lipopolysaccharide called endotoxin is a part of the gram-negative bacteria's outer cell wall. It is expelled from the bacteria during cell lysis and death as well as bacterial development. Endotoxin produces and releases biochemical mediators when it binds receptors on host endothelium cells, macrophages, monocytes, or polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These mediators include proteases, toxic oxygen radicals, platelet activation factor, nitric oxide, cytokines, eicosanoids, and vasoactive amines. Initiating physiologic processes that lead to endotoxic shock with cardiopulmonary dysfunction, loss of microvascular integrity, and multiple organ failure, these mediators' release. Because they are known to decrease cytokine production, stop the inflammatory cascade, and inhibit nitrous oxide, glucocorticoids are used to treat endotoxic shock. Endotoxic shock is treated with lazaroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, pentoxifylline, and nitrous oxide inhibitors but not with antibiotics.

What is the primary safety concern when performing radiographs on a patient with suspected pneumothorax?

Answer: Patient positioning stress exacerbating dyspnea

Patients with pneumothorax are already dyspneic, and the stress and positioning required for radiography can worsen respiratory compromise or cause decompensation.

In fluoroscopy, the unit of patient radiation dose most commonly monitored in real time is:

Answer: Air kerma (Gy)

Air kerma measured in Gray (Gy) is the standard real-time dose metric in fluoroscopy, often tracked at the reference point to estimate patient skin dose.

What is the term for the time it takes for a drug's plasma concentration to decrease by 50%?

Answer: Half-life

Half-life (t½) is the time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to fall to half its original value.

A patient's rectal temperature is 104.5°F (40.3°C). How is this classified in dogs?

Answer: Mild to moderate hyperthermia

Normal canine rectal temperature is 100.5–102.5°F; 104.5°F falls in the mild to moderate hyperthermia range, with severe hyperthermia typically above 106°F.

Which vaccine adjuvant is most commonly associated with injection-site sarcoma in cats?

Answer: Aluminum salts (aluminum hydroxide/phosphate)

Aluminum-based adjuvants in killed vaccines are associated with feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS), prompting recommendations to use non-adjuvanted vaccines in cats when possible.

What instrument is used to measure periodontal pocket depth during an oral examination?

Answer: Periodontal probe

A periodontal probe, marked in millimeter increments, is inserted into the gingival sulcus to measure pocket depth and attachment loss.

The Baermann technique is a specialized fecal diagnostic test used to recover which of the following?

Answer: Nematode larvae like Aelurostrongylus

The Baermann technique is specifically designed to recover live nematode larvae from a fresh fecal sample. It relies on the active migration of larvae out of the feces and into surrounding water. It is the preferred method for detecting lungworm larvae (e.g., Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) and other parasites that pass larvae instead of eggs in the stool.

A 6-year-old Dachshund presents with acute hindlimb paralysis. The veterinarian suspects intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and needs to visualize the spinal cord and surrounding soft tissues for evidence of compression. Which advanced imaging modality is most appropriate for this purpose?

Answer: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides superior soft tissue contrast and detail compared to other imaging modalities. It is the gold standard for diagnosing conditions involving the brain and spinal cord, such as intervertebral disc disease, because it can clearly visualize the spinal cord, nerve roots, and the compressing disc material.

A dog is prescribed phenobarbital for seizure control. Which organ function should be monitored every 6 months?

Answer: Liver

Phenobarbital is hepatically metabolized and can cause hepatotoxicity with chronic use, so liver enzyme panels and bile acids should be monitored regularly.

What are the standard time, temperature, and pressure settings for sterilizing most routine surgical packs in a gravity-displacement steam autoclave?

Answer: 15 minutes at 121°C (250°F) and 15 psi

The generally accepted standard for steam sterilization in a gravity-displacement autoclave is exposure to 121°C (250°F) at a pressure of 15 psi for a minimum of 13-15 minutes. The 5-minute cycle is typically reserved for "flash" sterilization of unwrapped instruments in a pre-vacuum sterilizer.

A patient undergoing general anesthesia develops bradycardia with a heart rate of 30 bpm. Which drug should be administered first?

Answer: Atropine

Atropine is the first-line anticholinergic agent used to treat anesthetic-induced bradycardia by blocking parasympathetic input to the heart.

Which statement regarding recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-EPO) is FALSE?

Answer: The maximum dose of rh-EPO that should be given to a dog or cat is 100 U/kg.

rh-EPO is a treatment for anemia in both humans and animals with chronic renal failure. It is prescribed at doses of 50-100 U/kg 3 times per week subcutaneously until the goal PCV is reached and is appropriate when the PCV declines to 25% or below. To track progress, patient PCV should be measured twice a week. Rh-EPO may be administered twice weekly once the target PCV is attained. A larger dose of rh-EPO may be administered to non-responsive patients. The dose can be raised in increments of 25–50 U/kg. Although there is no known maximum dose, weekly doses of up to 1050 U/kg have been documented. Reticulocytosis and a daily PCV rise of 0.5%–1.0% are present in responsive patients. In both dogs and cats, the occurrence of antibody production is very common.

A radiograph shows increased opacity in the lung fields with an air bronchogram sign. This finding is MOST consistent with:

Answer: Alveolar lung disease

Air bronchograms form when fluid or soft tissue fills the alveoli but air remains in the bronchi, creating a visible bronchial pattern — classic for alveolar (consolidating) lung disease.

Which component of the anesthetic machine is specifically designed to absorb exhaled carbon dioxide in a rebreathing circuit?

Answer: The soda lime canister

The soda lime canister contains granules (such as soda lime or other absorbents) that chemically react with and remove carbon dioxide from the exhaled gases. This allows the patient to safely rebreathe the remaining gases, including oxygen and anesthetic vapor, conserving heat, moisture, and anesthetic agent.

What is the recommended minimum distance a non-PPE-wearing person should stand from the primary X-ray beam during a radiographic exposure in a clinical setting?

Answer: 3 meters

NCRP guidelines recommend non-PPE personnel stand at least 2 meters (approximately 6 feet) from the X-ray tube and the primary beam during an exposure.

On cytology, which cell type is predominant in a well-differentiated mast cell tumor aspirate?

Answer: Round cells with purple granules and a central nucleus

Mast cells are round cells characterized by abundant purple (metachromatic) cytoplasmic granules surrounding a central to eccentric nucleus on Romanowsky-stained preparations.

Which opioid analgesic is most commonly used as a preanesthetic in dogs due to its sedative and analgesic properties?

Answer: Hydromorphone

Hydromorphone is a pure mu-opioid agonist widely used for preanesthesia in dogs because of its reliable sedation and potent analgesia.

Which of the following is a characteristic of absorbable suture material?

Answer: It loses tensile strength through enzymatic degradation or hydrolysis

Absorbable sutures lose tensile strength through hydrolysis or enzymatic degradation and do not require manual removal.