Canadian Vet Tech uses the same unique format as Canadian Vet newsmagazine to keep veterinary technicians and animal health technologists informed through coverage of both national and international conferences. Initiated in March 2009, each quarterly issue offers up-to-date information on animal health and client management, animal behaviour, and veterinary communications topics. The Technically Speaking column, written by Kathleen Dunbar, RVT, VTS(Clinical Practice-Canine/Feline) challenges vet techs on a variety of important and interesting clinical scenarios. Each issue also features a ‘Day in the Life of’ essay, written by a vet tech about their experiences in this career. All articles in Canadian Vet Tech are reviewed and approved prior to publication.
Technically Speaking - by Kathlen Dunbar, RVT, VTS (Clinical Practice-Canine/Feline)
Answers
1. The answer is b. Chemistry findings are increased globulin and decreased albumin.Jack CM, Watson PM. General Medicine. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014:303-424.
2. The answer is d. It could also be a side effect of an anesthetic drug.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Anesthesia. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014:615-686.
3. The answer is d. Recovery from anesthesia must involve close monitoring as drug metabolism may be delayed.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Surgery. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014:717-765.
4. The answer is c. It is a calcium channel blocker and should be stored at room temperature.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Pharmacology. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014:785-824.
5. The answer is b. An achondroplastic dog will have a compressed mediastinal area and short, dense legs, affecting x-ray quality.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014:243-302.
6. The answer is c. A wound’s degree of contamination and duration will determine its treatment plan.
Jack, CM, Watson PM. Wound care and bandaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 563-597.
7. The answer is a. The beam should center over the premolars and bisect the lower canine.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Dentistry. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 687-716.
8. The answer is c. It is also called a flutter valve.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Anesthesia. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014:615-686.
9. The answer is d. The queen should be free-fed and should be monitored for a non-ideal body condition score.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Nutrition. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 63-100.
10. The answer is d. You should hold off the site for 3-5 minutes or place a temporary pressure bandage to prevent a hematoma from developing.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Patient care skills. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 465-533.
1. The answer is d. Other clinical signs include depression, vomiting and dyspnea.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Emergency medicine. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 425-462.
2. The answer is c. You should also obtain oblique views at the 5-minute mark to see the ureteral termination at the bladder.
Pack L. Excretory urogram. In: Cote E. ed. Clinical Veterinary Advisor. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2015: 1158-1160.
See comment in PubMed Commons below3. The answer is b. A 2017 study found that dogs experience diurnal variations in IOP. IOP values are lower later in the day.
Garzon-Ariza A, Guisado A, Galan A, et al. Diurnal variations in intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness and the correlation between these factors in dogs [Abstract]. Vet Ophthalmol https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29232036 Accessed January 2018.
See comment in PubMed Commons below4. The answer is c. A 2017 study researched the cardiovascular effects, characteristics of sedation, and the recovery of intramuscular ADB and KDB in cats. Sedation was shorter with ADB but oxygenation was better preserved.
Cremer J and Ricco CH. Cardiovascular, respiratory and sedative effects of intramuscular alfaxalone, butorphanol and dexmedetomidine compared with ketamine, butorphanol and dexmedetomidine in healthy cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1098612X17742289 Accessed January 2018.
5. The answer is c. If the manufacturer coats the suture during production, the carrying action is less.
Raffel T. Preoperative room considerations. In: Tear M. ed. Small Animal Surgical Nursing. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2012:1-40.
6. The answer is d. Although sodium chloride is readily available and inexpensive, it can severely distort eggs.
Jack, CM, Watson PM. Laboratory. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 103-242.
7. The answer is a. A recent study found that the incidence of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs prescribed trilostane was 25 per cent within four years of starting the drug. However, the first incidence of hypoadrenocorticism was usually transient.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Pharmacology. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 785-824.
King JB, Morton JM. Incidence and risk factors for hypoadrenocorticism in dogs treated with trilostane. Vet J 2017; 230:24-29.
8. The answer is d. A recent study found that the lack of maternal care affects puppies’ coping strategies and responses to situations.
Guardini G, Bowen J, Mariti C, at al. Influence of maternal care on behavioural development of domestic dogs (canis familiaris) living in a home environment. Animals 2017; 7:1-13.
9. The answer is b. A root canal involves the complete removal of pulp, the shaping and keeping of the canal, and the application of a filling to the site.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Dentistry. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 687-716.
10. The answer is b. The flowmeter lowers gas pressure in the intermediate-pressure line from roughly 50 psi.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Anesthesia. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 613-686.
Thomas JA, Lerche P. Anesthetic equipment. Anesthesia and Analgesia for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2016: 95-138.
1. The answer is c. The 2017 American Animal Hospital Association canine vaccination guidelines indicate that reconstituted vaccines should be used within one hour of combining.
Ford RB, Larson LJ, McClure KD, et al. 2017 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines J Am Anim Hos Assoc 2017; 53: 243-251.
2. The answer is d. If you are monitoring a cat with UO, you should be aware of these risk factors.
Ostroski CJ, Drobatz KJ, and Reineke EL. Retrospective evaluation of and risk factor analysis for presumed fluid overload in cats with urethral obstruction: 11 cases (2002-2012) J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2017; 27:561-568.
3. The answer is c. A total volume of 15 mL kg1 is best because it does not affect the cardiovascular system. Bumbacher S, Schramel JP, and Mosing M. Evaluation of three tidal volumes (10, 12, 15 mL kg-1) in dogs for controlled mechanical ventilation assessed by volumetric capnography: a randomized clinical trial. Vet Anaesth Analg http://www.vaajournal.org/article/S1467-2987(17)30169-1/fulltext Accessed October 2017.
4. The answer is d. An 18- to 24-hour fast is recommended. Jack CM, Watson PM. Surgery. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 717-765.
5. The answer is c. A 2017 study found that the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, ondansetron, shows the best anti-nausea and anti-emetic efficacy following cisplatin administration.
Kenward H, Elliott J, Lee T, et al. Anti-nausea effects and pharmacokinetics of ondansetron, maropitant and metoclopramide in a low-dose cisplatin model of nausea and vomiting in the dog: a blinded crossover study. BMC Vet Res 2017; 13:244.
6. The answer is a. The ideal occlusion is defined by these types of terms. The coronal third of the mandibular incisors should sit on the cingulum of the maxillary incisors.
Miller BR and Lewis JR. Veterinary dentistry. In: Bassert JM, Deal AD, and Samples OM. ed. McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 9th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2017: 1216-1267.
7. The answer a. If a higher objective is used, less common findings may be missed.
Radin MJ and Wellman ML. Hematology and cytology. In: Bassert JM, Deal AD, and Samples OM. ed. McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 9th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2017: 367-390.
8. The answer is b. A 2017 study again confirmed that rectal temperatures are the gold standard. Auricular and axillary temperatures are not good predictors of rectal temperature.
Cichocki B, Dugat D, and Payton M. Agreement of axillary and auricular temperature with rectal temperature in systemically healthy dogs undergoing surgery [Abstract] J Am Anim Hosp Assoc http://jaaha.org/doi/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6500 Accessed October 2017.
9. The answer is c. If bony neoplasia is suspected, and radiographs are a limiting factor, a lateral view would be the best choice.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 243-302.
10. The answer is b. When Scotty enters stage III, his pupils will constrict. At stage IV, his pupils will be fully dilated.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Anesthesia. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 613-686.
1. The answer is d. The prevalence of reflux events in felines under anesthetic is about 33 percent, which is similar to dogs.
Garcia RS, Belafsky PC, Della Maggiore A, et al. Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in cats during anesthesia and effect of omeprazole on gastric pH J Vet Intern Med http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvim.14704/pdfAccessed July 2017.
2. The answer is d. Severe underexposure will cause too few x-ray protons to hit the detector panel or imaging plate.
Gaschen L. Diagnostic imaging. In: Bassert JM, Thomas JA. ed. McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 8th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 516-560.
3. The answer is b. Proper use will prevent trauma to soft tissues.
Lewis JR and Miller BR. Veterinary dentistry. In: Bassert JM, Thomas JA. ed. McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 8th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 1297-1354.
4. The answer is b. A recent study did not find that the best surgical technique eliminated the risk of aggression in declawed cats.
Canadian Veterinary Medication Association. Partial digital amputation (onychectomy or declawing) of the domestic felid- position statement. March 16, 2017 https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/partial-digital-amputation-onychectomy-or-declawing-of-the-domestic-felid-position-statement Assessed July 2017.
Martell-Moran NK, Solano M, and Townsend HG. Pain and adverse behaviour in declawed cats. J Feline Med Surg http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1098612X17705044 Accessed July 2017.
5. The answer is c. Seizures ceased within five minutes with intranasal midazolam.
Charalambous M, Bhatti SFM, Van Ham L, et al. Intranasal midazolam versus rectal diazepam for the management of canine status epilepticus: a multicenter randomized parallel–group clinical trial. J Vet Intern Med http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvim.14734/pdf Accessed July 2017.
6. The answer is d. It usually infects dogs under six months of age.
Roberts Newcomer SL and Hendrix CM. Parasitology. In: Bassert JM, Thomas JA. ed. McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 8th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 438-481.
7. The answer is b. Dogs in this age range had three times the risk of dystocia compared to dogs under three years of age.
O’Neill DG, O’Sullivan AM, Manson EA, et al. Canine dystocia in 50 UK first-opinion emergency-care veterinary practices: prevalence and risk factors. Vet Rec http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/early/2017/05/19/vr.104108 Accessed July 2017.
8. The answer is b. A 2017 study found that a diet fed to healthy cats that had a high phosphorus content can adversely affect the kidneys.
Dobenecker B, Webel A, Reese S, et al. Effect of a high phosphorus diet on indicators of renal health in cats. J Feline Med Surg http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1098612X17710589 Accessed July 2017.
9. The answer is a. Many behavioural issues cannot be resolved by neutering; however, a few can.
Tynes VV. Animal behavior. In: Bassert JM, Thomas JA. ed. McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 8th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 133-175.
10. The answer is c. A constant rate infusion or another opioid with a short half-life is anesthetic sparing. This is important because septic patients are often vasodilated and hypotensive.
Sarkar J. Infectious disease. In: Snyder LBC, Johnson RA. ed. Canine and Feline Anesthesia and Co-Existing Disease. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: John Wiley & Sons Inc.; 2015: 248-263.
1. The answer is b. A recent study did not find any association between feline calicivirus and resorptive lesions but continued to find that the virus has a role in chronic gingivostomatitis.
Thomas S, Lappin DF, Spears J, et al. Prevalence of feline calicivirus in cats with odontoclastic resorptive lesions and chronic gingivostomatitis [Abstract]. Res Vet Sci http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034528816301886Accessed April 2017.
2. The answer is b. A 2017 study found that failure to document peripheral oxygen saturation during feline anesthesia increased the risk of anesthetic death.
Matthews NS, Mohn TJ, Yang M, et al. Factors associated with anesthetic-related death in dogs and cats in primary care veterinary hospitals [Abstract]. J Am Vet Med Assoc http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/10.2460/javma.250.6.655 Accessed April 2017
Thomas JA, Lerche P. Anesthetic monitoring. Anesthesia and Analgesia for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2016: 159-213.
3. The answer is c. Hypersegmentation is the presence of five or more lobes in neutrophils.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Laboratory. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 103-242.
4. The answer is a. A recent study interestingly found that neutering, increased age, and history as a stray are associated with increased systolic blood pressure.
Payne JR, Brodbelt DC, and Fuentes VL. Blood pressure measurements in 780 apparently healthy cats. J Vet Intern Med 2017; 31: 15-21.
5. The answer is b. This starts occurring five to nine days after the initial insult.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Wound care and bandaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 563-597.
6. The answer is a. It should also be used with caution in patients under sixteen weeks of age.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Pharmacology. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 785-824.
7. The answer is d. The pain is expected to be severe to excruciating. Proper pain management is essential.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Surgery. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 717-765.
8. The answer is b. A high mAs should be used so that the pelvic bones are penetrated adequately.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 243-302.
9. The answer is b. This 2016 study was in agreement with other studies.
Höglund OV, Lövebrant J, Olsson U, et al. Blood pressure and heart rate during ovariohysterectomy in pyometra and control dogs: a preliminary investigation. Acta Vet Scand 2016; 58: 80.
10. The answer is c. It is unknown why this is the case. However, it can be speculated that the difference is related to underlying disease such as osteoarthritis, chronic kidney disease, or feline idiopathic cystitis.
Dulaney DR, Hopfensperger M, Malinowski R, et al. Quantification of urine elimination behaviours in cats with a video recording system. J Vet Intern Med 2017; 31: 486-491.
1. The answer is a. This protocol will reduce the effects of diurnal and dietary-induced changes that can influence absorption. This approach also encourages consistency in interpretation.
Podell M, Volk HA, Berendt M, et al. 2015 ACVIM Small Animal Consensus Statement on Seizure Management in Dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2016; 2: 477-90.
2. The answer is b. A 12-week-old kitten with a small endotracheal tube would also be at greater risk of having a kinked endotracheal tube because a small tube would likely be placed.
Thomas JA, Lerche P. Anesthetic monitoring. Anesthesia and Analgesia for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2016: 159-213.
3. The answer is b. Additionally, pulling the skin folds from the view as much as you can will decrease the patient’s density and lessen the technique changes that you will need to make.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 243-302.
4. The answer is c. A 2016 study found that when cats do not favour a food, they groom their body, flick their ears backwards, lick their nose and flick their tail. Licking the lips is associated with favouring food.
Savolainen S, Telkanranta H, Junnila J, et al. A novel set of behavioural indicators for measuring perception of food by cats. Vet J 2016; 216: 53-58.
5. The answer is b. If the discharge were clotted, copious in quantity, or foul-smelling, the owner should bring the dog to the hospital immediately.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Surgery. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 717-765.
See comment in PubMed Commons below6. The answer is d. The India stone is a fine/medium stone. An oil lubricant should be used.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Dentistry. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 687-716.
7. The answer is c. A 2016 study found that behavioural changes that owners observe in the remaining alive animals were the same, regardless of whether the remaining animal saw the deceased body or did not see the deceased body. The most common behavioural changes that owners observed included being more demanding of the owner’s attention and spending time seeking out the deceased animal’s favourite spot.
Walker JK, Waran NK, and Phillips CJC. Owner’s perception of their animal’s behavioural response to the loss of an animal companion. Animals 2016; 6:1-14.
8. The answer is b. Slides should be prepared by evenly smearing the sample so that a thin layer of cells is distributed. The submission cover letter should include full clinical data.
Sapierzynski R, Czopowicz M, and Ostrzeszewicz. Factors affecting the diagnostic utility of canine and feline cytological samples [Abstract]. J Small Anim Pract http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.12598/abstract Accessed January 2017
9. The answer is c. Local anesthetics are one of the few classes of analgesic agents that act on three stages of the nociceptive pathway.
Thomas JA, Lerche P. Analgesia. Anesthesia and Analgesia for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2016: 238-272.
10. The answer is a. A 2016 study and studies carried out previously found that moderate daily exercise decreases the chance of dachshunds developing IVDD.
Jensen VF, Ersboll AK. Mechanical factors affecting the occurrence of intervertebral disc calcification in the dachshund--a population study. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2000;47(5):283–96.
Packer RMA, Seath IJ, O’Neill DG, et al. DachsLife 2015: an investigation of lifestyle associations with the risk of intervertebral disc disease in Dachshunds. Canine Genet Epidemiol https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-016-0039-8 Accessed January 2017
1. The answer is c. The sample required for analysis should be fresh and non-refrigerated, as refrigeration kills the trophozoites. The direct fecal smear is less than 15% sensitive so multiple samples should be analysed.
Arranz-Solis D, Pedraza-Diaz S, Miro G, et al. Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats with diarrhea from densely housed origins. Vet Parasitol 2016; 221: 118-22.
Chaoqun Y and Koster LS. Tritrichomonas foetus infection, a cause of chronic diarrhea in the domestic cat. Vet Res 2015; 46: 35.
Javinsky E. Gastrointestinal parasites. In: Little SE. ed. The Cat. 1st ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders; 2012: 496-546.
2. The answer is c. A 2016 study found that in England Tonkinese, Norwegian forest, and Burmese cats have a greater risk of developing diabetes mellitus compared to mixed breeds.
Defarges A and Goldstein M. Feline diabetes mellitus. In: Merrill L. ed. Small Animal Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2012: 31-37.
O’Neill DG, Gostelow R, Orme C, et al. Epidemiology of diabetes mellitus among 193,435 cats attending primary- care veterinary practices in England. J Vet Intern Med 2016; 30: 964-72.
3. The answer is d. Physiologic dead space in a non-anesthetised patient is typically about 35 per cent.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Anesthesia. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 613-686.
4. The answer is d. A 2016 study found that healthy-looking dogs shed leptospirosis and are a risk to humans and other animals. Every animal and/or bodily fluid should be treated as a potential risk, so proper precautions should be taken.
Goldstein R. Leptospirosis. In: Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC, eds. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 7th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2010: 863-68.
Llewellyn JR, Krupka-Dyachenko I, Rettinger AL, et al. Urinary shedding of leptospires and presence of Leptospira antibodies in healthy dogs in Upper Bavaria. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2016; 129: 251-7.
Lunn K, Bolin C, and Olsen C. Update on leptospirosis: A VIN Rounds discussion. Veterinary Information Network June 2001 http://www.vin.com/members/cms/document/default.aspx?id=2984290&pid=77&catid=&said=1 Accessed October 2016.
5. The answer is a. To produce a darker film, you should increase one of these parameters.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 243-302.
See comment in PubMed Commons below6. The answer is b. It is also known as a flutter valve. It will be open during exhalation.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Anaesthesia. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 613-686.
7. The answer is a. The 2016 AAP guidelines state that the cost of treatment for uncomplicated hyperthyroidism over the life of a cat is similar regardless of treatment choice.
Carney HC, Ward CR, Bailey SJ, et al. 2016 AAFP guidelines for the management of feline hyperthyroidism. J Feline Med Surg 2016; 18: 400-16.
8. The answer is c. This instrument can be used if calculus-removing forceps are not available.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Dentistry. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 687-716.
9. The answer is a. Avermectins bind to and activate glutamate-gated chloride channels that are found only in protostome invertebrate phyla.
Wanamaker BP, Massey KL. Antiparasitic drugs. Applied Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2015: 268-295.
Wolstenholme AJ. Glutamate-gated chloride channels. J Biol Chem 2012; 287: 40232-40238.
10. The answer is d. Chalazion forceps stabilize tissue and offer hemostasis, while a Castroviejo needle holder is appropriate for the delicate work of the eye.
Tear M. Surgical procedures. In: Tear M. ed. Small Animal Surgical Nursing. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2012: 132-228.
1. The answer is a. In order to hear third and fourth heart sounds, the stethoscope bell should be lightly applied to the chest wall. Usually the third and fourth heart sounds originate in the left ventricle. Occasionally, they come from the right ventricle, so the tricuspid area should be auscultated in this case.
Smith FWK, Keene BW, Tilley LP. Heart sounds. Rapid Interpretation of Heart and Lung Sounds. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2006:1-38.
2. The answer is d. A 2016 Swedish study found that post-operative complications were significantly decreased after introducing a surgical checklist. Technicians should consider implementing a simple checklist. The World Health Organization’s checklist can be found at: http://www.who.int/entity/patientsafety/safesurgery/tools_resources/SSSL_Checklist_finalJun08.pdf?ua=1
Bergstrom A, Dimopoulou M, and Eldh M. Reduction of surgical complications in dogs and cats by the use of a surgical safety checklist. Vet Surg 2016; 45: 571-6.
3. The answer is b. A 2016 study found that healthy adult cats have a small but significant increase in cardiac silhouette size when sedated with dexmedetomidine. For this reason, an alternative anesthetic protocol should be used.
Zwicker LA, Matthews AR, Cote E, et al. The effect of dexmedetomidine on radiographic cardiac silhouette size in healthy cats. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2016; 57: 230-6.
4. The answer is b. Adverse side effects of adrenergic agents are tachycardia, hypertension, nervousness and cardiac arrhythmias.
Wanamaker BP, Massey KL. Drugs used in nervous system disorders. Applied Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2015:68-98.
5. The answer is a. A 2016 retrospective article provided examples of cats who have improved mental or physical health after owners implemented food puzzles. Puzzles can be homemade. They should be introduced by continuing to offer some food in the cat’s bowl. Once a cat is competent with a puzzle, it should be changed to reduce boredom or apathy.
Dantas LMS, Delgado MM, Johnson I, et al. Food puzzles for cats: feeding for physical and emotional wellbeing. J Fel Med Surg http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/04/21/1098612X16643753.fullAccessed July 2016.
6. The answer is b. Monat`s forelimbs should be flexed caudally. The beam should be centred just caudal the base of his skull. The field of view should be arranged from the lateral canthus to C3.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 243-302.
7. The answer is b. A 2016 study found that clipper blades should be cleaned with a commercial disinfectant, not a regular commercial cleaner, to reduce pathogen transmission.
Menard J. Establishing and infection control policy in your practice. International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium 2014.
Mount R, Schick AE, Lewis TP, et al. Evaluation of bacterial contamination of clipper blades in small animal private practice. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2016; 52: 95-101.
8. The answer is c. This grade resorptive lesion will be seen and felt. The pulp will be intact, and the tooth will be stable.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Dentistry. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 687-716.
9. The answer is d. A recent study found that large granular lymphocytosis is associated with human, macaque, and feline lentiviral infections. LGLs occur in low numbers in healthy animals; technicians should identify and count LGLs when performing blood slide evaluations.
Sprague WS, Apetrei C, Avery AC, et al. Large granular lymphocytes are universally increased in human, macaque, and feline lentiviral infection. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2015; 167: 110-21.
Wellman ML, Radin MJ. Hematology and cytology. In: Bassert JM, Thomas JA. ed. McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 8th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 397-422.
10. The answer is d. Manual ventilation should also be performed if a patient has a pre-existing heart or lung disease.
Thomas JA, Lerche P. Special techniques. Anesthesia and Analgesia for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2016: 214-237.
1. The answer is c. Thiopental should be avoided because it causes significant splenomegaly, which increases the risk of injury to the spleen when the Veress needle or port is inserted into the abdomen.
Asakawa M. Anesthesia for endoscopy. Vet Clin Small Anim 2016; 46: 31-44.
2. The answer is d. A 2015 study found that maropitant would be effective at reducing vomiting 18 hours before a procedure involving sedation and anesthesia.
Martin-Flores M, Sakai DM, Mastrocco A, et al. Evaluation of oral maropitant as an antiemetic in cats receiving morphine and dexmedetomidine [Abstract]. J Fel Med Surghttp://intl-jfm.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/10/28/1098612X15613389.abstractAccessed April 2016.
3. The answer is d. The cat is 16 weeks old. In cats permanent incisors erupt between 11 and 16 weeks and permanent premolars erupt between 16 and 20 weeks.
Gorrel C. Anatomy of the teeth and periodontium. In: Veterinary Dentistry for the General Practitioner. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Saunders Elsevier; 2013: 37-41.
4. The answer is a. A cholecystectomy for a gallbladder mucocele has a perioperative mortality rate of 21.7% to 32%. Careful post-operative monitoring for these complications is essential.
Cook AK. Gallbladder mucocele. In: Cote E. ed. Clinical Veterinary Advisor. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2015: 392-394.
5. The answer is d. A 2015 British study examined the causes and types of errors made in veterinary medicine. Human error was the main cause of error. Recognizing the causes of our mistakes is an important first step in preventing them from happening again.
Oxtoby C, Ferguson E, White K, et al. We need to talk about error: causes and types of error in veterinary practice. Vet Rec.http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/177/17/438.full Accessed April 2016.
6. The answer is b. A leaky flush valve can be noticed in regular circuit pressure checks by observing a slow rise in breathing circuit pressure while the oxygen flowmeter is not on. The leak can be fully confirmed by taking the steps in choice d.
Hodgson DS. Anesthesia machine flush valve malfunction: detection, implications and resolution [Letter to the editor]. Vet Anaes and Analges 2015; 42: 552-558.
7. The answer is c. When guests visit, they should ignore him for several minutes until he is calm, instead of playing and petting him. If Rufus urinates while the petting has taken place, it was too early, too lively, or too long. Rufus should also be taken outside to urinate more than twice a day and should never be corrected with punishment.
Juarbe-Diaz SV. Inappropriate urination, dog. In: Cote E. ed. Clinical Veterinary Advisor. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2015: 543-545.
8. The answer is b. If standardized settings are used to radiograph a patient with ascites, there will be decreased density. As a result, mAs should be increased and kVp should possibly be lowered. Increased kVp with free fluid will result in scatter.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 243-302.
9. The answer is c. A 2015 study found RDW may be a prognostic indicator in HCM, so a peripheral blood film should be performed to look for anisocytosis. Similarly, a peripheral blood film should be performed every time an automated complete blood count is carried out.
Jack, CM, Watson PM. Laboratory. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 103-242.
Stanzani G, Cowlam R, English K, et al. Evaluation of red blood cell distribution width in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Vet Cardio 2015; 17: S233-S243.
10. The answer is a. If three or more ventricular premature complexes occur in a row, and the feline patient’s heart rate is above 240 beats a minute, the ECG can be classified as ventricular tachycardia. This can occur with practically any illness, but is common in patients who have experienced trauma, have splenic or cardiac disease.
Estrada AH and Jones AE. Ventricular arrhythmias. In: Cote E. ed. Clinical Veterinary Advisor. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2015: 1065-1067.
1. The answer is c. Fifi has a normal temperature, according to a 2015 study which found that the normal rectal temperature interval for cats is 36.7°C to 38.9°C.
Levy JK, Nutt KR, and Tucker SJ. Reference interval for rectal temperature in healthy confined adult cats. J Feline Med Surg 2015; 17: 950-2.
2. The answer is a. GR added to PPD equals PAL. It is important to calculate PAL so that tissue loss in periodontitis can be determined.
Gorrel C. Periodontal disease. In: Veterinary Dentistry for the General Practitioner. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Saunders Elsevier; 2013:97-119.
3. The answer is d. Possible causes of a sinus tachycardia include the administration of ketamine, anticholinergics, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, surgical stimulation, hypotension, shock, sepsis, anemia and hypoxia.
Keefe J. Introduction to monitoring: monitoring the ECG and blood gases. In: Bryant S. ed. Anesthesia for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2010: 85-94.
4. The answer is a. A recent study found a clinically relevant drug interaction between sucralfate and ciprofloxacin. Sucralfate was shown to impair oral absorption of ciprofloxacin in dogs. Administering these two drugs two hours apart is recommended in order to obtain increased bioavailability of ciprofloxacin.
KuKanich K, KuKanich B, Guess S, et al. Effect of sucralfate on the relative bioavailability of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in healthy fed dogs [Abstract]. Vet Intern Med.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26651022Accessed January 2016.
5. The answer is d. Possible complications are cardiac arrhythmias, disseminated intravascular coagulation, gastritis, and aspiration pneumonia.
Ludwig L. Gastric dilation/volvulus. In: Cote E. ed. Clinical Veterinary Advisor. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2015: 395-397.
Tear M. Surgical procedures. In: Tear M. ed. Small Animal Surgical Nursing. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2012: 132-228.
6. The answer is c. A 2015 study found that dogs with noise sensitivity have less daily exercise.
Tiira K and Lohi H. Early life experiences and exercise associate with canine anxieties. PLoS One. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0141907 Accessed January 2016.
7. The answer is b. Assessing the dorsal metatarsal and femoral pulse quality during triage is helpful for identifying blood pressure irregularities. A 2015 study found that pulse quality correlates with systolic blood pressure (SBP). Cats with absent metatarsal and femoral pulses had a median SBP of 30 mmHg, and cats with strong metatarsal pulses has a median SBP or 135 mmHg.
Reineke EL, Rees C and Drobatz KJ. Prediction of systolic blood pressure using peripheral pulse palpation in cats [Abstract]. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26588058Accessed January 2016.
8. The answer is b. Cardiac silhouettes are more rounded and wide in barrel-chested dogs, but performing these steps will help obtain a diagnostic radiograph for the veterinarian.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 243-302.
9. The answer is c. A 2015 study found that administering alfaxalone at a rate as slow as 0.5 milligrams per kilogram per minute to effect in cats resulted in an increase in the drug’s relative potency. As a result, less alfaxalone is needed when induction is performed slowly.
Banguier SH, Warne LN, Carter JE, et al. Influence of two administration rates of alfaxalone at induction on its relative potency in cats: a pilot study [Abstract]. J Fel Med Surghttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26377702Accessed January 2016.
Fuehrer L. Induction drugs. In: Bryant S. ed. Anesthesia for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2010: 143-151.
10. The answer is a. Like many blood chemistries, total bilirubin is sensitive to processing and handling. It is essential that the sample be properly centrifuged, because any cellular material can cause a positive error. Bilirubin degrades quickly in the light, so the prepared sample should be kept in the dark.
Chemistry description and guide. Vet Test Chemistry Analyzer Operators Manual. Westbrook, Maine: IDEXX Laboratories Inc; 2014: H1-27.
Jack, CM, Watson PM. Laboratory. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 103-242.
1. The answer is c. The goal of nutritional support in critically ill cats is to counter further depletion to lean tissue and bestow appropriate energy and nutrients needed for getting better.
Balakrishnan A, Drobatz KJ, Reineke EL. Development of anemia, phlebotomy practices, and blood transfusion requirements in 45 critically ill cats (2009-2011) [Abstract]. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio).
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vec.12363/abstract Accessed October 2015.
Barton L. AAFP Rounds: Monitoring the critical ill cat. Veterinary Information Network. http://www.vin.com/members/cms/document/default.aspx?id=4347312&pid=277&catid=&said=1 Accessed October 2015.
Chan DL. Nutritional support for the critically ill patient, In: Battaglia AM. ed. Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care for Veterinary Technicians. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: 85-108.
2. The answer is d. A 2015 study found that when compared to isoflurane, propofol by itself may have immuno-protective effects in dogs, especially against a decrease in T-lymphocytes and alterations in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Curtis-Uhle W, Waddell KW. Anesthesia for patients with cardiac disease. In: Bryant S. ed. Anesthesia for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2010:205-218.
Tomihari M, Nishihara A, Shimada T, et al. A comparison of the immunological effects of propofol and isoflurane for maintenance of anesthesia in healthy dogs [Abstract]. J Vet Med Sci.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25960120 Accessed October 2015.
3. The answer is d. Mitzy’s owner should launder the bedding twice on a long cycle and wash it separately from non-exposed items. She should be careful not to overload the machine so that the bedding is agitated and all hairs are removed.
Moriello KA. Decontamination of laundry exposed to Microsporum canis hairs and spores. J Feline Med Surg.http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/05/22/1098612X15587575.long Accessed October 2015.
Tater K. Dermatophytosis environmental decontamination. Veterinary Information Network. http://www.vin.com/members/cms/project/defaultadv1.aspx?id=6636447&pid=11200&catid=& Accessed October 2015.
4. The answer is a. In dilute urine, erythrocytes absorb water, swell and burst, eventually leaving only the cell membrane or ‘ghost cells.’
Sink CA, Weinstein NM. Routine urinalysis: microscopic elements. In: Practical Veterinary Urinalysis. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012:55-112.
5. The answer is c. A 2015 study found that age is a significant predictor of post-operative infection and inflammation following pelvic and thoracic limb amputation. Older animals are at increased risk. Other details, such as gender, breed, and location of amputation are not associated with increased risk of infection or inflammation.
Raske M, McClaren JK, and Mariano A. Short-term wound complications and predictive variables for complication after limb amputation in dogs and cats. J Small Anim Pract 2015; 56: 247-252.
6. The answer is b. The study also found that a greater number of adverse effects can occur at a 3.75 mg dose rate. Because of the risk of adverse effects, it would be appropriate to always dispense the exact dose rather than a full 15 mg tablet.
Ferguson LE, McLean MK, Bates JA et al. Mirtazapine toxicity in cats: retrospective study of 84 cases (2006-2011). J Feline Med Surg. http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/07/30/1098612X15599026.long Accessed October 2015.
7. The answer is b. You will use a calming signal called curving. Curving is walking in a curve or at a distance to calm a fearful or aggressive dog.
Rugaas T. Calming signals: how they are used. On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals. 2nd ed. Wenatchee, WA: Dogwise Publishing; 2006: 7-40.
8. The answer is a. Frequent manipulation of the head and the presence of irrigation fluids during a dentistry can increase the risk of corneal damage and ulceration.
De Vries M, Putter G. Perioperative anesthetic care of the cat undergoing dental and oral procedures. J Feline Med Surg 2015; 17: 23-36.
9. The answer is b. ALARA stands for ‘as low as reasonably achievable.’ Its goal is to use the lowest radiographic technique in order to reduce the dose to the patient and the operator.
Brown M, Brown L. Radiation protection: how x-rays affect cells. Radiography for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 163-172.
10. The answer is a. By turning the vaporizer dial to 0.5%, you are pressuring the vaporization chamber. This will cause a slight drop in the pressure on the manometer. This is normal. If the pressure did not stabilize and continued to drop, there would be evidence of a leak in the vaporizer.
Latshaw H and Coleman D. Anesthesia equipment. In: Bryant S. ed. Anesthesia for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2010: 71-84.
Summer 2015
1. The answer is b. A 2015 study found that the mean alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs is not affected by hypothyroidism. For this reason, the isoflurane dose does not need altering.
Berry SH, Panciera DL. The effect of experimentally induced hypothyroidism on the isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration in dogs. Vet Anaesth Analg 2015; 42:50-4.
2. The answer is d. Extra teeth in the oral cavity are important to recognize because they may have an abnormal root or may have a root that displaces a nearby root.
Dominguez PM. Common dental pathology: it must be recognized to be treated. Veterinary Technician. https://www.vetlearn.com/_preview?_cms.fe.previewId=3194afa0-5110-11e1-9159-005056ad4736&WT.mc_id=newsletter;VT020612 Accessed July 2015.
3. The answer is b. A 2015 study found that off-leash roaming and swimming within parks is significantly associated with Giardia infections in dogs.
Smith AF, Rock M, Neumann N, et al. Urban park-related risks for Giardia spp. infection in dogs. Epidemiol Infect 2015; 13: 1-15.
4. The answer is d. You should complete all of the steps so that the patient will be ready for the veterinarian.
Bauer, M. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Pocket Partner: A Quick Access Reference Guide. 1st ed. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar; 2010: 139-158.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 243-302.
5. The answer is d. Specific protocols should be followed to ensure that KCl is given properly and safely.
Hoehne SN, Hopper K, Epstein SE. Accuracy of potassium supplementation of fluids administered intravenously. J Vet Intern Med 2015; 29: 834-9.
Plumb DC. Potassium chloride. In: Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2012:840-842.
6. The answer is c. Mr. Lee should reduce Jasmine’s dependence by using behavioural modification techniques. The activities include ignoring Jasmine when he returns home from being out, giving her plenty of exercise, ignoring her when she engages in attention-seeking behaviours such as barking and jumping, and getting her used to short periods of separation while he is at home.
Ciribassi J. Home safe home: treating canine separation anxiety. Veterinary Medicine. http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/home-safe-home-treating-canine-separation-anxietyAccessed July 2015.
7. The answer is d. A recent study found that anesthetized cats who were played classical music had lower respiratory rates and pupillary diameter. The results suggest that classical music may be used to the lower anesthetic dose in some patients.
Mira F, Costa A, Mendes E, et al. Influence of music and its genres on respiratory rate and pupil diameter variations in cats under general anesthesia: contribution to promoting patient safety [Abstract]. J Feline Med Surg. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25824137Accessed July 2015.
8. The answer is b. Biologic debris naturally builds up in the box locks of surgical instruments.
Allen PA. Postoperative surgery room and equipment. In: Tear M. ed. Small Animal Surgical Nursing. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2012: 254-272.
Raffel T. Preoperative room considerations. In: Tear M. ed. Small Animal Surgical Nursing. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2012: 1-40.
9. The answer is c. A 2015 study compared the stability of hemostatic proteins in canine FFP thawed with a modified microwave oven and a warm water bath. Significant decreases in hemostatic protein concentrations were found in plasma thawed with a modified microwave oven. The warm water bath did not affect concentrations, so this technique is recommended.
Pashmakova MB, Barr JW, and Bishop MA. Stability of hemostatic proteins in canine fresh-frozen plasma thawed with a modified commercial microwave warmer or warm water bath. Am J Vet Res 2015; 76:420-5.
10. The answer is c. Depolarization of the ventricles will then trigger their contraction.
Jack CM, Watson PM. Patient care skills. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 465-533.
Spring 2015
1. The answer is d. A 2014 study assessed factors associated with the outcome of CPR. The presence of an intravenous catheter before cardiopulmonary arrest and the presence of palpable pulses during CPR were associated with achieving ROSC.
McIntyre RL, Hopper K, Epstein SE. Assessment of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 121 dogs and 30 cats at a university teaching hospital (2009-2012). J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2014; 24:693-704.
2. The answer is c. You should hold the ultrasonic scaler in the same fashion that you hold a regular scaler. Use gentle brush strokes and hold no longer than 10 to 15 seconds. The ultrasonic scaler should only be used on teeth with obvious plaque or calculus.
Jack, CM, Watson PM. Dentistry. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 687-716.
3. The answer is b. To answer this question, you should identify the total amount of the drug in milligrams and the total volume of the drug in the vial in millilitres. Then, enter your values into the following formula.
Reconstituted concentration =
Toal amount of the drug divided by the total volume in the vial
= 250 mg/5 mL
= 50 mg/mL
Newman S. Reconstitution of medications. Veterinary Medical Mathematics. Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace; 2010: 92-99.
4. The answer is c. A 2015 study found that dogs experiencing hypotension under anesthesia had an increased risk of later surgical site infections. A hypotensive state likely leads to poor wound tissue perfusion, which increases infection risk.
Turk R, Singh A, Weese JS. Prospective surgical site infection surveillance in dogs. Vet Surg 2015; 44: 2-8.
5. The answer is d. A 2015 study analysed benzalkonium chloride ingestion in cats. The product is found in household products, including antibacterial cleaners. If Lucille’s mouth were promptly flushed with water or milk, Mr. Dion could reduce the occurrence of clinical signs such as hypersalivation and tongue ulceration.
Bates H, Edwards N. Benzalkonium chloride exposure in cats: a retrospective analysis of 245 cases reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS). Vet Rec 2015; 176: 229.
Haynes C. Cleaning products toxicosis. In: Cote E. ed. Clinical Veterinary Advisor. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2015: 197-199.
6. The answer is d. Although variable, there are generally five to seven days between the time that Giardia first enters the dog or cat’s body, and the time that a technician can detect a reproductively mature form in a fecal analysis.
Jack, CM, Watson PM. Laboratory. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 103-242.
7. The answer is b. Myoclonus is a spontaneous movement or an involuntary muscle contraction that does not stop after more propofol has been given. The cause of this phenomenon is unknown.
Cattai A, Rabozzi R, Natale V, et al. The incidence of spontaneous movements (myoclonus) in dogs undergoing total intravenous anesthesia with propofol. Vet Anaesth Analg 2015; 42:93-8.
8. The answer is a. It would be inappropriate and dangerous to advise an owner how to make changes to insulin dosing without explicit direction from a veterinarian.
Sparkes AH, Cannon M, Church D, et al. ISFM consensus guidelines on the practical management of diabetes mellitus in cats. J Feline Med Surg 2015; 17:235-50.
9. The answer is b. A patient with severe mats will be more radiographically dense than a patient without mats. You will need to increase your kVp.
Jack, CM, Watson PM. Imaging. Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide. 3rd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell; 2014: 243-302.
10. The answer is b. A leash of four to six feet in length will allow Mrs. Johnston to have proper physical control of her dog during training. Retractable leashes, shock, pinch, or choke collars should not be used. Head halters are a good choice if more control is required.
Hunthausen W. A better walk: Training dogs not to lunge, growl, and pull on a leash. Veterinary Medicine. http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/better-walk-training-dogs-not-lunge-growl-and-pull-leash?rel=canonical Accessed April 2015.
Winter 2015
1. The answer is b. A recent study looked into the analgesic effect of maxillary and inferior alveolar nerve blocks in cats receiving dental extractions. The study found that cats who were administered a nerve block had a lower heart rate and lower blood pressure, which resulted in a reduction in isoflurane. These cats also had a lower post-operative pain score than the group that did not receive a nerve block.
Aguiar J, Chebroux A, Martinez-Taboada F, et al. Analgesic effects of maxillary and inferior nerve blocks in cats undergoing dental extractions [Abstract]. J Feline Med Surg
http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/05/09/1098612X14533551.abstract Accessed January 2015.
2. The answer is a. You will see these cells because a milky white substance that does not become clear after centrifugation is a chylous effusion. If the patient in question is anorexic, the fluid may be clear.
Singh A, Brisson B, and Nykamp S. Idiopathic chylothorax: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and thoracic duct imaging. Compend Contin Educ Vet 2012; 34: E2-7.
3. The answer is c. These are the long-term side effects. Hypertension is not a side effect. Short-term side effects are sedation and ataxia, which should decrease over time.
Thomas WB, Dewey CW. Seizures and narcolepsy. In: Dewey CW. ed. A Practical Guide to Canine and Feline Neurology. 2nd ed. Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell; 2008: 237-259.
4. The answer is b. A 2014 study found that medication errors decreased significantly when this intervention was implemented. The other choices could help decrease medication errors, but they are not simple interventions.
Hofmeister EH, Quandt J, Braun C, et al. Development, implementation and impact of simple patient safety interventions in a university teaching hospital. Vet Anaesth Analg 2014; 41: 243-8.
5. The answer is c. Hyperextending the carpus or tarsus can permanently damage the tendon or ligament. You should flex the most proximal joint and work distally, but do not pull the leg. PROM exercises should never hurt the patient.
McCauley L, Jurek C. Physical therapy, rehabilitation, and alternative medical nursing. In: Bassert JM, Thomas JA. ed. McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 8th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 845-879.
6. The answer is d. The catheter should be placed antegrade, with the tip always directed towards the heart.
Davis H, Riel DL, Pappagianis M, et al. Diagnostic sampling and therapeutic techniques. In: Bassert JM, Thomas JA. ed. McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 8th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 583-671.
7. The answer is d. Although suction is useful, it is important to be aware of the potential risks. The vacuum pressure should be set at an appropriate level, and the suction tips should be changed frequently during prolonged procedures.
Raffel T. Preoperative room considerations. In: Tear M. ed. Small Animal Surgical Nursing. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2012: 1-40.
Sturgeon C, Lamport AI, Lloyd DH, et al. Bacterial contamination of suction tips used during surgical procedures performed on dogs and cats. Am J Vet Res 2000; 61:779-83.
8. The answer is c. A recent study found that collimation is not strongly associated with the diagnostic quality of a radiograph. However, collimation is recommended because a collimated image will have a smaller area of interest with less scatter radiation and greater contrast.
Brown M, Brown L. Optimizing the image. Radiography for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 73-85.
Nuth EK, Armbrust LJ, Roush JK, et al. Identification and effects of common errors and artifacts on the perceived quality of radiographs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2014; 244:961-7.
9. The answer is c. A recent study suggests that owners who play with their cat for five or more minutes a play session reported fewer behavioural problems than those who engaged in play time of one minute.
Strickler BL, Shull EA. An owner survey of toys, activities, and behaviour problems in indoor cats. J Vet Behav 2014; 9:207-214.
10. The answer is d. Buprenorphine given before surgery and during wound closure provides adequate pain relief for six hours. Butorphanol provides pain relief but does not last a full six hours. Acepromazine and diazepam do not have analgesic properties.
Warne LN, Beths T, Holm M, et al. Evaluation of the perioperative analgesic efficacy of buprenorphine, compared with butorphanol, in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2014; 245: 195-202.
Fall 2014
1. The answer is b. Quatrefoil red blood cells (qRBC) are a recently discovered morphologic change. They are flower-shaped, having four lobes. They have been associated with ageing in dogs and lowered leukocyte and neutrophil counts. Curiously, the origin and meaning of the qRBC are still unknown.
Gavazza A, Ricci M, Brettoni M, et al. Retrospective and prospective investigations about “quatrefoil” erythrocytes in canine blood smears. Vet Med Inter. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/409573 Accessed October 2014.
2. The answer is c. A recent clinical trial found that kittens under the age of 16 weeks undergoing a routine ovariohysterectomy using injectable anesthesia had less affective pain than adult cats. Having less affective pain means that kittens may have similar wound tenderness to adults, but are observed to have less pain-related behaviour.
Polson S, Taylor PM, Yates D. Effects of age and reproductive status on postoperative pain after routine ovariohysterectomy in cats. J Feline Med Surg 2014; 16: 170-6.
Shaffran N. Pain assessment and treatment. In: Battaglia A. ed. Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: 124-138.
3. The answer is d. A 2014 study found that 2% chlorhexidine and 70% alcohol wipes were superior to soap and water because of their residual effect. Protection against bacterial contamination lasts 24 hours.
Shukla B, Howell V, Griffiths A, et al. Superiority of chlorhexidine 2%/alcohol 70% wipes in decontaminating ultrasound equipment. Ultrasound 2014; 22:134-139.
4. The answer is b. Simba suffers from a liver condition. His condition can cause hypoglycemia because of poor glycogen storage and compromised gluconeogenesis.
Bednarski R, Grimm K, Harvey R, et al. AAHA anesthesia guidelines for dogs and cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2011; 47:377-85.
5. The answer is b. A 2014 study found that even though many veterinary practices regularly autoclave Vetrap™ bandaging for orthopedic procedures, steam sterilization is incomplete. Sterilization will be complete for the other choices listed. Using only a small amount of laundry detergent is preferable, as towels and drapes laundered with too much detergent may transfer soap particles to instruments during sterilization.
Rossanese M, Gasson J, Barker C, et al. Evaluation of steam penetration and sterilization of natural latex wraps [abstract]. Vet Surg. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12168.x/abstract Accessed October 2014.
Schultz R. Official guide: maintaining and cleaning surgical instruments. Spectrum Surgical Instruments, Repairs, Instrument Accessories. https://www.ffa.org/.../cde_vetsci_guide_maintaining_clearing_surgical_instruments.pdf Accessed October 2014.
6. The answer is c. The technician should counsel clients to use veterinary toothpaste because human toothpaste contains ingredients that should not be swallowed. Even if toothbrushing is done daily, it should not replace regular dental prophies. The toothbrush should be angled at 45 degrees, concentrating on the labial surfaces of the cheek teeth.
Ray JD Jr, Eubanks DL. Dental homecare: teaching your clients to care for their pet’s teeth. J Vet Dent 2009; 26:57-60.
7. The answer is d. All the choices listed can help prevent upper respiratory disease. A 2014 study documented the health benefits of gentle stroking and vocalizations. The study found that patting and talking to anxious cats from a shelter can induce happiness, which reduces the incidence of upper respiratory disease.
Gourkow N, Hamon SC, Phillips CJ. Effect of gentle stroking and vocalization on behaviour, mucosal immunity and upper respiratory disease in anxious shelter cats [abstract]. Prev Vet Med http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587714002037 Accessed October 2014.
8. The answer is b. Norman’s MAP is falsely low because the blood pressure cuff is more than 40% of the width of the circumference of his leg. Additionally, a cuff that is above heart level or is too tight can give falsely low readings. The reverse applies to falsely high blood pressure readings.
Reuss-Lamky HL. Monitoring blood pressure and end-tidal CO2 in the anesthetized patient. In: Bryant S. ed. Anesthesia for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2010:105-121.
9. The answer is d. These are the most common potential side effects, but they occur infrequently. In particular, hair loss does not occur very often because cats and dogs do not have hair that continually grows.
MacDonald V. Chemotherapy: managing side effects and safe handling. Can Vet J 2009; 50:665-668.
10. The answer is c. Regardless of the weight of the item that you are lifting, you should follow these steps to reduce the risk of spinal disc compression or back strain.
Proper lifting technique. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=hw206944 Accessed October 2014.
1. The answer is b. Spring-loaded mouth gags have been associated with the development of central neurological deficits, including blindness. In fact, the force applied against the mouth is much higher with spring-loaded gags than with other gags. Their force can compress the maxillary arteries, which reduces blood supply to the retinae and the brain.
Barton-Lamb AL, Martin-Flores M, Scrivani PV, et al. Evaluation of maxillary arterial blood flow in anesthetized cats with the mouth closed and open. Vet J 2013; 196:325-31.
Martin-Flores M, Scrivani PV, Loew E, et al. Maximal and submaximal mouth opening with mouth gags in cats: implications for maxillary artery blood flow. Vet J 2014; 200:60-4.
2. The answer is d. A patient’s lifestage and body condition influence the elasticity of the skin. Skin turgor is not yet developed in pediatric animals. Overweight patients may wrongly appear hydrated because of the presence of adipose tissue while geriatric animals may falsely seem dehydrated because of reduced skin elasticity. Technicians must always look for other signs of dehydration such as tacky mucous membranes.
Bassert JM, Thomas JA. Neonatal care of the puppy, kitten and foal. In: McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. 8th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 787-809.
Ritchie AM. Fluid therapy. In: Battaglia A. ed. Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: 48-67.
- The answer is a. 5% = 50 mg/mL
20% = 200 mg/mL
V1= (C2) (V2)
C1
V1 = (50mg/mL)(500 mL)
200mg/mL
V1= 125 mL
You need 125 mL of the 20% dextrose solution. Therefore, you will need to add 375 mL of diluent to prepare a 500 mL quantity of solution.
Lake T, Green N. Solutions. In: Essential Calculations for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians. 2nd ed. London: Elsevier; 2009:77-86.
4. The answer is c. A malfunctioning one-way valve may result in a lower anesthetic level and a higher CO2 level. A higher CO2 level is the result of the patient breathing expired gases.
Latshaw H, Coleman D. Anesthesia equipment. In: Bryant S. ed. Anesthesia for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2010:71-84.
5. The answer is a. Two 2014 studies found that the BFI technique is more accurate than the BCS method for estimating body fat percentage in overweight and obese cats and dogs. The BFI technique involves taking four to six measurements of the patient and entering the numbers into a computer algorithm.
Witzel AL, Kirk CA, Henry GA, et al. Use of a novel morphometric method and body fat index system for estimation of body composition in overweight and obese dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2014; 244:1279-84.
Witzel AL, Kirk CA, Henry GA, et al. Use of a morphometric method and body fat index system for estimation of body composition in overweight and obese cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2014; 244:1285-90.
6. The answer is b. Although rectal thermometry is the standard method for measuring temperature in clinical practice, a 2014 study proved that the technique is stressful to dogs. An alternate method involves checking a patient’s temperature by placing the thermometer 3 centimeters in the axilla while the limb is held close to the body. By adding 0.6 to 1 degrees Celsius to the axilla result, this technique gives a reliable approximation of a rectal reading. Temperature measurement using an ear thermometer was also proven to induce less stress, but the axilla site is preferable.
Gomart SB, Allerton FJ, Gommeren K. Accuracy of different temperature reading techniques and associated stress response in hospitalized dogs. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2014; 24:279-85.
7. The answer is d. A 2014 survey found that only 57% of respondents from small animal clinics had a quality assurance program for fecal analysis. A quality assurance program may include following a standard operating procedure (SOP), being part of an external proficiency program, and regular re-training. A proper fecal SOP would contain instructions on analysing unrefrigerated samples within 2 hours.
Bell R, Harr K, Rishniw M, et al. Survey of point-of-care instrumentation, analysis, and quality assurance in veterinary practise. Vet Clin Pathol 2014; 43:185-92.
Bellwood B, Andrasik-Catton M. Parasitology. In: Veterinary Technician’s Handbook of Laboratory Procedures. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell; 2014: 77-120
8. The answer is c. Rust stains and other orange or brown stains look similar. To determine if the mark is rust, use the eraser test. If it is a stain, the eraser will remove the blemish, and the area will be smooth and clean. If it is rust, a pitted area will show. To prevent rust stains, clean instruments within 20 minutes of using them.
Schultz R. Official guide: maintaining and cleaning surgical instruments. Spectrum Surgical Instruments, Repairs, Instrument Accessories. https://www.ffa.org/.../cde_vetsci_guide_maintaining_clearing_surgical_instruments.pdf Accessed July 2014.
9. The answer is b. When taking a ventrodorsal view of the skull, you should pay attention to the location of the tongue, as it can easily create an interfering shadow. You should extend the neck, so that the nose is parallel with the table, and focus the beam between the two lateral canthi of the eyes on the ventral midline. The limbs should be extended caudally and laterally to the chest.
Brown M, Brown L. Small animal skull. In: Radiography for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014: 307-327.
10. The answer is c. Hydromorphone administration at induction to canine patients is significantly associated with the development of AP.
Ovbey DH, Wilson DV, Bednarski RM, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for canine post-anesthetic aspiration pneumonia (1999-2009): a multicenter study. Vet Anaesth Analg 2014; 41:127-36.
1. The answer is d. You calculated the SI, which is found by dividing the heart rate by the systolic blood pressure. Although used in human medicine for over fifty years, it has not been recognized in veterinary medicine until recently. Two 2013 studies found it to be a simple and inexpensive tool and recommended using it in triaging. In particular, the SI may be helpful in finding occult shock and/or hemorrhage when other cardiovascular parameters are normal. If the SI is greater than 0.9, an investigation of hemorrhaging is warranted.
Peterson KL, Hardy BT, Hall K. Assessment of shock index in healthy dogs and dogs with hemorrhagic shock. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2013;23:545-550.
Porter AE, Rozanski EA, Sharp CR, et al. Evaluation of the shock index in dogs presenting as emergencies. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2013;23:538-44.
2. The answer is b. Elevated renal values are not a recognized side effect, however a 2013 study found that elevated liver values are. Ms. Fisher’s remaining research is accurate.
Plumb DC. Doxycycline. In: Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2012:362-366.
Schulz BS, Zauscher S, Ammer H, et al. Side effects suspected to be related to doxycycline use in cats [abstract]. Vet Rec 2013;16:184.
3. The answer is c. The borders for a mediolateral view of the humerus is proximal to the shoulder and distal to the elbow joint. The dogs should be placed in lateral recumbency with the affected limb down. The non-affected limb should be stretched caudally and secured with gauze or tape. You will have difficulty obtaining the area of interest in one view because the tissue density of the elbow and shoulder are too dissimilar in this breed.
Brown M, Brown L. Small animal forelimb. In: Lavin’s Radiography for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2014:223-249.
4. The answer is c. A recent study evaluated 200 recipes of home-prepared diets. Of these, only nine recipes provided all essential nutrients meeting the AAFCO nutrient profile minimum for adult dog. Ninety-five per cent of the recipes had at least one essential nutrient deficiency. The most common deficiencies were zinc, choline, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and calcium.
Stockman J, Fascetti AJ, Kass PH, et al. Evaluation of recipes of home-prepared maintenance diets for dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2013;242:1500-5.
5. The answer is a. Lymphoblasts are typically bigger than small lymphocytes. Although small lymphoblasts may be observed, most are bigger than the smallest lymphocytes. The lymphoblast contains a prominent nucleolus with chromatin that is thinly stippled and less clumped than chromatin present in a lymphocyte.
Reagan WJ, Irizarry Rovira AR, DeNicola DB. Normal white blood cell morphology. In: Veterinary Hematology. 2nd ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2008:33-45.
6. The answer is c. Mrs. Duggan should not be giving the dog treats when he exits the crate because this action rewards the behaviour of not being in the crate.
Crate training your puppy. Compend Contin Educ Vet. http://www.vetlearn.com/reference-desk/care-guide/crate-training-your-puppy Accessed April 2014.
7. The answer is d. None of the choices provided are the best way to calculate the propofol dose for Bart. The best way would be to calculate based on his lean body mass and give to effect. A recent study found that overweight dogs needed a less propofol per kilogram of total body mass than did animals of a normal body condition score. For this reason, dosing should be based on lean body mass.
Boveri S, Brearley JC, Dugdale AH. The effect of body condition on propofol requirement in dogs. Vet Anaesth Analg 2013;40:449-54.
8. The answer is c. Attrition is the steady and regular wear of the teeth caused by natural mastication. If the teeth are not functioning properly, or if there is malocclusion, attrition is pathologic in nature. Attrition is frequently confused with abrasion, which is the mechanical wear of teeth caused by aggressive hand-scaling or brushing.
Lobprise HB. Attrition/abrasion/wear of teeth. In: Lobprise HB. ed. Small Animal Dentistry. 2nd ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2012:271-278.
9. The answer is b. S1, which marks the beginning of ventricular systole, is normally louder, longer and lower-pitched than S2 at the left cardiac apex. S2 marks the end of ventricular systole and is louder and higher-pitched than S1 at the left heart base.
Smith FWK, Keene BW, Tilley LP. Heart sounds. Rapid Interpretation of Heart and Lung Sounds. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2006:1-38.
10. The answer is d. A recent study of ten Ontario veterinary clinics found that preoperative preparatory solutions often have contact times that are less than recommended. A contact time of at least 2 minutes for each scrub is advised to prevent the incidence of surgical site infections.
Anderson MEC, Foster BA, Weese JS. Observational study of patient and surgeon preoperative preparation in ten companion animal clinics in Ontario, Canada. BMC Vet Res. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/9/194 Accessed April 2014.
Renberg, WC. Preparation of the patient, operating team, and operating room for surgery. In: Tobias KM, Johnston SA, eds. Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:164-169.
1. The answer is b. Bacterial culture remains the gold standard for confirming a urinary tract infection. However, when an unstained urine wet-mount technique is used, technicians may misidentify small particles as bacteria. Such particles may instead be small lipid droplets, amorphous crystals, debris, or cytoplasmic organelles. A recent study found that stained air-dried sediment is preferable to an unstained wet-mount technique for predicting urine culture results.
O'Neil E, Horney B, Burton S, et al. Comparison of wet-mount, Wright-Giemsa and Gram-stained urine sediment for predicting bacteriuria in dogs and cats. Can Vet J 2013; 54:1061-6.
Swenson CL, Boisvert AM, Gibbons-Burgener SN, et al. Evaluation of modified Wright-staining of dried urinary sediment as a method for accurate detection of bacteriuria in cats. Vet Clin Pathol 2011; 40:256-264.
2. The answer is b. A smaller airway diameter increases resistance to gas, causing a patient to work harder at breathing. The tube should not extend past the incisors and should be a close match to the actual diameter of the trachea.
Palmer D. Airway maintenance. In: Bryant S. ed. Anesthesia for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2010:57-70.
McDonell WN, Kerr CL. Respiratory system. In: Tranquilli WJ, Thurmon JC, Grimm KA, eds. Lumb and Jones’ Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. 4th ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2007:117-152.
3. The answer is a. Both atropine and glycopyrrolate should be prescribed cautiously to geriatric patients. Among other functions, these drugs treat sinus bradycardia, resulting in sinus tachycardia. A sinus tachycardia increases the need for myocardial oxygen, which is problematic with an already-compromised cardiac system. This situation can lead to myocardial hypoxia and arrhythmias. Atropine crosses the blood brain barrier, but glycopyrrolate does not. On a different note, a recent study found that topical ophthalmic atropine causes a small but significant increase in the heart rate of normal dogs.
Farry T. Geriatric patients. In: Bryant S. ed. Anesthesia for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2010:275-282.
Greenberg S, Plummer C, Maisenbacher H, et al. The effect of topical ophthalmic 1% atropine on heart rate and rhythm in normal dogs [abstract]. Vet Ophthalmol. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vop.12125/abstract Accessed January 2014.
4. The answer is c. This tooth is a premolar and is numbered 107 using the Modified Triadian system.
Lobprise HB. Oral exam and charting. In: Lobprise HB. ed. Small Animal Dentistry 2nd ed. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell; 2012:5-15.
5. The answer is a. RECOVER guidelines state that dogs and cats have a greater chance of ROSC if placed laterally. Dogs have higher left ventricular pressures and aortic flow when lying laterally. Barrel-chested dogs are the exception. They fare better when compressions are given on the heart sternally while the dog is lying dorsally.
Fletcher DJ, Boller M, Brainard BM, et al. RECOVER evidence and knowledge gap analysis on veterinary CPR. Part 7: Clinical guidelines. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2012; 22 Suppl 1:S102-31.
6. The answer is b. In order to calculate the answer for this question, you need the patient’s weight, the dose rate, the drug concentration, and the duration of the infusion. Multiply the dose rate by the weight of the animal. Divide this amount by the concentration and then multiply by the number of hours that the infusion should take place.
2 mg/kg/hr x 30 kg = 60 mg/hr
60 mg/hr = 1.2 mL/hr
50 mg/mL
1.2 mL/hr x 5 hr = 6 mL
Warren, E. Medical calculations and conversions. VSPN Notebook.
http://www.vin.com/members/cms/project/defaultadv1.aspx?id=2989739&pid=49&catid=&
Accessed January 2014.
7. The answer is c. Although many veterinary practices commonly do not recommend covered litter boxes, a 2013 study found that when all is equal, most cats showed no significant preference between the two box types. A small number of cats preferred covered litter boxes, while other cats preferred uncovered types. The results of the study suggest that owners should offer cats a ‘buffet’ of litter box styles to see what each individual cat actually prefers.
Grigg EK, Pick L, Nibblett B. Litter box preference in domestic cats: covered versus uncovered. Feline Med Surg 2013; 15:280-4.
8. The answer is a. The resulting radiograph was not of diagnostic quality because of inadequate x-ray penetration. Muscular animals will often need a higher kVp because of greater tissue density. If a digital radiograph shows poor x-ray penetration, the general rule of thumb is to increase the kVp by 15 per cent and decrease the mAs by one-half. Small changes in kVp are best, along with decreasing mAs to reduce personnel’s exposure to radiation.
Herrmann TL, Fauber TL, Gill J et al. Best practices in digital radiography. White Paper, American Society of Radiologic Technologists. http://www.asrt.org/docs/whitepapers/asrt12_bstpracdigradwhp_final.pdf
Accessed January 2014.
9. The answer is d. A 2013 study found that forced warm air blankets provided a better method for preventing heat loss for medium-sized dogs when compared to other techniques, including circulating warm water pads. Electric heating pads can cause thermal burns so are not recommended. Rice-filled heat bags may be effective at preventing heat loss but have not been studied in comparison to other techniques.
Clark-Price SC, Dossin O, Jones KR, et al. Comparison of three different methods to prevent heat loss in healthy dogs undergoing 90 minutes of general anesthesia. Vet Anaesth Analg 2013; 40:280-4.
10. The answer is c. Replacement crystalloids, such as Plasma-Lyte A, lactated Ringer solution and 0.9% sodium chloride, are the standard choices in patients who are dehydrated. Replacement crystalloids have a higher sodium concentration than maintenance fluids. Maintenance fluids, such as 0.45% sodium chloride, Normosol M and Plasmalyte 56, are used in patients who have normal hydration and vascular volume.
Donohoe C. Fluid types. In: Fluid Therapy for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa; 2012:149-166.
1: d. A sudden decrease in ETCO2 with a normal SPO2 points towards poor perfusion of Daisy’s alveoli. Its cause could be an imminent cardiac arrest or a malfunction of the EET. Capnography provides valuable information about cardiac output, pulmonary perfusion, and ventilation before the pulse oximeter detects any changes.
Ansermino JM, Dosani M, Amari E, et al. Defining rules for the identification of critical ventilatory events. Can J Anaesth 2008; 55:702-14.
Reuss-Lamky HL. Monitoring blood pressure and end-tidal CO2 in the anesthetized patient. In:Bryant S, ed. Anesthesia for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010:105-121.
2: c. Removing wet packs from the autoclave and drying them on top of it contaminates the packs. To reduce the chance of wet packs, sterilized packs should remain in the autoclave until they are cool enough for the operator to touch with her or his bare hands. Condensation can develop when the autoclave or packs are overloaded, or when a pack does not contain textiles to absorb steam. The packs can also be preconditioned by putting them in the warm autoclave for 10-15 minutes before starting the cycle.
Seavey R. High-level disinfection, sterilization, and antisepsis: current issues in reprocessing medical and surgical instruments. Am J Infect Control 2012; 41:S111-7.
3: b. The severity of gingivitis depends on the amount of redness, swelling, periodontal depth, and the presence or absence of gingival bleeding. The bleeding index is a simple system that scores 0 for no bleeding during probing and 1 for bleeding during probing. This score may change at a later time, because once plaque is reduced, gingivitis can be reversed. A recent study found that dental barrier gels reduce plaque deposition. These gels do not reduce gingivitis, calculus, or gingival bleeding.
Bellows J, Carithers DS, Gross, SJ. Efficacy of a barrier gel for reducing the development of plaque, calculus, and gingivitis in cats. J Vet Dent 2012; 29:89-94.
Gorrel C, Derbyshire S. Periodontal disease. In: Veterinary Dentistry for the Nurse and Technician. 1st ed. London: Elsevier; 2005:69-85.
4: a. Canine and feline patients are not always co-operative, so artifacts are common in ECGs. If the T wave is not present, the waves are probably caused by an artifact, such as movement. The T wave represents ventricular repolarization. In order for an ECG to be considered a ‘beat’, it must have a T wave. If the T wave appears, but it is tall and spiked, hyperkalemia may be present.
O’Grady MR, O’Sullivan ML. Electrocardiography. Clinical Cardiology Concepts.
http://www.vetgo.com/cardio/concepts/concsect.php?sectionkey=5§ion=Electrocardiology Accessed July 2013.
5: b. Alfaxalone and propofol produce similar inductions and recoveries in cats. However, alfaxalone is associated with more cases of paddling and trembling. Neither drug is recommended for intramuscular use. Cats who receive alfaxalone intramuscularly have delayed recoveries along with ataxia and excitement.
Grubb TL, Greene SA, Perez TE. Cardiovascular and respiratory effects, and quality of anesthesia produced by alfaxalone administered intramuscularly to cats sedated with dexmedetomidine and hydromorphone. J Feline Med Surg. http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/02/13/1098612X13478265.full Accessed July 2013.
Mathis A, Pinelas R, Brodbelt DC, et al. Comparison of quality of recovery from anaesthesia in cats induced with propofol or alfaxalone. Vet Anaesth Analg 2012; 39:282-90.
Taboada FM, Murison PJ. Induction of anaesthesia with alfaxalone or propofol before isoflurane maintenance in cats. Vet Rec 2010; 167:85-9.
6: b. This is the correct landmark for the lateral view. Most times lateral and ventral-dorsal radiographs are preferred because they provide optimum visualization of the abdominal viscera. Hyperextending the hind limbs or exposure at the wrong respiratory phase may distort and decrease visibility of organs. Exposure at the expiratory pause, which is after full exhalation and before initiation of inspiration, makes sure that the diaphragm does not compress the abdominal viscera.
Sirois M, Anthony E, Mauragis D. Abdominal Radiographs. In: Handbook of Radiographic Positioning for Veterinary Technicians. 1st ed. Clifton NY: Delmare Cengage Learning; 2010: 19-23.
7: c. Granular casts are easily confused with rolled squamous cells, amorphous clumps, or casts containing bacteria. Technicians should look for the mucoprotein cell matrix to clarify what they are seeing. Casts should be examined under low light by lowering the condenser and closing the iris until the casts come into view. Casts are found more often along the perimeter of the slide, not in the centre.
Sink CA, Weinstein NM. Routine Urinalysis: Microscopic Elements. In: Practical Veterinary Urinalysis. 1st ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012:55-112.
8: d. Research into probiotics is still in its infancy. Preliminary studies in humans have found that probiotics may decrease the formation of oxalate uroliths; feline and canine patients may experience the same benefit. Probiotics also show promise restoring intestinal homeostasis in cats with chronic FIV. On the other hand, probiotics should not be used in severe cases of CPV. In these circumstances a compromised intestinal mucosa may cause bacteria to move outside the gastrointestinal tract, which could lead to septicaemia. In any event, probiotics should be administered at a different time from an antibiotic. If a probiotic is susceptible to an antibiotic, the antibiotic may kill the bacteria in the probiotic when given at the same time.
Bowles, MH. Probiotics. In: Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC, eds. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 7th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2010:627-629.
Stoeker LL, Overman EL, Nordone SK, et al. Infection with feline immunodeficiency virus alters intestinal epithelial transport and mucosal immune responses to probiotics. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2013; 153:146-52.
9: a. A recent study found that playing music for kenneled dogs causes them to spend more time sleeping and less time vocalizing. No music, heavy metal music, and music specifically designed to relax dogs did not have the same effect. Researchers observed significant body shaking (indicating possible nervousness) in kenneled dogs when heavy metal was played. Playing classical music may decrease stress in dogs who do not like being kenneled.
Kogan LR, Schoenfeld-Tacher R, Simon AA. Behavioural effects of auditory stimulation on kenneled dogs. J Vet Beh 2012; 7: 268-275.
10: d. A 2013 study finds that dogs hospitalized in ICU showed decreased tear production. The study also found that ICU dogs with kidney disease had decreased tear production, while ICU dogs suffering from cardiac disease had tear production that was closer to normal. The researchers recommend regularly lubricating ICU patients’ eyes. Furthermore, a 2009 study found that specific breeds, including Yorkshire Terriers, are predisposed to congenital issues with tear secretion.
Chandler JA, van der Woerdt A, Prittie JE, et al. Preliminary evaluation of tear production in dogs hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Vet Emerg Crit Care 2013; 23:274-9.
Westermeyer HD, Ward DA, Abrams K. Breed predisposition to congenital alacrima in dogs. Vet Ophthalmol 2009; 12:1-5.
