NAVLE BOARD EXAM |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A 2 year-old budgie (parakeet) is presented with a history of limping on his left leg, which
has gotten progressively worse over the last 3 weeks. He is eating and drinking normally,
but has fallen off his perch twice in the last two days. Weakness in the left leg compared
with the right one is observed. He retracts his left more slowly and more weakly when his
toe is pinched. What condition is at the top of the differential diagnosis list?
A. Pacheco's disease
B. Polyoma virus infection
C. Renal tumor
D. Trauma - broken leg
E. Hypovitaminosis A
CORRECT ANSWER
C. Renal tumor
Think renal tumor with progressive unilateral lameness in budgies (and poor prognosis).
The sciatic nerve passes through the renal parenchyma in birds, and budgies are prone to
neoplasia in general.
Question 2
A 7 year old intact female poodle is presented. The owner has noted a lot of drinking and
some urinary accidents in the house in the last week and that the dog hasn't seemed
herself either. Yesterday, she vomitted twice. On physical exam the dog appears
depressed, listless, has dark injected mucous membranes and a distended tender
abdomen.
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,T = 104F (99.5-102.5)
HR = 100 bpm (60-120)
RR = 30 brpm (15-34)
What diagnosis is of most immediate concern?
A. Pregnancy
B. Intestinal foreign body
C. Hepato-splenic tumor
D. Diabetes mellitus
E. Pyometra
CORRECT ANSWER
E. Pyometra
Pyometra is a life-threatening emergency which typically requires immediate surgery
(ovariohysterectomy) if the cervix is closed and there is no obvious discharge. Open
cervix pyometras are likely to present with a purulent discharge, simplifying Dx, but
surgical ovariohysterectomy is stll recommended. Pyometra should always be near the
top of your DDX when presented with an older intact female dog or cat with fever and
distended abdomen.
Question 3
Pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity is caused by chronic ingestion of which one of the following
plants?
A. Astragalus spp. (locoweed)
B. Lupinus spp. (lupine)
C. Nerium spp. (oleander)
D. Senecia spp. (ragwort)
2
@THE STUDY VAULT
,E. Persea spp. (avocado)
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Senecia spp. (ragwort)
Common plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) are: Senecia vulga jacobea,
Amsinckia intermedius, Heliotropium europaeum, Crotalaria spectabilis. Although
generally not palatable, livestock will eat these plants when on pasture when forage is
scarce. Chronic ingestion allows accumulation oof toxic levels of PA, resulting in fibrosis.
Poisoning is most common in horses and cattle. Sheep and goats are more resistant to
toxic effects.
Question 4
A 15 year old cat is presented with a 3 week progression of wandering in circles to the left,
standing in corners, and dull mentation. Conscious proprioceptive deficits (knuckling) can
be elicited in the right thoracic and right pelvic limbs. There is a decreased menace
response on the right, but palpebral and pupillary light reflexes are normal in both eyes.
The rest of the examination is normal. A brain tumor is suspected. Where is the most likely
location of the lesion?
A. Right brainstem
B. Right cerebrum
C. Left brainstem
D. Left cerebrum
E. Cerebellum
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Left cerebrum
Conscious proprioception and viscual perception are affecting lesions in the contralateral
cerebral hemisphere. Circling direction is generally toward the side of the lesion. Visual
loss doss not fit with brainstem lesion.
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
, Question 5
A twelve year old female spayed miniature schnauzer presents with a history of seisure-
like episodes. Physical exam reveals an irregular heart beat, CBC and panel are
unremarkable except for a mild triglyceridemia. ECG shows sinus arrest with bradycardia
and tachycardia. Which one of the following choices is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Sick sinus syndrome
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. First degree AV block
D. Ventricular tachycardia
E. All of these
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Sick sinus syndrome
The seizure-like episodes, after questioning the owner further, were actually syncopal
episodes. Syncope lacks muscle activity and post ictal behavior. Older female miniature
schnauzers are overrepresented with sick sinus syndrome.
Question 6
Prior to the 1950s, heat pasteurization of milk was done principally to prevent
transmission of one organism to people. Today, that organism is reemerging in bi-national
communities with ties to Mexico who consume unpasteurized milk products. What is the
organism?
A. Mycobacterium bovis
B. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli 0157:H7
C. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis
4
@THE STUDY VAULT
VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A 2 year-old budgie (parakeet) is presented with a history of limping on his left leg, which
has gotten progressively worse over the last 3 weeks. He is eating and drinking normally,
but has fallen off his perch twice in the last two days. Weakness in the left leg compared
with the right one is observed. He retracts his left more slowly and more weakly when his
toe is pinched. What condition is at the top of the differential diagnosis list?
A. Pacheco's disease
B. Polyoma virus infection
C. Renal tumor
D. Trauma - broken leg
E. Hypovitaminosis A
CORRECT ANSWER
C. Renal tumor
Think renal tumor with progressive unilateral lameness in budgies (and poor prognosis).
The sciatic nerve passes through the renal parenchyma in birds, and budgies are prone to
neoplasia in general.
Question 2
A 7 year old intact female poodle is presented. The owner has noted a lot of drinking and
some urinary accidents in the house in the last week and that the dog hasn't seemed
herself either. Yesterday, she vomitted twice. On physical exam the dog appears
depressed, listless, has dark injected mucous membranes and a distended tender
abdomen.
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,T = 104F (99.5-102.5)
HR = 100 bpm (60-120)
RR = 30 brpm (15-34)
What diagnosis is of most immediate concern?
A. Pregnancy
B. Intestinal foreign body
C. Hepato-splenic tumor
D. Diabetes mellitus
E. Pyometra
CORRECT ANSWER
E. Pyometra
Pyometra is a life-threatening emergency which typically requires immediate surgery
(ovariohysterectomy) if the cervix is closed and there is no obvious discharge. Open
cervix pyometras are likely to present with a purulent discharge, simplifying Dx, but
surgical ovariohysterectomy is stll recommended. Pyometra should always be near the
top of your DDX when presented with an older intact female dog or cat with fever and
distended abdomen.
Question 3
Pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity is caused by chronic ingestion of which one of the following
plants?
A. Astragalus spp. (locoweed)
B. Lupinus spp. (lupine)
C. Nerium spp. (oleander)
D. Senecia spp. (ragwort)
2
@THE STUDY VAULT
,E. Persea spp. (avocado)
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Senecia spp. (ragwort)
Common plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) are: Senecia vulga jacobea,
Amsinckia intermedius, Heliotropium europaeum, Crotalaria spectabilis. Although
generally not palatable, livestock will eat these plants when on pasture when forage is
scarce. Chronic ingestion allows accumulation oof toxic levels of PA, resulting in fibrosis.
Poisoning is most common in horses and cattle. Sheep and goats are more resistant to
toxic effects.
Question 4
A 15 year old cat is presented with a 3 week progression of wandering in circles to the left,
standing in corners, and dull mentation. Conscious proprioceptive deficits (knuckling) can
be elicited in the right thoracic and right pelvic limbs. There is a decreased menace
response on the right, but palpebral and pupillary light reflexes are normal in both eyes.
The rest of the examination is normal. A brain tumor is suspected. Where is the most likely
location of the lesion?
A. Right brainstem
B. Right cerebrum
C. Left brainstem
D. Left cerebrum
E. Cerebellum
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Left cerebrum
Conscious proprioception and viscual perception are affecting lesions in the contralateral
cerebral hemisphere. Circling direction is generally toward the side of the lesion. Visual
loss doss not fit with brainstem lesion.
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
, Question 5
A twelve year old female spayed miniature schnauzer presents with a history of seisure-
like episodes. Physical exam reveals an irregular heart beat, CBC and panel are
unremarkable except for a mild triglyceridemia. ECG shows sinus arrest with bradycardia
and tachycardia. Which one of the following choices is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Sick sinus syndrome
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. First degree AV block
D. Ventricular tachycardia
E. All of these
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Sick sinus syndrome
The seizure-like episodes, after questioning the owner further, were actually syncopal
episodes. Syncope lacks muscle activity and post ictal behavior. Older female miniature
schnauzers are overrepresented with sick sinus syndrome.
Question 6
Prior to the 1950s, heat pasteurization of milk was done principally to prevent
transmission of one organism to people. Today, that organism is reemerging in bi-national
communities with ties to Mexico who consume unpasteurized milk products. What is the
organism?
A. Mycobacterium bovis
B. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli 0157:H7
C. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis
4
@THE STUDY VAULT
