ICVA NAVLE EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
GRADED A+ ||LATEST UPDATED 2025-2026
QUESTION
A 5-year-old Simmental cow who is used as a donor for embryo transfer is evaluated
because of the acute onset of anorexia and lethargy. She has been flushed six times; the
most recent flushing occurred 10 days ago. Rectal temperature is 104. During physical
examination, the cow is reluctant to move and periodically kicks ate her abdomen. On
rectal palpation, the left kidney is grossly enlarged and has a smooth texture. When
stimulated to urinate, the urine is grossly hematuric; numerous blood clots and fibrin are
present. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment?
a) administration of gentamicin intravenously
b) administration of procaine penicillin G intramuscularly
c) long term catheterization of the bladder
d) surgical removal of the enlarged kidney
e) no treatment is indicated –
CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ b) administration of procaine penicillin G
RATIONALE:
Acute onset of anorexia, lethargy and hematuria; the cow has developed sudden severe
signs including hematuria which suggests a UTI, likely pyelonephritis.
,-Rectal palpation of the left kidney is grossly enlarged with a smooth texture, indicating
inflammation or infection
-History of embryo transfer may predispose cow to ascending bacterial infections
-reluctance to move and abdominal kicking
-procaine penicillin G is a good treatment for pyelonephritis because it can be used for
corynebacteriuma renale and it has good tissue penetration.
-DO NOT use gentamicin in cows because it is nephrotoxic and withdrawal time is
prolonged
QUESTION
A 4-year-old intact female ferret has had lethargy and depression for the past 24 hours.
On physical examination, the mucous membranes are extremely pale and the vulva is
swollen. Packed cell volume is markedly decreased. Which of the following is the most
likely diagnosis?
A) estrogen toxicity
b) gastric ulceration
c) gastrointestinal parasitism
d) hypovitaminosis C
e) pyometra
CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ a) estrogen toxicity
RATIONALE:
In the female ferret, prolonged estrus can lead to estrogen toxicity. Ferrets are induced
ovulators, meaning they require copulation to trigger ovulation. If a female ferret
remains in estrus without mating, estrogen levels stay elevated for an extended period.
This prolonged exposure to high estrogen levels causes bone marrow suppression,
leading to severe anemia (as indicated by pale mucous membranes and markedly
decreased packed cell volume)
,-signs of estrogen toxicity include: pale mucous membranes due to anemia, lethargy
and depression from low red blood cell levels and hypoxia, swollen vulva due to high
levels of circulating estrogen, marked decrease in packed cell volume consistent with
bone marrow suppression.
If untreated, estrogen toxicity can result in life threatening aplastic anemia
QUESTION
Fifteen of a group of 200, 7-month old feedlot calves are lame. The calves arrived at the
feedlot approximately one month ago, and one week later, 40 of the animals developed
pneumonia. These calves were treated with oxytetracycline, and the pneumonia
appeared to resolve. On physical examination, the affect calves have swellings in the
carpi, tarsi, and stifles with distension of associated tendon sheaths, and stiff gait. Two
calves are euthanized. Postmortem examination shows fibrinous pleuritis and papillary
muscle necrosis. Which of the following organisms is the most likely causeo of these
signs?
a) arcanobacterium (actinomyces) pyogenes
b) histophilus somni
c ) mannheimia hemolytica
d) pasteurella multocida
e) salmonella thyphimurium
CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ B) histophilus somni
RATIONALE:
, Histophilus somni is a well-known cause of systemic disease in feedlot cattle, including
respiratory disease, speticemia, and polyarthritis. In this case, the calves initially
developed pneumonia, and now soe of them show signs of lameness, joint swelling, and
stiff gait, which are consistent with septic arthritis, and polyarthritis that can occur after a
histophilus somni infection
- additionally the post mortem finding of fibrinous pleuritis and papillary muscle
necrosis also strongly suggest histophilus soni as the causative agent.
-Known to cause arthritis, pleuritis, myocarditis, and septicemia in calves
What is hyperkalemic periodic paralysis in a horse - CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ -a genetic
disorder that affects muscles causing episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis.
-It is autosomal dominant
What is the cause of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis - CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ THe
disorder is caused by a mutation in the sodium channel gene, leading to increased
potassium levels in the blood. This affects the electrical activity of muscle cells, causing
the muscles to contract abnormally
What are symptoms of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis in horses - CORRECT ANSWER
✓ ✓ -muscle twitching or trembling
-weakness or partial paralysis especially in hindquarters
-episodes of muscle stiffness
-respiratory issues in severe cases
-horse remains alert
What are triggers of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis - CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ -high
potassium intake from feed such as alfalfa, molasses or certain grains
VERIFIED ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
GRADED A+ ||LATEST UPDATED 2025-2026
QUESTION
A 5-year-old Simmental cow who is used as a donor for embryo transfer is evaluated
because of the acute onset of anorexia and lethargy. She has been flushed six times; the
most recent flushing occurred 10 days ago. Rectal temperature is 104. During physical
examination, the cow is reluctant to move and periodically kicks ate her abdomen. On
rectal palpation, the left kidney is grossly enlarged and has a smooth texture. When
stimulated to urinate, the urine is grossly hematuric; numerous blood clots and fibrin are
present. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment?
a) administration of gentamicin intravenously
b) administration of procaine penicillin G intramuscularly
c) long term catheterization of the bladder
d) surgical removal of the enlarged kidney
e) no treatment is indicated –
CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ b) administration of procaine penicillin G
RATIONALE:
Acute onset of anorexia, lethargy and hematuria; the cow has developed sudden severe
signs including hematuria which suggests a UTI, likely pyelonephritis.
,-Rectal palpation of the left kidney is grossly enlarged with a smooth texture, indicating
inflammation or infection
-History of embryo transfer may predispose cow to ascending bacterial infections
-reluctance to move and abdominal kicking
-procaine penicillin G is a good treatment for pyelonephritis because it can be used for
corynebacteriuma renale and it has good tissue penetration.
-DO NOT use gentamicin in cows because it is nephrotoxic and withdrawal time is
prolonged
QUESTION
A 4-year-old intact female ferret has had lethargy and depression for the past 24 hours.
On physical examination, the mucous membranes are extremely pale and the vulva is
swollen. Packed cell volume is markedly decreased. Which of the following is the most
likely diagnosis?
A) estrogen toxicity
b) gastric ulceration
c) gastrointestinal parasitism
d) hypovitaminosis C
e) pyometra
CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ a) estrogen toxicity
RATIONALE:
In the female ferret, prolonged estrus can lead to estrogen toxicity. Ferrets are induced
ovulators, meaning they require copulation to trigger ovulation. If a female ferret
remains in estrus without mating, estrogen levels stay elevated for an extended period.
This prolonged exposure to high estrogen levels causes bone marrow suppression,
leading to severe anemia (as indicated by pale mucous membranes and markedly
decreased packed cell volume)
,-signs of estrogen toxicity include: pale mucous membranes due to anemia, lethargy
and depression from low red blood cell levels and hypoxia, swollen vulva due to high
levels of circulating estrogen, marked decrease in packed cell volume consistent with
bone marrow suppression.
If untreated, estrogen toxicity can result in life threatening aplastic anemia
QUESTION
Fifteen of a group of 200, 7-month old feedlot calves are lame. The calves arrived at the
feedlot approximately one month ago, and one week later, 40 of the animals developed
pneumonia. These calves were treated with oxytetracycline, and the pneumonia
appeared to resolve. On physical examination, the affect calves have swellings in the
carpi, tarsi, and stifles with distension of associated tendon sheaths, and stiff gait. Two
calves are euthanized. Postmortem examination shows fibrinous pleuritis and papillary
muscle necrosis. Which of the following organisms is the most likely causeo of these
signs?
a) arcanobacterium (actinomyces) pyogenes
b) histophilus somni
c ) mannheimia hemolytica
d) pasteurella multocida
e) salmonella thyphimurium
CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ B) histophilus somni
RATIONALE:
, Histophilus somni is a well-known cause of systemic disease in feedlot cattle, including
respiratory disease, speticemia, and polyarthritis. In this case, the calves initially
developed pneumonia, and now soe of them show signs of lameness, joint swelling, and
stiff gait, which are consistent with septic arthritis, and polyarthritis that can occur after a
histophilus somni infection
- additionally the post mortem finding of fibrinous pleuritis and papillary muscle
necrosis also strongly suggest histophilus soni as the causative agent.
-Known to cause arthritis, pleuritis, myocarditis, and septicemia in calves
What is hyperkalemic periodic paralysis in a horse - CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ -a genetic
disorder that affects muscles causing episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis.
-It is autosomal dominant
What is the cause of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis - CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ THe
disorder is caused by a mutation in the sodium channel gene, leading to increased
potassium levels in the blood. This affects the electrical activity of muscle cells, causing
the muscles to contract abnormally
What are symptoms of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis in horses - CORRECT ANSWER
✓ ✓ -muscle twitching or trembling
-weakness or partial paralysis especially in hindquarters
-episodes of muscle stiffness
-respiratory issues in severe cases
-horse remains alert
What are triggers of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis - CORRECT ANSWER ✓ ✓ -high
potassium intake from feed such as alfalfa, molasses or certain grains
