NAVLE MAIN CORRECT ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS
SET A+
✔✔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 ok, but has fallen off his perch twice in the last two days.
Weakness in the left leg compared to 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 - ✔✔C
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.
Avian Polyomavirus is a YOUNG BIRD disease characterized by lethargy, crop stasis,
death, and sometimes SUBQ hemorrhages after injections.
Pacheco's disease - think "sudden death", younger birds.
Hypovitaminosis A - think sinusitis, "bug-eyes" (exopthalmia), sublingual abscesses,
white plaques. Broken bone possible, but would expect acute onset, not progressive.
✔✔What is the most common clinical sign exhibited by a horse with cystic calculi
(bladder stones)?
A - Straining to defecate
B - Colic
,C - Hematuria after exercise
D - Uremic breath and urethral ulcers
E - Inappetance - ✔✔C
Bladder stones in horses are usually single, large spiculated stones composed of
calcium carbonate.
The most common clinical sign exhibited by horses with cystic calculi is hematuria after
exercise.
Hematuria is most evident toward the end of a voided urine stream. Other signs may
include stranguria, pollakiuria and urinary incontinence.
In adult male geldings, urethral obstruction may also be associated with cystitis. If there
is urethral blockage by smaller uroliths, stranguria, pollakiuria, incontinence,
restlessness, colic and stretched posture may be more prominent.
✔✔A pig farm reports a problem in weaning-age piglets.
The affected piglets are depressed and anorexic with slight fevers. A few of the more
severely-affected piglets look like the image below.
Which one of the following choices is the best action to take?
A - High-dose antibiotics for sick piglets
B - Cull affected animals
C - Vaccinate herd with modified live vaccine
D - Report to state vet
E - Topical Coumaphos/ disinfectant combination dip - ✔✔A
Use high-dose antibiotics for sick piglets.
This is exudative dermatitis ("greasy pig disease"), caused by Staph hyicus. Responds
to most antibiotics (pen, amoxi, TMS, erythromycin, lincomycin, tylosin, AGs, cephs) at
high dose 7-10 days, plus topical antiseptic.
In severe outbreaks, antibiotics for contact pigs recommended for a few days.
Disinfection, good environmental hygiene important.
In chronically affected herds, autogenous bacterins have been used with some success
to decrease incidence.
✔✔A 7-year old female spayed Standard Poodle presents with weakness and lethargy.
A chemistry panel shows a Na+ = 130 mEq/L (142-152 mEq/L), K+ = 6.5 mEq/L (3.9-
5.1 mEq/L), BUN 55 mg/dl (8-28 mg/dl), creatinine 1.9 mg/dl (0.5-1.7 mg/dl). The test to
run for a definitive diagnosis would be which of the following?
,A - Bile acids test
B - Electrocardiogram
C - Thoracic radiographs
D - ACTH stimulation test - ✔✔D
The correct answer is ACTH stimulation test. The chemistry profile above is highly
suggestive of hypoadrenocorticism. An ACTH stimulation test would give a definitive
diagnosis for Addison's disease if the plasma cortisol concentration is low after ACTH
administration.
A bile acids test is not indicated since liver function is not in question. Thoracic
radiographs may show microcardia, hypoperfused lungs, and rarely megaesophagus.
ECG abnormalities would be consistent with hyperkalemia, which includes wide, flat, or
absent P waves, widened QRS complexes, tall spiking T waves, and bradycardia.
✔✔A 2-year old Quarter Horse presents for intermittent muscle fasciculation followed by
weakness. What condition should you suspect?
A - Grass tetany
B - Tetanus
C - Stringhalt
D - Myotonia
E - Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis - ✔✔E
The correct answer is hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP). HYPP is seen in Quarter
Horses due to a point mutation in a key part of a skeletal muscle sodium channel
subunit. This results in elevation of the resting membrane potential to increase the
likelihood of depolarizing. Excess concentrations of potassium can result in failure of the
sodium channels to inactivate. Therefore, treatment is directed at decreasing dietary
potassium.
✔✔In canine patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, a chemistry panel would show:
A - Hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia
B - Hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia
C - Hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia
D - Hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia - ✔✔C
The correct answer is hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia. Patients with primary
hyperparathyroidism would have hypercalcemia and normo to hypophosphatemia due
to the law of mass action in which phosphorus decreases as calcium increases and vice
versa.
✔✔Which of these would be appropriate for a horse with hyperkalemic periodic
paralysis (HYPP)?
, A - Alfalfa hay
B - Beet molasses
C - Timothy hay
D - Brome hay - ✔✔C
The correct answer is timothy hay. Of these choices, the only feed with low potassium is
timothy hay. A low potassium diet is the most important nutritional modification in the
treatment of HYPP. Regular exercise and feeding smaller, frequent meals can also
reduce clinical signs. This disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, and
owners should be discouraged from breeding affected animals.
✔✔Several younger sheep in a large herd have died suddenly with a diagnosis of
infectious necrotic hepatitis secondary to fluke infestation. Which one of the following
choices is the most practical and effective control measure?
A - Vaccinate all animals with Clostridium novyi toxoid
B - High-dose penicillin for clinical cases
C - Clostridium hemolyticum bacterin for animals under 3 years
D - Clorsulon antihelmintic for whole herd
E - Treat ponds with copper sulfate molluscicide against lymnaeid snails - ✔✔A
Active immunization with Clostridium novyi toxoid before the late summer is the most
effective way to control and prevent infectious necrotic hepatitis (Black disease) in
sheep.Because vaccinated sheep have long-term immunity after only one shot, only
new introductions to the flock (lambs and sheep brought in from other areas) need to be
vaccinated.
Reducing the number of snails (intermediate hosts for fluke cercaria) with molluscicides
or by fencing off wet areas may not be practical due to expense or amount of pasture
lost. Likewise, use of flukicides is complicated by the need for careful timing and long
withdrawal times for meat and milk.
✔✔Black walnut toxicity causes what condition in horses?
A - Hypersalivation
B - Pulmonary edema
C - Laminitis
D - Colic - ✔✔C
The correct answer is laminitis. Black walnuts contain Juglone (naphthoquinone) which
results in laminitis. Do not use black walnuts for horse bedding.
✔✔A 2-year old male castrated Border Collie presents for a 1-week history of small
bowel diarrhea. A fecal flotation shows numerous Giardia cysts. What is the treatment
of choice for this dog?
SET A+
✔✔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 ok, but has fallen off his perch twice in the last two days.
Weakness in the left leg compared to 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 - ✔✔C
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.
Avian Polyomavirus is a YOUNG BIRD disease characterized by lethargy, crop stasis,
death, and sometimes SUBQ hemorrhages after injections.
Pacheco's disease - think "sudden death", younger birds.
Hypovitaminosis A - think sinusitis, "bug-eyes" (exopthalmia), sublingual abscesses,
white plaques. Broken bone possible, but would expect acute onset, not progressive.
✔✔What is the most common clinical sign exhibited by a horse with cystic calculi
(bladder stones)?
A - Straining to defecate
B - Colic
,C - Hematuria after exercise
D - Uremic breath and urethral ulcers
E - Inappetance - ✔✔C
Bladder stones in horses are usually single, large spiculated stones composed of
calcium carbonate.
The most common clinical sign exhibited by horses with cystic calculi is hematuria after
exercise.
Hematuria is most evident toward the end of a voided urine stream. Other signs may
include stranguria, pollakiuria and urinary incontinence.
In adult male geldings, urethral obstruction may also be associated with cystitis. If there
is urethral blockage by smaller uroliths, stranguria, pollakiuria, incontinence,
restlessness, colic and stretched posture may be more prominent.
✔✔A pig farm reports a problem in weaning-age piglets.
The affected piglets are depressed and anorexic with slight fevers. A few of the more
severely-affected piglets look like the image below.
Which one of the following choices is the best action to take?
A - High-dose antibiotics for sick piglets
B - Cull affected animals
C - Vaccinate herd with modified live vaccine
D - Report to state vet
E - Topical Coumaphos/ disinfectant combination dip - ✔✔A
Use high-dose antibiotics for sick piglets.
This is exudative dermatitis ("greasy pig disease"), caused by Staph hyicus. Responds
to most antibiotics (pen, amoxi, TMS, erythromycin, lincomycin, tylosin, AGs, cephs) at
high dose 7-10 days, plus topical antiseptic.
In severe outbreaks, antibiotics for contact pigs recommended for a few days.
Disinfection, good environmental hygiene important.
In chronically affected herds, autogenous bacterins have been used with some success
to decrease incidence.
✔✔A 7-year old female spayed Standard Poodle presents with weakness and lethargy.
A chemistry panel shows a Na+ = 130 mEq/L (142-152 mEq/L), K+ = 6.5 mEq/L (3.9-
5.1 mEq/L), BUN 55 mg/dl (8-28 mg/dl), creatinine 1.9 mg/dl (0.5-1.7 mg/dl). The test to
run for a definitive diagnosis would be which of the following?
,A - Bile acids test
B - Electrocardiogram
C - Thoracic radiographs
D - ACTH stimulation test - ✔✔D
The correct answer is ACTH stimulation test. The chemistry profile above is highly
suggestive of hypoadrenocorticism. An ACTH stimulation test would give a definitive
diagnosis for Addison's disease if the plasma cortisol concentration is low after ACTH
administration.
A bile acids test is not indicated since liver function is not in question. Thoracic
radiographs may show microcardia, hypoperfused lungs, and rarely megaesophagus.
ECG abnormalities would be consistent with hyperkalemia, which includes wide, flat, or
absent P waves, widened QRS complexes, tall spiking T waves, and bradycardia.
✔✔A 2-year old Quarter Horse presents for intermittent muscle fasciculation followed by
weakness. What condition should you suspect?
A - Grass tetany
B - Tetanus
C - Stringhalt
D - Myotonia
E - Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis - ✔✔E
The correct answer is hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP). HYPP is seen in Quarter
Horses due to a point mutation in a key part of a skeletal muscle sodium channel
subunit. This results in elevation of the resting membrane potential to increase the
likelihood of depolarizing. Excess concentrations of potassium can result in failure of the
sodium channels to inactivate. Therefore, treatment is directed at decreasing dietary
potassium.
✔✔In canine patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, a chemistry panel would show:
A - Hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia
B - Hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia
C - Hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia
D - Hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia - ✔✔C
The correct answer is hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia. Patients with primary
hyperparathyroidism would have hypercalcemia and normo to hypophosphatemia due
to the law of mass action in which phosphorus decreases as calcium increases and vice
versa.
✔✔Which of these would be appropriate for a horse with hyperkalemic periodic
paralysis (HYPP)?
, A - Alfalfa hay
B - Beet molasses
C - Timothy hay
D - Brome hay - ✔✔C
The correct answer is timothy hay. Of these choices, the only feed with low potassium is
timothy hay. A low potassium diet is the most important nutritional modification in the
treatment of HYPP. Regular exercise and feeding smaller, frequent meals can also
reduce clinical signs. This disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, and
owners should be discouraged from breeding affected animals.
✔✔Several younger sheep in a large herd have died suddenly with a diagnosis of
infectious necrotic hepatitis secondary to fluke infestation. Which one of the following
choices is the most practical and effective control measure?
A - Vaccinate all animals with Clostridium novyi toxoid
B - High-dose penicillin for clinical cases
C - Clostridium hemolyticum bacterin for animals under 3 years
D - Clorsulon antihelmintic for whole herd
E - Treat ponds with copper sulfate molluscicide against lymnaeid snails - ✔✔A
Active immunization with Clostridium novyi toxoid before the late summer is the most
effective way to control and prevent infectious necrotic hepatitis (Black disease) in
sheep.Because vaccinated sheep have long-term immunity after only one shot, only
new introductions to the flock (lambs and sheep brought in from other areas) need to be
vaccinated.
Reducing the number of snails (intermediate hosts for fluke cercaria) with molluscicides
or by fencing off wet areas may not be practical due to expense or amount of pasture
lost. Likewise, use of flukicides is complicated by the need for careful timing and long
withdrawal times for meat and milk.
✔✔Black walnut toxicity causes what condition in horses?
A - Hypersalivation
B - Pulmonary edema
C - Laminitis
D - Colic - ✔✔C
The correct answer is laminitis. Black walnuts contain Juglone (naphthoquinone) which
results in laminitis. Do not use black walnuts for horse bedding.
✔✔A 2-year old male castrated Border Collie presents for a 1-week history of small
bowel diarrhea. A fecal flotation shows numerous Giardia cysts. What is the treatment
of choice for this dog?
