Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
Fellowship Examination
June/July 2009
Small Animal Medicine
Paper 1
Principle and Theory
Perusal time: twenty (2) minutes
Time allowed: four (4) hours after perusal
Answer five (5) from the six (6) questions only
All questions are of equal value
Subsections of questions are of equal value unless stated otherwise
Small Animal Medicine Paper 1
Page 1 of 3
Paper 1: Principle and theory of small animal
medicine
Answer five (5) of the six (6) questions only.
1.
Answer all of the following:
a) Define proteinuria and microalbuminuria. Explain how these are detected in
dogs and cats.
b) Summarise the clinical significance of microalbuminuria in dogs and cats based
on evidence from published literature.
c) Explain the key characteristics of an excellent screening test.
d) State whether or not the detection of microalbuminuria in dogs and cats satisfies
the criteria for an excellent screening test and explain your reasoning.
2.
Discuss the pathogenesis (60%) and clinical diagnosis (40%) of disseminated
intravascular coagulation.
3.
Write notes on three (3) of the following:
a) the pathogenesis of anaphylaxis
b) the production, composition and fluid dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid in the
normal dog and cat
c) cavernous sinus syndrome
d) the aetiopathogenesis of feline hypokalaemic polymyopathy.
4.
Answer both of the following:
a) Describe the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii and explain how this organism may
cause disease in cats.
b) Recommendations in the literature for the clinical diagnosis of feline
toxoplasmosis emphasise the measurement of serum IgG and IgM antibodies.
i.
Discuss the host antibody response to Toxoplasma gondii infection in
cats.
ii.
Discuss the diagnostic usefulness of IgM and IgG antibody assays in
cats that may have toxoplasmosis.
Continued over page
Small Animal Medicine Paper 1
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5.
6.
Discuss two (2) of the following:
a)
the principles and practice of metronomic chemotherapy (continuous low-dose
chemotherapy) in small animals
b)
environmental risk factors for cancer in dogs and cats
c)
mechanisms of acquired chemotherapy resistance in cancer cell lines.
Bacterial urinary tract infections in small animals may be simple (or uncomplicated)
or complicated. A recurrent bacterial urinary tract infection may be a relapse or a
reinfection.
Answer all of the following:
a) Explain the terms above in italics, as they are used to describe bacterial urinary
tract infections in dogs and cats.
b) Indicate why it is considered clinically useful to distinguish a relapse from a
reinfection.
c) Antimicrobial susceptibility test results have been used to distinguish between a
relapse and a reinfection. Explain the limitations of this approach and why it can
be unreliable.
d) Describe briefly the mechanisms by which uropathogenic bacteria may acquire
fluoroquinolone resistance.
End of paper
Small Animal Medicine Paper 1
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Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
Fellowship Examination
June/July 2009
Small Animal Medicine
Paper 2
Application
Perusal time: twenty (20) minutes
Time allowed: four (4) hours after perusal
Answer five (5) from the six (6) questions only
All questions are of equal value
Subsections of questions are of equal value unless stated otherwise
Small Animal Medicine Paper 2
Page 1 of 3
Paper 2: Application of small animal medicine
Answer five (5) of the six (6) questions only.
1.
Discuss the value and limitations of blood tests currently available to aid in the
diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic diseases in dogs and cats. Pay particular attention to
recently developed tests, including tests that may currently require submission to
international laboratories. Where possible, compare and contrast the usefulness of
particular tests in dogs and cats.
2.
Answer all of the following:
a) Outline what is meant by the terms ‘insulin resistance’ and ‘insulin sensitivity’ in
the cat with diabetes mellitus.
(20%)
b) Describe how insulin resistance might develop and why insulin resistance can be
temporary in cats.
(40%)
c) Discuss the clinical tests used to differentiate the causes of insulin resistance in
the cat.
(40%)
3.
A vaccine intended to protect cats against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
infection is commercially available in Australia and New Zealand.
a) Describe what kind of vaccine this is and explain what it contains.
(25%)
b) Discuss the evidence that this vaccine may protect cats in Australia and New
Zealand against FIV infection and associated acquired immunodeficiency.
(75%)
4.
The current (2005) edition of Ettinger and Feldman’s Textbook of Veterinary Internal
Medicine outlines triple-drug therapy of frusemide, an angiotensin-converting enzyme
inhibitor, and digoxin as ‘the mainstay of treatment for dogs with congestive heart
failure’, whether secondary to degenerative valve disease or dilated cardiomyopathy.
Discuss your approach to the management of stable congestive heart failure secondary
to these diseases in dogs, explaining your rationale for any deviation from the above
recommendation.
Continued over page
Small Animal Medicine Paper 2
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5.
Write notes on three (3) of the following:
a) antioxidant therapy in chronic inflammatory liver disease of dogs and cats
b) strategies additional to glucocorticoid therapy to improve the outcome of canine
primary immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia
c) the indications, techniques and potential complications of cerebrospinal fluid
collection in dogs and cats
d) your preferred medical management of canine idiopathic non-suppurative
meningoencephalitis.
6.
Answer two (2) of the following:
a) Discuss the use of inhaled aerosol medications in canine and feline respiratory
disease.
b) Discuss the treatment of canine sinonasal aspergillosis.
c) List factors that may contribute to acute decompensation of the feline patient
with chronic bronchial disease. Explain how you would diagnose and manage
each specific factor contributing to the decompensation.
End of paper
Small Animal Medicine Paper 2
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