Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
Membership Examination
June/July 2009
Medicine of Cats
Paper 1
Perusal time: fifteen (15) minutes
Time allowed: two (2) hours after perusal
Answer four (4) from the six (6) questions only
All questions are of equal value
Subsections of questions are of equal value unless stated otherwise
Medicine of Cats Paper 1
Page 1 of 3
Paper 1: Medicine of cats
Answer four (4) from the following six (6) questions only.
1.
Discuss the pathophysiology of two (2) of the following:
a) peritoneal effusions
b) pre-hepatic, hepatic and post-hepatic jaundice
c) myocardial hypertrophy due to both primary cardiac disease and secondary to
other disorders
d) feline bronchial disease (asthma).
2.
Write brief notes on the mechanism of action, clinical indications and potential side
effects of three (3) of the following drugs:
a) meloxicam
b) omeprazole
c) clindamycin
d) metronidazole
e) cyproheptadine.
3.
Discuss hypercalcaemia in cats. In your answer include all of the following:
a) clinical signs
b) the causes of hypercalcaemia, indicating the three (3) most common aetiologies
c) your ideal plan for diagnostic investigation in a cat with increased serum total
calcium.
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Medicine of Cats Paper 1
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4.
Describe and illustrate using diagrams, the neuroanatomical pathways involved in
both of the following:
a) the pupillary light reflex (PLR)
b) Horner’s syndrome.
5.
Write notes on the pathophysiology, clinical and laboratory findings associated with
three (3) of the following:
a) paracetamol toxicity
b) lily toxicity
c) thiamine deficiency
d) vitamin K antagonists
e) permethrin toxicity.
6.
Systemic hypertension is a common clinical disorder in older cats. Answer all of the
following:
a) Outline the physiological mechanisms that control blood pressure in the cat.
b) List the causes of hypertension in the cat.
c) Explain the clinical consequences of uncontrolled hypertension in the feline
patient.
End of paper
Medicine of Cats Paper 1
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Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
Membership Examination
June/July 2009
Medicine of Cats
Paper 2
Perusal time: fifteen (15) minutes
Time allowed: two (2) hours after perusal
Answer four (4) from the six (6) questions only
At least one (1) question must be from Section B
All questions are of equal value
Subsections of questions are of equal value unless stated otherwise
Medicine of Cats Paper 2
Page 1 of 7
Paper 2: Medicine of cats
Answer four (4) from the following six (6) questions only. At least one (1) question must
be from Section B.
Section A
1.
Discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of two (2) of the
following clinical problems:
a) uncomplicated diabetes mellitus
b) pancreatitis
c) hyperaldosteronism
d) idiopathic hepatic lipidosis.
2.
Write notes on the diagnosis, limitations of diagnostic tests, and treatment of two (2)
of the following:
a) dermatophytosis due to Microsporum canis
b) corneal ulceration due to feline herpesvirus type I
c) flea allergy dermatitis
d) tritrichomoniasis
e) Mycoplasma haemofelis.
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Medicine of Cats Paper 2
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3.
For three (3) of the following conditions outline the differential diagnosis and discuss
your diagnostic approach:
a) coughing in a six-year-old Burmese cat living in Brisbane
b) renomegaly in a 15-year-old Persian cat
c) anaemia in a four-year-old Devon rex cat
d) chronic sneezing in a two-year-old exotic shorthair cat
e) haematuria in a three-year-old Abyssinian cat.
4.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently a problem in cats. Write notes on all
of the following:
a) the typical historical and clinical features of this disorder
b) the ideal diagnostic approach to a cat with suspected IBD
c) histological classification of IBD
d) your treatment plan in a cat diagnosed with lymphocytic plasmacytic IBD.
End of Section A
Medicine of Cats Paper 2
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Section B
Answer at least one (1) question from this section.
5.
A 14-year-old female, neutered, domestic longhair cat presents with lethargy and
chronic weight loss. The cat has had a normal to increased appetite for three to four
months, but in the past week has become inappetent and has been vomiting.
Physical examination reveals a bodyweight of 2.9 kg and a body condition score of
3/9. There is a palpable 3 x 4 cm mid-abdominal mass. The remainder of the physical
examination is unremarkable.
Haematology and serum biochemistry and urinalysis results are listed below.
Haematology
Parameter
Value
Reference range
0.25
0.30–0.45 L/L
MCV
51
43–55 fL
MCH
16
13–17 pg
MCHC
330
282–333 g/dL
Platelets
573
300–800 x 109/L
Reticulocyte %
1.9
<0.5%
Reticulocyte count
91
<61 x 109/L
WBC
15.5
5.5–19.0 x 109/L
Neutrophils
12.6
2.0–13.0 x 109/L
Lymphocytes
0.6
0.9–7.0 x 109/L
Monocytes
1.4
<0.7 x 109/L
Eosinophils
0.8
<1.1 x 109/L
PCV
Blood smear: platelets clumped
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Medicine of Cats Paper 2
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Serum biochemistry
Parameter
Value
Reference range
Sodium
154
144–158 mmol/L
Potassium
5.1
3.7–5.4 mmol/L
Chloride
121
106–123 mmol/L
Urea
18.7
5.0–15.0 mmol/L
Creatinine
0.14
0.08–0.20 mmol/L
7.4
3.2–7.5 mmol/L
4
<10 µmol/L
AST
30
2–62 U/L
ALT
46
19–100 U/L
ALP
48
5–50 U/L
Total protein
58
60–84 g/L
Albumin
24
25–38 g/L
Globulin
34
31–52 g/L
Total calcium
2.2
2.1–2.8 mmol/L
Phosphate
1.3
1.0–2.3 mmol/L
Cholesterol
3.5
2.2–5.5 mmol/L
Glucose
Bilirubin
Urinalysis
Parameter
Value
Specific gravity
1.042
Protein
2+
Glucose
negative
Ketones
negative
Bilirubin
negative
Blood
trace
pH
6.5
Answer all of the following:
a) What is your assessment of the clinical and clinicopathological findings?
b) Discuss your diagnostic approach to this case.
c) If the diagnosis was high-grade alimentary lymphoma, outline your advice to the
owner regarding treatment options and prognosis. If the cat were retrovirus
positive (either FIV or FeLV) would this influence your advice?
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Medicine of Cats Paper 2
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6.
A four-year-old, male neutered, domestic shorthair cat presents with acute lethargy
and inappetence. Physical examination reveals a bodyweight of 4.1 kg and body
condition score of 5/9. The respiratory rate is 60 breaths per minute and there is a
moderate inspiratory dyspnoea. Rectal temperature is 40.1°C. You estimate that the
cat is approximately 10% dehydrated. Blood and urine were subsequently collected
for analysis. The results are presented below:
Haematology
Parameter
Value
Reference range
PCV
0.28
0.30–0.45 L/L
Platelets
349
300–800 x 109/L
Reticulocyte %
0.2
<0.5%
Reticulocyte count
11
<61 x 109/L
WBC
22.0
5.5–19.0 x 109/L
Neutrophils
19.0
2.0–13.0 x 109/L
Band neutrophils
1.5
<0.3 x 109/L
Lymphocytes
0.7
0.9–7.0 x 109/L
Monocytes
0.8
<0.7 x 109/L
Eosinophils
<0.1
<1.1 x 109/L
Blood smear: platelets clumped. Slight toxic change.
Serum biochemistry
Parameter
Value
Reference range
Sodium
145
144–158 mmol/L
Potassium
4.2
3.7–5.4 mmol/L
Chloride
115
106–123 mmol/L
Urea
5.6
5.0–15.0 mmol/L
0.10
0.08–0.20 mmol/L
Glucose
5.1
3.2–7.5 mmol/L
Bicarbonate
15
12–24 mmol/L
19.2
15.0–30.0 mmol/L
Bilirubin
14
<10 µmol/L
AST
64
<66 U/L
ALT
71
<91 U/L
ALP
12
<51 U/L
Total protein
90
60–84 g/L
Albumin
32
25–38 g/L
Globulin
58
31–52 g/L
Total calcium
2.2
2.1–2.8 mmol/L
Phosphate
1.6
1.0–2.3 mmol/L
Cholesterol
3.5
2.2–5.5 mmol/L
Creatinine
Anion gap
Medicine of Cats Paper 2
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Urinalysis
Parameter
Value
Specific gravity
1.060
Protein
2+
Glucose
negative
Ketones
negative
Bilirubin
negative
Blood
trace
pH
7.0
Answer all of the following:
a)
i)
What is your initial assessment of the history and clinical examination
findings? Justify your answer.
ii)
What would be the first diagnostic test you would choose after
examining the cat, and why?
b) What is your assessment of the clinicopathological findings?
c) Outline your diagnostic plan given these findings.
d) Discuss the optimal management of one (1) of the most likely differential
diagnoses.
End of paper
Medicine of Cats Paper 2
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