Small Animal Disease and End of Life Care Lecture Notes (University of Alberta, October 2024) PDF

SMALL ANIMAL DISEASE AND END OF LIFE CARE October 9, 2024 Today’s objectives Complete the equine lecture slides Understand the complexity of small animal disease conditions and end of life care Case study 2 Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE)...

SMALL ANIMAL DISEASE AND END OF LIFE CARE October 9, 2024 Today’s objectives Complete the equine lecture slides Understand the complexity of small animal disease conditions and end of life care Case study 2 Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) Uncommon but often fatal → causes brain inflammation Incubation period 2-3 wks followed by 2-3 days of clinical signs→ 90% of horses die Severe neurological signs Confirmed by IgM antibodies to the virus Vaccine available (requires annual booster) Can be zoonotic Mosquito born virus: RNA, enveloped 3 Contagious equine metritis Bacterial infection of the uterus (Taylorella equigenitalis) Gram - bacteria Spread by sexual contact (clinical signs appear ~10 days after breeding) and can be symptomatic or asymptomatic Causes abortion and uterine inflammation Active infections in mare cleared up by antibiotics Stallions should be cleaned with 4% chlorhexidine prior to breeding 4 Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) Caused by Sarcocystis neurona Spread by oppossums, cats, skunks and raccoons 5 West Nile Virus Mosquito borne RNA, enveloped virus that infects and kills birds Causes neurological signs and sometimes fever but can be asymptomatic Zoonotic but only causes disease in ~20% No treatment but effective vaccine Cases on the rise 6 Deworming: antihelminthic resistance Misinformed owner alternate dewormers, deworm too often, maintain unhygienic conditions Solution: fecal egg count, deworm according to parasite present, maintain clean environment 7 Horse owner choices Horse owners primarily do not see their horses as companions or pets: athletes, workers, livestock Horses do not always receive immediate care for illness or injury Willingness to pay is an issue in many cases because lack of value placed on horses Limitations to care and treatment Lots of misinformation out there 8  Companion animals live longer and their health is affected by their association with us Dogs and cats experience a variety of non- infectious conditions because of us! Orthopedic disease Metabolic disease Neurological conditions Cancer Cardiac conditions Gastrointestinal conditions Auto-immune and allergy related conditions Etc, etc, etc 10 Coco: a case study -17 yr F/S longhair chihuahua -valvular heart disease -dental issues -cataracts - “old dog lung”  The whole body is Nothing connected – when one happens in system is compromised, isolation others try to compensate 12 Disease is multifactorial! Genetics Diet (taurine deficiency in dilated cardiomyopathy) Prior or concurrent health conditions Exercise 13 Valvular heart disease 14 Valvular heart disease 15 Valvular heart disease 16 Valvular heart disease 17 Diagnostics Radiograph EKG Echocardiogram (ultrasound) 18 Treatments Furosemide (a diuretic) Pimobendan (increases cardiac output) Requires careful monitoring and commitment by the owner Side effects can be problematic 19 Dental disease Multifactorial Results in gum disease and tooth loss Difficulty eating Local and systemic infection Weight loss 20 Dental disease Dental cleaning under GA by a licensed veterinarian tooth extractions No longer treated with antibiotics Preventative oral health care 21 End of life care A vet’s foremost job is to protect the welfare of animals and that includes providing a “good death” ie; euthanasia 22 23 It’s not simple or easy! Some resources https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/261/2/javma.22. 06.0234.xml https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2117 https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/policy-and-outreach/position- statements/statements/euthanasia/#:~:text=group%20of%20animals.- ,Position,fear%2C%20pain%2C%20and%20distress. 25 Announcements Revised syllabus on eclass Make sure you are getting eclass announcements! No quiz this week (next quiz opens October 17th) Midterm 1 grades expected Friday Dr. Craig Wilkinson lecturing Friday on Animal Use in Research