35 Practice
Exercises
Predict clinical signs and related pathology (fluid and electrolyte loss, damage to other structures) that will happen if :
-
- the cricopharyngeal sphincter doesn’t open?
- the epiglottis doesn’t close?
- the upper esophageal sphincter doesn’t open?
- the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t open? stays open?
- the gastroduodenal sphincter doesn’t open? stays open?
General
- How is Parkinson’s related to your gut bacteria?
- Do prebiotics and/or probiotics work? Are some better than others? What is the difference?
- What is a fecal transplant? Do we do those in vet med?
Dogs
- Compare canine gastric bloat and torsion to abomasal displacements and volvulus- clinical signs, pathology, treatment, risk factors
- Some of the more common flatulence remedies include chicory, Fortiflora and emollients. How do these work?
Horses
- Why do people feed horses B vitamins even if they have healthy gut biomes?
- Compare large colon volvulus with abomasal displacements -clinical signs, pathology, treatment, risk factors
Cattle
- Compare canine gastric bloat and torsion to abomasal displacements and volvulus- clinical signs, pathology, treatment, risk factors
- Why are cattle the most susceptible to nitrate containing plants?
Challenge exercises –Â research and explain a few of these to a friend or relation to boost your understanding and retention
General
- What sort of meals make you feel full?
- What are the current recommendations for endurance runner diets?
- Who tends to have lactose intolerance, what are the signs and treatments?
- Where do vitamins get absorbed?
- How would dysfunction in each of these areas affect weight gain/nutrition?
- duodenum
- jejunum
- ileum
- lack of absorption of carbohydrates
- lack of absorption of protein
- lack of absorption of fats
- What vitamins and minerals are required for your species of choice? how does this compare across species?
- How do Zn and Cu help the digestive health of young animals?
- If the secretory line in the villi is disturbed (no stem cells), what happens re: other cell types and function?
Exotics
- Explain copraphagy – what is it and why is it beneficial?
- Explain cecotrophy
- How do other fermenters compare to cattle or horses? Eg sloths, marsupials, reptiles, lagomorphs, etc
Ruminants
- How do you diagnose and treat rumen acidosis?
- When and why do cows get ketotic? How is it treated?
- Explain pregnancy toxemia in sheep
- Why do we perform rumen transfaunation in cattle? Would it work in other species?
- How does a transition ration work in cattle (from pregnancy to lactation)?
- Explain “if we can feed the bugs, we can feed the cow”
- Why is feeding a total mixed ration (TMR) considered better than component feeding in dairy cattle?
- Explain subacute rumen acidosis and weight loss
Horses
- What are the side effects of grain overload in horses?
- If a colon resection is performed, how does the horse manage hay?
- Horses don’t have a gall bladder. How is bile managed?
Small animal
- If too much small intestine is removed, dogs and cats can suffer from short bowel syndrome. What are the therapies needed?
- What happens if cats are fed a vegetarian diet?
- What happens if we feed dogs raw meat?
- Can a dog or cat eat a paleo diet?
- Can cats get ketosis? How do they use ketone bodies?
Swine
- What does it mean if pigs don’t have paneth cells?
- How does Lawsonia affect the viili?
