NAVLE Feline Internal Medicine 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A cat with feline asthma is presented in respiratory distress with expiratory wheezes. After initial stabilization with oxygen, which drug is preferred for acute bronchodilation?
- Theophylline (oral)
- Terbutaline (subcutaneous) (Correct answer)
- Prednisolone (oral)
- Cyproheptadine (oral)
Correct answer: Terbutaline (subcutaneous)
Terbutaline given subcutaneously or IM is the drug of choice for acute bronchospasm in cats because of its rapid onset as a beta-2 agonist.
Question 2: Tritrichomonas foetus causes large-bowel diarrhea in cats. Which drug is currently recommended for treatment despite limited efficacy data?
- Metronidazole
- Ronidazole (Correct answer)
- Fenbendazole
- Sulfadimethoxine
Correct answer: Ronidazole
Ronidazole is the only drug shown to eliminate Tritrichomonas foetus in cats, though resistance and neurotoxicity at high doses are concerns.
Question 3: A cat diagnosed with nasal lymphoma has disease confined to the nasal cavity. Which treatment modality offers the best local control and median survival?
- Systemic chemotherapy alone
- Radiation therapy alone (Correct answer)
- Rhinotomy and debulking
- Intranasal corticosteroids
Correct answer: Radiation therapy alone
Radiation therapy is the treatment of choice for nasal lymphoma in cats, providing excellent local control with median survival times of 18–24 months.
Question 4: A cat with cholangiohepatitis has a liver aspirate showing a neutrophilic infiltrate. Which organism should be cultured, and what is the most appropriate antibiotic class?
- Toxoplasma gondii; clindamycin
- Enteric bacteria (E. coli, Enterococcus); fluoroquinolone or amoxicillin-clavulanate (Correct answer)
- Cryptococcus neoformans; fluconazole
- Mycobacterium spp.; rifampicin
Correct answer: Enteric bacteria (E. coli, Enterococcus); fluoroquinolone or amoxicillin-clavulanate
Neutrophilic cholangitis is typically caused by ascending enteric bacteria; culture-guided treatment with fluoroquinolones or amoxicillin-clavulanate targets gram-negative and anaerobic organisms.
Question 5: Which serum biomarker is most specific for acute pancreatitis diagnosis in cats?
- Serum amylase
- Serum lipase
- Feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI/Spec fPL) (Correct answer)
- Serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI)
Correct answer: Feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI/Spec fPL)
Feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (Spec fPL) is the most sensitive and specific biomarker for pancreatitis diagnosis in cats, unlike amylase and lipase which lack specificity.
Question 6: A geriatric cat with known HCM develops signs of congestive heart failure with pulmonary edema. Which diuretic is the cornerstone of initial CHF management?
- Spironolactone
- Furosemide (Correct answer)
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Torsemide
Correct answer: Furosemide
Furosemide (a loop diuretic) is the cornerstone of acute and chronic CHF management in cats with HCM-associated pulmonary edema.
Question 7: A cat tests positive for FeLV by ELISA antigen test. Which follow-up test best determines if the cat is persistently viremic vs. regressor?
- FeLV PCR on bone marrow
- IFA (immunofluorescence assay) on blood smear (Correct answer)
- FeLV antibody titer
- Repeat ELISA in 30 days
Correct answer: IFA (immunofluorescence assay) on blood smear
IFA detects FeLV p27 antigen within neutrophils and platelets; a positive IFA confirms progressive (persistent) viremia, whereas a negative IFA after a positive ELISA suggests a regressor or discordant result.
NAVLE Feline Internal Medicine 4
A cat with feline asthma is presented in respiratory distress with expiratory wheezes.
After initial stabilization with oxygen, which drug is preferred for acute bronchodilation?