2: PHYSICAL SIGNS

PART 2
PHYSICAL SIGNS


2.1 General/miscellaneous physical signs


2.1.1 Abnormalities of body temperature – hyperthermia


TRUE FEVER


Drugs/toxins


  • Adder bites
  • Amphotericin B
  • Aspirin
  • Benzalkonium chloride
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Borax
  • Cannabis
  • Carbamate
  • Daffodil
  • Dichlorophen
  • Diclofenac sodium
  • Dinoprost tromethamine
  • Glyphosate
  • Horse chestnut
  • Hymenoptera stings
  • Indomethacin
  • Ivermectin
  • Metaldehyde
  • Organophosphates
  • Oxytetracycline
  • Paracetamol
  • Paraquat
  • Penicillamine
  • Petroleum distillates
  • Phenytoin
  • Poinsettia
  • Procainamide
  • Pyrethrin/pyrethroids
  • Salbutamol
  • Theobromine
  • Yew

Immune-mediated disease


  • Autoimmune skin disease

    • Bullous pemphigoid
    • Discoid lupus erythematosus
    • Pemphigus erythematosus
    • Pemphigus foliaceus
    • Pemphigus vulgaris

  • Drug reactions
  • Evan syndrome
  • Familial renal amyloidosis (Shar Pei fever)
  • Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia*
  • Immune-mediated joint disease*

    • Erosive

      • Rheumatoid arthritis

    • Non-erosive

      • Chronic inflammatory/infectious
      • Idiopathic
      • Enteropathic
      • Neoplasia
      • Periosteal proliferative arthritis
      • Systemic lupus erythematosus

  • Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
  • Lymphadenitis
  • Pemphigus
  • Plasmacytic-lymphocytic gonitis
  • Polyarteritis nodosa
  • Polymyositis
  • Steroid-responsive meningitis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus

Immunodeficiency syndromes

Defects in specific immunity, e.g.


  • Agammaglobulinaemia
  • C3 deficiency
  • Canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency
  • Lethal acrodermatitis
  • Low immunoglobulins in Weimaraners (D)
  • Neutrophil defect of Weimaraners (D)
  • Pneumocystic pneumonia in miniature Dachshunds (D)
  • Transient hypogammaglobulinaemia
  • Selective immunoglobulin (IgA) deficiency
  • Selective IgM deficiency
  • Severe combined immunodeficiency disease

Defects in non-specific immunity


  • Bone marrow dyscrasia in Poodles (D)
  • Canine cyclic haematopoiesis (D)
  • Canine granulocytopathy syndrome (D)
  • Chediak–Higashi syndrome (C)
  • Complement deficiency (D)
  • Hypotrichosis with thymic aplasia (C)
  • Immotile cilia syndrome
  • Trapped neutrophil syndrome
  • Pelger–Huet anomaly

Secondary immunodeficiencies


  • Drugs

    • Corticosteroids
    • Immunosuppressive therapy

  • Endocrine

    • Hyperadrenocorticism

  • Infectious, e.g.

    • Canine distemper virus* (D)
    • Demodecosis*
    • Feline immunodeficiency syndrome* (C)
    • Feline leukaemia virus* (C)
    • Parvovirus

  • Metabolic

    • Uraemia

  • Neoplastic

    • Haematopoietic

  • Nutritional

    • Zinc deficiency

Infection

Bacterial


  • Generalised/multifocal, e.g.

    • Bartonellosis
    • Brucellosis (D)
    • Leptospirosis*
    • Lyme disease
    • Mycobacterium spp.
    • Mycoplasma spp.
    • Plague
    • Septicaemia from septic focus

  • Localised, e.g.

    • Abscess*, e.g.

      • Dental
      • Lung
      • Retrobulbar

    • Cellulitis*
    • Cholangiohepatitis
    • Cystitis
    • Dental disease*
    • Discospondylitis
    • Endocarditis
    • Gastrointestinal infection*
    • Mastitis
    • Metritis*
    • Osteomyelitis*
    • Peritonitis*
    • Pneumonia*
    • Prostatitis*
    • Pyelonephritis
    • Pyometra/stump pyometra*
    • Pyothorax*
    • Septic arthritis*
    • Urinary tract infection*

Fungal, e.g.


  • Aspergillosis
  • Blastomycosis
  • Coccidioidomycosis
  • Cryptococcosis
  • Histoplasmosis

Parasitic, e.g.


  • Aberrant helminth migration
  • Babesiosis
  • Chagas disease (Trypanosomiasis)
  • Cytauxzoon felis
  • Dirofilaria immitis
  • Hepatozoonosis
  • Leishmaniasis

Protozoal, e.g.


  • Neosporosis (D)
  • Toxoplasmosis

Rickettsial, e.g.


  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever (D)
  • Salmon poisoning

Viral (many), e.g.


  • Canine distemper virus* (D)
  • Canine hepatitis virus* (D)
  • Canine parainfluenza virus* (D)
  • Canine parvovirus* (D)
  • Feline calicivirus* (C)
  • Feline herpes virus* (C)
  • Feline immunodeficiency virus* (C)
  • Feline infectious peritonitis* (C)
  • Feline leukaemia virus* (C)
  • Feline panleukopenia virus* (C)

Miscellaneous


  • Metabolic bone disorders

    • Hypervitaminosis A (C)
    • Metaphyseal osteopathy
    • Nutritional secondary hyperthyroidism
    • Panosteitis

  • Pansteatitis (C)
  • Portosystemic shunt
  • True pyrexia of unknown origin

Neoplasia


  • Lymphoma*
  • Lymphoproliferative disease
  • Leukaemia
  • Histiocytic disease (systemic histiocytosis, malignant histiocytosis, histiocytic sarcoma)
  • Myeloproliferative disease
  • Solid tumours*

Tissue damage*


  • Surgery*
  • Trauma*

OTHER CAUSES OF HYPERTHERMIA



  • Heat stroke*
  • Hyperpyrexic syndrome

Increased muscular activity


  • Episodic myokymia
  • Hypocalcaemic tetany q.v.
  • Normal exercise*
  • Pain
  • Seizures* q.v.
  • Stress

Pathological hyperthermia


  • Hypermetabolic states

    • Hyperthyroidism* (C)
    • Pheochromocytoma

  • Hypothalamic lesions
  • Malignant hyperthermia

2.1.2 Abnormalities of body temperature – hypothermia


Drugs/toxins


  • Alphachloralose
  • Baclofen
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Cannabis
  • Daffodil
  • Ethylene glycol
  • General anaesthetics
  • Ivermectin
  • Loperamide
  • Paracetamol
  • Sedatives
  • Yew

Miscellaneous


  • Aortic thromboembolism* (C)
  • Cardiac disease* q.v.
  • Coma q.v.
  • Environmental cold*
  • Hypoadrenocorticism (D)
  • Hypothalamic disorders
  • Hypothyroidism* (D)
  • Loss of thermoregulatory abilities following heat stroke
  • Near drowning
  • Severe sepsis/endotoxaemia*

2.1.3 Enlarged lymph nodes


INFILTRATION


Neoplastic disease

Haemolymphatic


  • Leukaemia
  • Lymphoma*
  • Lymphomatoid granulomatosis
  • Malignant histiocytosis
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Systemic mastocytosis

Metastatic


  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Carcinoma
  • Malignant melanoma
  • Mast cell tumour
  • Sarcoma

Non-neoplastic disease


  • Eosinophilic granuloma complex
  • Mast cell infiltration

PROLIFERATION/INFLAMMATION


Infectious

Algal


  • Protothecosis

Bacterial


  • Actinomycosis
  • Bartonella spp.
  • Brucella canis (D)
  • Corynebacterium spp.
  • Localised infection
  • Mycobacterium spp.
  • Nocardiosis
  • Septicaemia
  • Streptococcus spp.
  • Yersinia pestis

Fungal


  • Aspergillosis
  • Blastomycosis
  • Coccidioidomycosis
  • Cryptococcosis
  • Histoplasmosis
  • Phycomycosis
  • Sporotrichosis

Parasitic


  • Babesiosis
  • Cytauxzoonosis
  • Demodecosis
  • Hepatozoonosis
  • Leishmaniasis
  • Trypanosomiasis

Protozoal


  • Neosporosis (D)
  • Toxoplasmosis

Rickettsial


  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever
  • Salmon poisoning

Viral


  • Canine herpes virus* (D)
  • Feline immunodeficiency virus* (C)
  • Feline infectious peritonitis* (C)
  • Feline leukaemia virus* (C)
  • Infectious canine hepatitis* (D)

Non-infectious


  • Dermatopathic lymphadenopathy
  • Drug reactions
  • Idiopathic
  • Immune-mediated

    • Immune-mediated polyarthritides
    • Mineral-associated lymphadenopathy
    • Granulomatous lymphadenitis
    • Puppy strangles* (D)
    • Rheumatoid arthritis
    • Systemic lupus erythematosus

  • Localised inflammation*
  • Post-vaccine

2.1.4 Diffuse pain


Gastrointestinal disease, e.g.


  • Cholecystolithiasis/cholecystitis*
  • Gastrointestinal inflammation/ulceration
  • Gastrointestinal parasitism*
  • Pancreatitis*

Miscellaneous


  • Panniculitis

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASE, E.G.



  • Polyarthritis
  • Polymyositis

Neurological disease, e.g.


  • Meningoencephalitis
  • Spinal disease* q.v.
  • Thalamic pain syndrome

Urological disease, e.g.


  • Cystitis
  • Prostatic disease*
  • Pyelonephritis
  • Renal parasitism
  • Urethral tumour
  • Urolithiasis

Other causes of abdominal pain q.v.


  • Mesenteric thrombosis
  • Pansteatitis
  • Peritonitis

2.1.5 Peripheral oedema


Generalised


  • Hypoalbuminaemia* q.v.
  • Increased central venous pressure

    • Central venous occlusion

      • Neoplasia
      • Thro mbosis

    • Congestive heart failure*

  • Vasculitis

Localised


  • Arteriovenous fistula
  • Cellulitis*
  • Drugs/toxins

    • Alphaxalone/alphadolone
    • Paracetamol
    • Salbutamol

  • Inflammation*
  • Lymphangitis
  • Lymphoedema
  • Neurogenic or hormonal vasoactive stimuli
  • Proximal venous obstruction
  • Vascular trauma
  • Vasculitis

Regional

Bilateral forelimb oedema/head and neck oedema


  • Cranial vena cava syndrome

    • Compression of cranial vena cava, e.g. by mediastinal mass
    • Granuloma of cranial vena cava
    • Neoplasia of cranial vena cava
    • Thrombosis of cranial vena cava

Bilateral hind limb oedema


  • Budd–Chiari-like syndrome
  • Obstruction of sublumbar lymph nodes, e.g. neoplasia

Increased central venous pressure


  • Central lymph obstruction
  • Central venous occlusion, e.g.

    • Mediastinal mass
    • Thrombosis

2.1.6 Hypertension


Adrenal disease


  • Hyperadrenocorticism
  • Hyperaldosteronism
  • Pheochromocytoma

Anaemia* q.v.

CNS disease q.v.

Drugs/toxins


  • Corticosteroids
  • Ciclosporin A
  • Dobutamine
  • Dopamine
  • Doxapram
  • Erythropoietin
  • Fludrocortisone
  • Phenylpropanolamine
  • Theobromine

Endocrine disease


  • Acromegaly
  • Diabetes mellitus* (D)
  • Hyperoestrogenism
  • Hyperthyroidism* (C)

Hyperviscosity


  • Hyperglobulinaemia q.v.
  • Polycythaemia q.v.

Iatrogenic


  • Overzealous fluid administration

Idiopathic


  • Essential/primary hypertension

Renal disease


  • Renal arterial disease
  • Renal parenchymal disease

    • Amyloidosis
    • Chronic interstitial nephritis*
    • Glomerulonephritis
    • Glomerulosclerosis
    • Pyelonephritis

Thyroid disease


  • Hyperthyroidism* (C)

2.1.7 Hypotension


Decreased cardiac function


  • Arrhythmias* q.v.
  • Cardiomyopathy*
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Electrolyte/acid–base disorders* q.v.
  • Hypoxia
  • Valvular disease*

Decreased preload


  • Heatstroke*
  • Hypoadrenocorticism (D)
  • Hypovolaemia*

    • Blood donation
    • Burns
    • Effusions q.v.
    • Diarrhoea q.v.
    • Haemorrhage q.v.
    • Polyuria without polydipsia q.v.
    • Vomiting q.v.

Decreased vascular tone


  • Anaphylaxis
  • Babesiosis
  • Electrolyte/acid–base disorders* q.v.
  • Hypoxia
  • Neurological disease q.v.
  • Systemic inflammatory response syndrome

Decreased venous return


  • Cardiac tamponade
  • Caval syndrome/heartworm disease
  • Gastric dilatation/volvulus*
  • Pneumothorax* q.v.
  • Positive pressure ventilation
  • Restrictive pericarditis

Drugs/toxins


  • ACE inhibitors
  • Adder bites
  • Amiloride
  • Amiodarone
  • Daffodil
  • Diazoxide
  • Dopamine
  • General anaesthetics and sedatives
  • Hydralazine
  • Hymenoptera stings
  • Indomethacin
  • Isosorbide dinitrate
  • Lignocaine
  • Medetomidine
  • Mexiletine
  • Midazolam
  • Mistletoe
  • Nitroprusside
  • Oxytetracycline (intravenous)
  • Phenoxybenzamine
  • Prazosin
  • Procainamide
  • Propofol
  • Pyridostigmine
  • Quinidine
  • Ranitidine (intravenous)
  • Rhododendron
  • Snake venom
  • Sotalol
  • Terbutaline
  • Terfenadine
  • Tricyclic antidepressants
  • Verapamil
  • Xylazine
  • Yew

2.2 Gastrointestinal/abdominal physical signs


2.2.1 Oral lesions


Congenital deformities e.g.


  • Cleft palate

Neoplasia

Oropharyngeal tumours


  • Extramedullary plasmacytoma
  • Fibroma/fibrosarcoma
  • Fibropapilloma
  • Granular cell tumour
  • Haemangiosarcoma
  • Histiocytoma
  • Lymphoma
  • Mast cell tumour
  • Melanoma*
  • Mixed mesenchymal sarcoma
  • Papilloma (D)
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Transmissible venereal tumour (D)

Odontogenic tumours


  • Acanthomatous epulides
  • Ameloblastic adenomatoid
  • Ameloblastoma
  • Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour
  • Cementoma
  • Dentinoma
  • Fibromatous epulides
  • Fibromyxoma
  • Hamartoma
  • Inductive fibroameloblastoma (C)
  • Keratinising ameloblastoma (C)
  • Odontogenic fibroma
  • Odontoma
  • Ossifying epulides

Inflammatory masses, e.g.


  • Feline eosinophilic granuloma complex*

Oral ulceration


  • Immune-mediated/inflammatory, e.g.

    • Eosinophilic granuloma complex*
    • Lymphoplasmacytic*

  • Infectious, e.g.

    • Feline calicivirus

  • Ingestion of irritant/caustic substances*
  • Metabolic, e.g.

    • Uraemia* q.v.

  • Traumatic*

Periodontitis/gingivitis


  • Bacterial infection*
  • Diabetes mellitus*
  • Diet (non-abrasive)*
  • Immune deficiency, e.g.

    • Feline immunodeficiency virus* (C)
    • Feline leukaemia virus* (C)

  • Immune-mediated disease, e.g.

    • Lymphoplasmacytic*

  • Periodontal foreign material*, e.g.

    • Grass
    • Hair

  • Tooth abnormalities*, e.g.

    • Crowding
    • Malocclusion
    • Rough surfaces

Salivary gland enlargement


  • Infarction
  • Infection
  • Neoplasia

    • Acinic cell tumour
    • Adenocarcinoma
    • Monomorphic adenoma
    • Mucoepidermoid tumour
    • Pleomorphic adenoma
    • Undifferentiated carcinoma

  • Sialadenitis
  • Sialadenosis
  • Sialocele

Stomatitis


  • Immune-mediated/inflammatory, e.g.

    • Eosinophilic stomatitis
    • Lymphoplasmacytic stomatitis*

  • Infection, e.g.

    • Bartonella henselae
    • Feline calicivirus* (C)
    • Feline herpes virus* (C)

  • Ingestion of irritant/caustic substances
  • Metabolic, e.g. uraemia*
  • Traumatic*

Tooth disease


  • Caries
  • Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions* (C)
  • Trauma*

2.2.2 Abdominal distension



  • Abdominal neoplasia*
  • Ascites* q.v.
  • Bladder distension* q.v.
  • Gastric dilatation*
  • Gastric distension*
  • Intestinal dilatation/volvulus
  • Obesity
  • Obstipation* q.v.
  • Organomegaly*

    • Enlarged kidney q.v.
    • Enlarged uterus q.v.
    • Hepatomegaly q.v.
    • Splenomegaly q.v.

  • Pneumoperitoneum
  • Pregnancy
  • Weakness of abdominal musculature

    • Hyperadrenocorticism
    • Ruptured prepubic tendon

2.2.3 Abdominal pain


Drugs/toxins


  • Allopurinol
  • Blue-green algae
  • Borax
  • Daffodil
  • Diclofenac sodium
  • Dieffenbachia
  • Horse chestnut
  • Ibuprofen
  • Indomethacin
  • Itraconazole
  • Loperamide
  • Metaldehyde
  • Misoprostol
  • Naproxen
  • NPK fertilisers
  • Paracetamol
  • Paraquat
  • Petroleum distillates
  • Phenoxy acid herbicides
  • Poinsettia
  • Rhododendron
  • Theobromine
  • Zinc sulphate

Gastrointestinal disease


  • Colitis*
  • Constipation* q.v.
  • Enteritis*
  • Gastric dilatation/volvulus* (D)
  • Gastric foreign body*
  • Gastric ulceration*
  • Gastritis*
  • Intestinal volvulus
  • Neoplasia*
  • Small intestinal foreign body*

Hepatobiliary disease


  • Cholangitis
  • Cholecystitis*
  • Cholelithiasis
  • Gall bladder obstruction
  • Hepatitis*
  • Liver lobe torsion
  • Portal hypertension

Mechanical factors

Dilatation of a hollow viscus


  • Bladder distension* q.v.
  • Gastric dilatation/volvulus* (D)
  • Intestinal dilatation, e.g.

    • Foreign body
    • Volvulus

Obstruction of outflow


  • Obstruction of bile outflow
  • Urinary tract obstruction

Mesenteric tension/traction/torsion


  • Abscess
  • Bowel incarceration in hernia or mesenteric tear
  • Cryptorchid testicular torsion
  • Foreign body*
  • Haematoma
  • Intestinal volvulus
  • Gastric dilatation/volvulus* (D)
  • Intussusception*
  • Neoplasia
  • Splenic torsion
  • Stenosis/stricture
  • Uterine torsion

Miscellaneous


  • Mesenteric thromboembolism
  • Sterile nodular panniculitis and pansteatitis in Weimaraners

Musculoskeletal pain


  • Abdominal muscle rupture
  • Referred spinal pain*

Organ rupture


  • Bile duct
  • Gall bladder
  • Intestine
  • Spleen
  • Stomach
  • Urinary tract
  • Uterus, e.g.

    • Pyometra

Pancreas


  • Pancreatic abscess
  • Pancreatitis*
  • Pancreatic neoplasia

Peritoneal cavity


  • Ascites q.v.
  • Pneumoperitoneum

Haemoabdomen


  • Angiostrongylus vasorum infection
  • Coagulopathy q.v.
  • Neoplasia*
  • Trauma*

Peritonitis


  • Blunt trauma*
  • Feline infectious peritonitis* (C)
  • Iatrogenic, e.g.

    • Post-surgical*

  • Pancreatitis*
  • Penetrating trauma
  • Primary (C)
  • Prostatitis*
  • Rupture or penetration of gastrointestinal tract
  • Ruptured pyometra

Uroabdomen


  • Rupture of urinary tract

Reproductive system


  • Labour/dystocia*
  • Metritis*
  • Prostatic disease
  • Pyometra*

Trauma


  • Fractures*
  • Ruptured viscus

Urinary system


  • Cystitis*
  • Lower urinary tract obstruction*
  • Nephritis
  • Nephrolithiasis
  • Pyelonephritis
  • Ureteral obstruction

2.2.4 Perianal swelling


Anal/rectal prolapse*


  • Faecal tenesmus*

Anal sac disease


  • Anal sac abscess*
  • Anal sac adenocarcinoma
  • Anal sac impaction*
  • Anal sacculitis*

Neoplasia


  • Perianal adenoma*
  • Other perianal neoplasia

Perineal hernia*


  • Idiopathic
  • Secondary to causes of tenesmus q.v.

2.2.5 Jaundice


PRE-HEPATIC



  • Haemolytic anaemia q.v.
  • Congenital porphyria
  • Ineffective erythropoiesis
  • Internal haemorrhage
  • Severe myolysis

HEPATIC


Drugs/toxins


  • Barbiturates
  • Blue-green algae
  • Carbimazole
  • Diazepam
  • Glipizide
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Glyphosate
  • Griseofulvin
  • Ketoconazole
  • Methimazole
  • Methyltestosterone
  • Metronidazole
  • Mexiletine
  • NSAIDS, e.g.

    • Carprofen
    • Ibuprofen
    • Paracetamol
    • Phenylbutazone

  • Phenobarbitone
  • Plastic explosives
  • Primidone
  • Salicylates
  • Sulphasalazine
  • Tetracycline

Intrahepatic cholestasis

Hepatic necrosis, e.g.


  • Infection
  • Toxin

Infection


  • Bacterial*
  • Fungal
  • Viral

    • Adenovirus* (D)
    • Feline immunodeficiency virus* (C)
    • Feline infectious peritonitis* (C)
    • Feline leukaemia virus* (C)

Inflammation


  • Cholangitis/cholangiohepatitis*

Miscellaneous


  • Amyloidosis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Hepatic erythrohaemophagic syndrome
  • Hepatic lipidosis
  • Polycystic kidney disease with liver cysts (C)

Neoplasia, e.g.


  • Lymphoma*
  • Mast cell tumour
  • Myeloproliferative disease

POST-HEPATIC


Bile duct occlusion

Extraluminal


  • Choledochal cysts (C)
  • Duodenal disease
  • Pancreatic neoplasia
  • Pancreatitis*
  • Polycystic disease (C)
  • Secondary to peribiliary disease
  • Stricture at porta hepatis

Intramural


  • Cholangitis
  • Cholecystitis*
  • Choledochitis
  • Gall bladder/duct neoplasia

Intraluminal


  • Choledochal cysts (C)
  • Cholelithiasis
  • Gall bladder mucocoele
  • Haemobilia
  • Inspissated bile
  • Polycystic kidney disease with liver cysts(C)

2.2.6 Abnormal liver palpation


Generalised enlargement

Drugs


  • Glucocorticoids

Endocrine disease


  • Diabetes mellitus*
  • Hyperadrenocorticism

Inflammation/infection, e.g.


  • Abscess*
  • Cholangiohepatitis*
  • Feline infectious peritonitis* (C)
  • Fungal infection
  • Granuloma
  • Hepatitis*
  • Lymphocytic cholangitis

Miscellaneous


  • Amyloidosis
  • Cholestasis (see Jaundice q.v.)
  • Cirrhosis (early)
  • Hepatic lipidosis
  • Nodular hyperplasia
  • Peliosis
  • Storage diseases

Neoplasia* e.g.


  • Lymphoma
  • Malignant histiocytosis

Venous congestion


  • Caudal vena cava occlusion (post-caval syndrome)

    • Adhesions
    • Cardiac neoplasia
    • Congenital cardiac disease
    • Diaphragmatic rupture/hernia*
    • Dirofilariasis
    • Pericardial disease
    • Thoracic mass*
    • Thrombosis
    • Trauma

  • Right-sided congestive heart failure, e.g.

    • Dilated cardiomyopathy*
    • Pericardial effusion

Focal enlargement


  • Abscess*
  • Biliary pseudocyst
  • Cyst
  • Granuloma
  • Haematoma*
  • Hepatic arteriovenous fistula
  • Hyperplastic/regenerative nodule*
  • Liver lobe torsion

Neoplasia


  • Adenocarcinoma*
  • Biliary cystadenoma
  • Haemangiosarcoma*
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma*
  • Hepatoma
  • Lymphoma*
  • Malignant histiocytosis
  • Metastatic*

Reduced liver size


  • Cirrhosis*
  • Diaphragmatic rupture/hernia* (apparent reduction)
  • Hypoadrenocorticism (D)
  • Idiopathic hepatic fibrosis
  • Portosystemic shunt

    • Acquired
    • Congenital

2.3 Cardiorespiratory physical signs


2.3.1 Dyspnoea/tachypnoea


Drugs/toxins


  • Benzalkonium chloride
  • Blue-green algae
  • Dichlorophen
  • Ibuprofen
  • Metaldehyde
  • Naproxen
  • Paracetamol (methaemoglobinaemia)
  • Paraquat
  • Salbutamol
  • Strychnine
  • Terfenadine

Physiological causes


  • Exercise
  • Fear
  • High ambient temperature
  • Pain

Upper airway disorders

Cervical tracheal disease


  • Extraluminal compression
  • Foreign body
  • Hypoplasia/stenosis
  • Neoplasia

    • Extraluminal
    • Intraluminal

      • Adenocarcinoma
      • Chondroma
      • Chondrosarcoma
      • Leiomyoma
      • Lymphoma
      • Osteochondroma
      • Osteosarcoma
      • Plasmacytoma
      • Polyps
      • Rhabdomyosarcoma
      • Squamous cell carcinoma

  • Tracheal collapse*
  • Trauma

Laryngeal disease


  • Everted saccules* (D)
  • Inflammation
  • Laryngeal paralysis* (D)
  • Neoplasia
  • Oedema*

Nasal disease (more often dyspnoea than tachypnoea) e.g.


  • Aspergillosis
  • Foreign body*
  • Inflammatory disease*
  • Nasopharyngeal polyp
  • Neoplasia
  • Stenotic nares

Pharyngeal disease


  • Elongated or oedematous soft palate* (D)
  • Enlarged tonsils*

Lower airway disorders

Thoracic tracheal disease, e.g.


  • Extraluminal compression
  • Foreign body
  • Hypoplasia/stenosis
  • Neoplasia (extra- or intraluminal)
  • Tracheal collapse*
  • Trauma

Bronchial disease


  • Bronchiectasis
  • Broncho-oesophageal fistula
  • Bronchitis* (D)
  • Cystic-bullous lung disease, e.g. secondary to emphysema
  • Eosinophilic bronchitis*
  • Extraluminal compression

    • Enlarged left atrium
    • Hilar lymphadenopathy, e.g.

      • Fungal disease
      • Granulomatous disease
      • Neoplasia

  • Feline asthma* (C)
  • Foreign body
  • Lungworm
  • Neoplasia
  • Primary ciliary dyskinesia

Pulmonary parenchymal disease


  • Foreign body
  • Abscess
  • Chronic pulmonary fibrosis
  • Eosinophilic bronchopneumonopathy
  • Eosinophilic pneumonitis
  • Eosinophilic pulmonary granulomatosis
  • Hilar lymph node enlargement
  • Inhalation pneumonia
  • Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • Inflammatory disease
  • Irritating gases
  • Near drowning
  • Neoplasia*
  • Paraquat toxicity
  • Pneumonia/infectious disease*

    • Aspiration/inhalation pneumonia
    • Bacterial, e.g.

      • Bordetella bronchiseptica
      • Chlamydophila psittaci
      • Escherichia coli
      • Klebsiella pneumoniae
      • Mycobacterium spp.
      • Mycoplasma pneumoniae
      • Pasteurellosis

    • Endogenous lipid pneumonia
    • Fungal, e.g.

      • Aspergillosis
      • Blastomycosis
      • Coccidioidomycosis
      • Cryptococcosis
      • Histoplasmosis
      • Pneumocystis

    • Parasitic, e.g.

      • Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
      • Angiostrongylus vasorum
      • Capillaria aerophila
      • Crenosoma vulpis
      • Oslerus spp.
      • Paragonimus kellicotti
      • Visceral larval migrans

    • Protozoal, e.g.

      • Toxoplasmosis

    • Rickettsial
    • Viral, e.g.

      • Canine distemper virus* (D)
      • Feline calicivirus* (C)
      • Feline immunodeficiency virus* (C)
      • Feline leukaemia virus* (C)

  • Pulmonary oedema q.v.
  • Pulmonary thromboembolism, e.g.

    • Cardiac disease
    • Heartworm disease
    • Hyperadrenocorticism

  • Smoke inhalation
  • Trauma, e.g.

    • Pulmonary contusions
    • Pulmonary haemorrhage

Restrictive disorders


  • Diaphragmatic hernia, e.g.

    • Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia
    • Traumatic*

  • Large intra-abdominal mass
  • Neoplasia

    • Mediastinal
    • Thoracic wall

  • Pickwickian syndrome (extreme obesity)
  • Pleural effusion* q.v.
  • Pneumothorax* q.v.
  • Severe ascites q.v.
  • Severe gastric distension
  • Severe hepatomegaly q.v.
  • Thoracic wall abnormalities, e.g.

    • Neoplasia
    • Pectus excavatum
    • Trauma*

Systemic and miscellaneous disorders


  • Anaemia* q.v.
  • Central neurological disease causing damage to respiratory centres, e.g.

    • Head trauma
    • Hyperthermia* q.v.
    • Hyperthyroidism* (C)
    • Hypoxia*
    • Metabolic acidosis q.v.
    • Neuromuscular weakness, e.g. polyradiculoneuritis
    • Shock/hypovolaemia* q.v.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome


  • Aspiration of acidic substances
  • Drug reaction
  • Inhalation injury
  • Lung lobe torsion
  • Multiple transfusions
  • Pancreatitis
  • Sepsis
  • Shock
  • Surgery
  • Trauma

2.3.2 Pallor


Anaemia q.v.

Decreased peripheral perfusion


  • Shock q.v.
  • Syncope
  • Vasoconstriction

Drugs/toxins


  • Adder bites
  • Baclofen
  • Diclofenac sodium
  • Ibuprofen
  • Ivermectin
  • Metaldehyde
  • Naproxen
  • Paracetamol
  • Vitamin D rodenticides

2.3.3 Shock


Cardiogenic

Decreased systolic function


  • Dilated cardiomyopathy*
  • Drugs/toxins, e.g.

    • Doxorubicin

  • Myocardial infarction
  • Myocarditis

Decreased ventricular filling


  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy* (C)
  • Pericardial effusion/tamponade*
  • Restrictive cardiomyopathy* (C)
  • Restrictive pericarditis

Obstruction


  • Heartworm disease
  • Intracardiac mass
  • Thrombosis

Severe arrhythmia q.v.

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Sep 3, 2017 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on 2: PHYSICAL SIGNS

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access