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Flashcards in Endocrine And Metabolic Dissorders Deck (36)
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1
Q

What is Hyperadrenocorticism more commonly known as?

A

Cushing’s disease

2
Q

What species is cushings disease most common in?

A

Dogs

3
Q

What causes cushings disease?

A

Excessive cortisol in the body. Either due to excessive steroid use or an over production of cortisol by the adrenal glands

4
Q

What can cause over production of cortisol by the adrenal glands in cushings disease?

A

A tumour on the pituitary gland (pituitary dependent HAC) which over stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol
Or a tumour on the adrenal gland (adrenal dependent HAC)

5
Q

What is the most common form of Hyperadrenocorticism ?

A

Pituitary-dependent HAC

6
Q

What are the clinical signs of cushings disease?

A
Polyuria/ polydipsia 
Polyphagia
Pot belly 
Panting 
Bilateral Alopecia and skin changes (thin inelastic skin) 
Muscle atrophy and weakness
7
Q

What are the diagnostics for cushings disease?

A

Blood tests: haematology and biochemistry
ACTH stimulation test
Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST)
High-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST)
Endogenous ACTH assay
Abdominal ultrasonography
Abdominal radiography
MRI or CT (pituitary and adrenal areas)

8
Q

What tests would be used to confirm cushings disease?

A

ACTH stimulation

LDDST

9
Q

What tests would be used to differentiate between pituitary-dependent and adrenal dependent HAC ?

A

HDDST

ACTH assay

10
Q

How would pituitary-dependent HAC be treated?

A

Medically with trilostane (veterinary licensed product) or mitotane (human-licences product) if there are complications

11
Q

How can adrenal- dependent HAC be treated?

A

Drugs or surgical removal

12
Q

What are the nursing care point for a patient with cushings disease?

A
Monitor vital and clinical signs 
Assist VS with diagnostic tests
Observe after blood sampling for haematoma formation and handle carefully as brushing can occur easily 
Provide water 
Clan and groom as necessary 
Administer meds prescribes by VS
13
Q

What is Hypoadrenocorticism more commonly known as?

A

Addison’s disease

14
Q

Shat causes Addison’s disease?

A

A reduction in, or failure of steroid production by the adrenals

15
Q

What causes the reduction of steroid production by the adrenals in Addison’s disease?

A

Usually immune destruction of the adrenal gland but may also be a consequence of treating Hyperadrenocorticism

16
Q

What does Addison’s diseases cause?

A

Electrolyte Imbalances, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia and dehydration

17
Q

What is hyponatraemia?

A

Low sodium

18
Q

What is hyperkalaemia?

A

High potassium

19
Q

Which electrolyte imbalance caused by Addison’s disease can be life threatening?

A

Hyperkalaemia

20
Q

What are the initial clinical signs of Addison’s disease?

A

Lethargy and inappetence but can be vague

21
Q

What are the clinical signs of untreated Addison’s disease?

A
Anorexia 
Vomiting 
Haemorrhagic diarrhoea 
Hypotension 
Weakness
Bradycardia 
Collapse
22
Q

What are the diagnostics for Addison’s disease ?

A

Haematology and biochemistry Sodium:potassium ratio
ACTH stimulation test
ECG

23
Q

What would the treatment be for a patient with Addison’s in an acute crisis?

A

Shock rate fluid therapy to reduce potassium levels and rehydrate
Intravenous corticosteroids

24
Q

What is the treatment for a stable Addison’s patient?

A

Glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids

Monitor treatment by measuring the sodium:potassium ratio

25
Q

What is the nursing care needed for a patient with Addison’s disease?

A
Monitor vital and clinical signs (especially heart rate if in crisis) 
Assist VS with diagnostic tests 
Administer meds prescribed by VS 
fluid therapy (high in saline/low potassium) 
Encourage eating 
Provide fresh water 
Clean and groom as necessary 
Take outside frequently 
ECG when heart rate is low
26
Q

What causes hyperthyroidism?

A

Overproduction of thyroxine by the thyroid gland as a result of benign neoplasia

27
Q

What are the clinical signs of hyperthyroidism?

A
Polyphagia with weight loss 
Emaciation 
Aggression and hyperactivity 
Hear murmur and tachycardia 
Polyuria/polydipsia 
Vomiting and diarrhoea
28
Q

What diagnostics can be used for hyperthyroidism?

A

Blood tests: haematology and biochemistry, total t4

29
Q

What is the treatment for hyperthyroidism?

A

Administration of methimazole or carbimazole, radioactive iodine, or thyroidectomy.

30
Q

What is the nursing care for a patient with hyperthyroidism?

A

Monitor vital and clinical signs
Assist veterinary surgeon with diagnostic tests
Reduce patient stress as much as possible
Feed a suitable diet
Provide water freely
Clea and goon as necessary
Administer meds prescribed by VS
provide post op nursing and observation for hypocalcaemic complications after thyroidectomy
Follow protocol for nursing after radioactive iodine treatment

31
Q

What is hypothyroidism?

A

Decreased production of thyroxine (T4) as a result of atrophy or lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland. Resulting in a decreased metabolic rate

32
Q

What are the clinical signs of hypothyroidism?

A

Lethargy, exercise intolerance
Obesity
Bradycardia
Dermatological abnormalities: Alopecia seborrhoea, hyper pigmentation, pyoderma

33
Q

What are the diagnostics for hypothyroidism?

A

Blood tests: haematology and biochemistry

Total T4, free T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) assay treatment trial

34
Q

What is the treatment for hypothyroidism?

A

Supplement thyroxine (levothyroxine)

35
Q

What are the nursing care requirements for a hypothyroid patient?

A
Monitor vital and clinical signs 
Assist veterinary surgeon with diagnostics tests 
Feed a suitable diet 
Provide water freely 
Clean and groom patient 
Administer meds on VS prescriptions
36
Q

What can hypercalcaemia cause?

A

Renal failure and death