Test Your Knowledge!

Small Animal Case Challenge

• Dark Mass Inside the Left Eye
  

  A 9-year-old castrated male Labrador presented for evaluation of a dark mass inside the left eye. The owners noticed the mass recently. The dog had showed no sign of discomfort nor visual deficits and he was otherwise healthy. Multiple distinct dark brown, smooth spherical structures were visible in the ventral ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge: More than Blepharospasm OS
  

  HISTORY: A 21-year-old Standardbred mare presented for a three- week history of discharge and blepharospasm OS. Previous treatment included topical triple antibiotic ointment and systemic minocycline with no improvement. The mare was previously healthy with no history of ocular issues. There was no history of trauma to the eye. The ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge: More Than Hip Dysplasia?
  

  An eight-month-old Shetland sheepdog presented with an odd walk. His owners brought him to their primary veterinarian who diagnosed him with hip dysplasia and a limb deformity, but his condition appeared to get worse rather than better over the next few months. ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge: Just Another Neurological Symptom?
  

  Lola, a four-year-old FS Yorkshire Terrier, presented for an episode of collapse. The owner described that Lola tried to rise from the couch, stiffened and then fell to the floor. The event lasted approximately ten seconds and it was unclear whether consciousness was retained. Lola was noted to be trembling ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge – Head Shaking & Ear Scratching
  

  Murphy, a nine-year-old, male, castrated Golden Retriever presented to his referring veterinarian for shaking his head and scratching at his ears. ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge: Just another case of idiopathic IMHA?
  

  A six-year-old, female spayed terrier mix originally presented to her referring veterinarian for a two-week history of lethargy and inappetence. ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge: Feline with Severe Neurological Signs
  

  A 6-year-old rescued cat, fed mainly with canned fish, was admitted as an emergency to the Neurology Department at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center for severe neurological signs. ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge: Blepharospasm of the Right Eye
  

  History An 8-year-old spayed female Boxer was presented for a 3-week history of blepharospasm in the right eye. Her primary care veterinarian had initially diagnosed a corneal ulcer and prescribed neomycin/bacitracin/polymyxin ophthalmic ointment. The ulcer was considered healed at recheck based on lack of fluorescein stain retention. When medications were ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge: Nutrition
  

  History/Case Details Cole, a 10-year-old male neutered Dalmatian, was presented to the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center’s Emergency Service with stranguria. He had a large, unexpressable bladder, a III/VI systolic murmur on the left side, ventral pyoderma, and hyperemic paws.  Body weight was 27 kg, with a body condition score of ... read more
• Penny’s Clinical Case Challenge
  

  Penny, a 12- month -old female spayed Chihuahua mix presented to Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center due to the development of cutaneous nodules, on the groins, abdomen, back and neck. She was adopted from a shelter in Puerto Rico three months prior. Ruby was previously ... read more
• Diagnosing Renal Disease in Rabbits – Clinical Case Challenge
  

  Renal disease is commonly seen in rabbits, but often can be underdiagnosed or mistaken for other conditions. Since the causes can vary, a veterinarian will first want to rule out some other potential causes for the rabbit's symptoms, including lymphoma, abscesses, or other types of kidney infections. In the case ... read more
• Equine Clinical Case Challenge – Chronic Cough
  

  History: For 4 years,  a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare had a mild cough whenever her barn was closed up against the cold in the winter. Last year, the cough did not go away – and even seemed to be worse during the hot, humid weather in the late spring and summer. ... read more

Large Animal Case Challenge

• Clinical Case Challenge: More than Blepharospasm OS
  

  HISTORY: A 21-year-old Standardbred mare presented for a three- week history of discharge and blepharospasm OS. Previous treatment included topical triple antibiotic ointment and systemic minocycline with no improvement. The mare was previously healthy with no history of ocular issues. There was no history of trauma to the eye. The ... read more
• Equine Clinical Case Challenge: Arrhythmia in a Show Jumper
  

  A 17 year- old warmblood show jumper was evaluated on the farm for mild exercise intolerance and prolonged recovery after exercise, which was present despite a decrease in active competition level from upper level to lower level jumper. An irregular rhythm was detected, and the warmblood was referred to Tufts ... read more
• Equine Clinical Case Challenge: Swollen Third Eyelid
  

  A 19-year-old draft cross gelding was presented for further evaluation of a swollen third eyelid in the right eye. ... read more
• Equine Clinical Case challenge: Acute Neck Stiffness
  

  A 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding used for eventing presented with acute neck stiffness after a fall. He was reluctant to actively bend the cranial aspect of his neck to either direction. ... read more
• Equine Clinical Case Challenge: Behavioral Changes and Decreased Appetite
  

  A six-year-old Morgan mare presented with the primary complaint of behavioral changes, decreased appetite, especially for grain, and being very uncomfortable when ridden. ... read more
• Equine Clinical Case Challenge: Ulcerated Skin Mass of the Fetlock
  

  A 10-year-old draft-cross was presented to the Hospital for Large Animals at the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center for evaluation of a ulcerated skin mass overlying the lateral aspect of the left hind fetlock. ... read more
• Equine Clinical Case Challenge – Compulsive Head-Shaking
  

  History An 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was presented for evaluation of compulsive head-shaking and spooking when asked to move to his right. The referring veterinarian had attempted treatment with cyproheptadine and melatonin with no improvement in behaviors. The owner reported that the head-shaking behavior ceased in low light conditions.   Presentation ... read more
• Equine Clinical Case Challenge – Lethargy
  

  History A 2-year-old Warlander mare presented with a history of lethargy. Presentation Initial physical exam revealed a temperature of 99 degrees, heart rate ranging from 84-100 beats/minute and a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/minute. Blood work revealed a PCV of 16%, total protein of 4 g/dl and a lactate of ... read more
• Equine Clinical Case Challenge – Right Hind Lameness with Swelling
  

  An 11-year-old Quarter Horse mare presented to the Hospital for Large Animals for a lameness evaluation. The lameness exam revealed a grade 3/5 right hind lameness with firm swelling around the right tarsus. ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge: Acute Weakness in an Adult Alpaca
  

  A two-year-old male alpaca was presented to the Hospital for Large Animals at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine for acute weakness and inability to rise. ... read more
• Clinical Case Challenge: Equine Ultrasound
  

  History: A 14-year-old Thoroughbred event horse presented with a history of coughing during low-level exercise. Initial work-up revealed signs consistent with Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD) and he was treated with an inhaled bronchodilator and oral Prednisolone.   Case Details: He presented again four weeks later with worsening cough, fever (102.2), ... read more