Filling out a scantron

Let’s put your veterinary knowledge to a quick test to see just how much you understand about animal health issues. I hope you have fun coming up with your answers and that you will learn something in the process. My goal is to help you become a savvy medical advocate for those animals you love so dearly.

So, here’s how it works. Before peeking at the answers at the end of the article, review the following questions and choose the response you believe makes the most sense. Then we’ll take a look at how well you did!  

Take the Quiz

1. Tapeworms can cause:

A. Increased appetite

B. Weight loss

C. Itchiness around the anus

D. All of the above

2. The best way to diagnose bladder stones is:

A. An X-ray (radiograph) of the abdomen

B. An ultrasound examination of the abdomen

C. Palpation of the abdomen in order to feel the stones within the bladder

D. Through surgery

3. Kennel cough is:

A. Caused by bacteria

B. Caused by viruses

C. The common name for infectious tracheobronchitis

D. All of the above

And the Answers, Please

Take a look at our answers below. If you got three questions correct, reward yourself with a little treat. If you answered two correct, give yourself a big pat on the back. If you got only one correct — uh-oh! It’s the dog house for you!

Question 1. The answer is C: Tapeworms can cause itchiness around the anus.

As a child, I remember hearing that tapeworms can rob the body of nutrition. In veterinary school, I learned that this is simply an old wives’ tale. The two major issues caused by tapeworms are 1) an itchy anus (for the animal) as worm segments exit the body by migrating through the anus, and 2) the fact that when this happens, it can be a major “gross-out” experience for the unlucky person who happens to witness it. Also, in a worst-case scenario, a large volume of tapeworms within an animal’s gut can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

Question 2. The answer is B: The best way to diagnose bladder stones is an ultrasound examination of the abdomen.

An ultrasound is a super-safe, noninvasive way to view all of the structures within the abdominal cavity. Only really large stones can be found via palpation, and, because of their mineral composition, certain stones can go undetected by X-rays. Ultrasound is far more reliable. Exploratory surgery is a sure-fire way to diagnose bladder stones, but why perform such an invasive procedure when ultrasound is available?

Question 3. The answer is D: All of the above! Kennel cough is caused by bacteria and viruses and is the common name for infectious tracheobronchitis.

An umbrella term used to describe inflammation of the respiratory tract, kennel cough can be caused by a variety of contagious infectious microorganisms.

So, how did you do? Did you learn something new? Did any of the answers surprise you? Let us know how you did in the comments sections below.

Dr. Nancy Kay graduated from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine and is the author of Your Dog's Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet and Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life. Dr. Kay is a specialist in small-animal internal medicine at Upstate Veterinary Specialists, with offices in Asheville, N.C., and Greenville, S.C.