Free Veterinary Medicine MCQs with Answers
59 Veterinary Medicine MCQs from Veterinary Science, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Covers the recognition, diagnosis, prevention and medical treatment of diseases affecting domestic animals, including infectious, metabolic, nutritional, toxic and organ-system disorders. It links history taking, physical examination, clinical signs, laboratory findings and differential diagnosis with appropriate therapy and herd or flock control.
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59 questions · page 2 of 3
21. Which bacterium is the usual cause of contagious abortion in cattle known as bovine brucellosis?
- A. Brucella abortus
- B. Brucella melitensis
- C. Coxiella burnetii
- D. Leptospira interrogans
Explanation: Brucella abortus is the principal cause of bovine brucellosis and commonly produces late-term abortion.
Correct answer: Brucella abortus- A. Furosemide
- B. Atropine
- C. Dexamethasone
- D. Diazepam
Explanation: Atropine blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and reduces salivation, bronchial secretions, bradycardia, and intestinal activity.
Correct answer: Atropine- A. It prevents all neonatal bacterial infections
- B. It permanently activates the calf thymus
- C. It supplies absorbed maternal immunoglobulins
- D. It provides the calf with mature rumen microbes
Explanation: Newborn calves receive little protective antibody through the placenta, so colostrum supplies immunoglobulins for passive immunity.
Correct answer: It supplies absorbed maternal immunoglobulins- A. 7 days
- B. 14 days
- C. 21 days
- D. 35 days
Explanation: The bovine oestrous cycle averages about 21 days, although individual cycles may vary slightly.
Correct answer: 21 days- A. It increases calcium permeability
- B. It blocks folate synthesis
- C. It inhibits beta-tubulin assembly
- D. It paralyses nematode muscle by opening chloride channels
Explanation: Praziquantel increases calcium permeability in the tegument and muscle of cestodes, causing contraction, paralysis, and damage to the…
Correct answer: It increases calcium permeability- A. Vitamin A
- B. Vitamin E and selenium
- C. Vitamin D
- D. Vitamin K and cobalt
Explanation: White muscle disease results mainly from inadequate vitamin E and selenium, which are important antioxidants for skeletal and cardiac…
Correct answer: Vitamin E and selenium- A. Low reticulocyte count
- B. Marked neutropenia
- C. Increased reticulocyte count
- D. Reduced plasma fibrinogen
Explanation: An increased reticulocyte count indicates that the bone marrow is releasing immature red cells in response to red-cell loss.
Correct answer: Increased reticulocyte count- A. Marek disease
- B. Fowl pox
- C. Infectious bursal disease
- D. Newcastle disease
Explanation: Newcastle disease is caused by avian orthoavulavirus 1, historically called avian paramyxovirus type 1.
Correct answer: Newcastle disease- A. Milk somatic cell count
- B. Milk lactose concentration
- C. Milk urea concentration
- D. Milk freezing point
Explanation: Mammary inflammation commonly increases the milk somatic cell count, even when visible changes in milk or the udder are absent.
Correct answer: Milk somatic cell count30. Which immunoglobulin is transferred most effectively from a dam to a newborn calf through colostrum?
- A. Immunoglobulin A
- B. Immunoglobulin G
- C. Immunoglobulin E
- D. Immunoglobulin M
Explanation: Immunoglobulin G is the main antibody absorbed from bovine colostrum and provides systemic passive immunity to the calf.
Correct answer: Immunoglobulin G- A. Free-gas bloat
- B. Traumatic reticulitis
- C. Frothy bloat
- D. Right-sided volvulus
Explanation: Legumes such as alfalfa and clover can produce stable foam that prevents normal eructation, causing frothy bloat.
Correct answer: Frothy bloat- A. Normal urea with reduced filtration
- B. Increased urea with severe dehydration
- C. Increased urea with renal failure
- D. Increased urea with urinary obstruction
Explanation: Postrenal azotaemia occurs when urine outflow is obstructed or urine leaks into body tissues, causing urea and creatinine to accumulate.
Correct answer: Increased urea with urinary obstruction- A. An equine lentivirus
- B. An equine adenovirus
- C. An equine coronavirus
- D. An equine herpesvirus
Explanation: Equine infectious anaemia is caused by equine infectious anaemia virus, a lentivirus in the Retroviridae family.
Correct answer: An equine lentivirus- A. Diffuse pulmonary oedema
- B. Haemorrhagic typhlocolitis
- C. Fibrinous pericarditis
- D. Necrotic hepatitis
Explanation: Bovine coccidiosis commonly damages the intestinal mucosa, particularly the caecum and colon, producing diarrhoea that may contain blood.
Correct answer: Haemorrhagic typhlocolitis- A. To prevent immediate drug allergy
- B. To increase the animal's antibody titre
- C. To remove drug residues from food
- D. To restore normal rumen contractions
Explanation: The withdrawal period allows residues of the drug and its metabolites to fall below permitted limits in meat, milk, or eggs.
Correct answer: To remove drug residues from food- A. Schirmer tear test
- B. Serum protein electrophoresis
- C. Direct antiglobulin test
- D. Fecal egg count reduction test
Explanation: The fecal egg count reduction test compares parasite egg counts before and after treatment and helps identify anthelmintic resistance.
Correct answer: Fecal egg count reduction test- A. Hyperkalaemia
- B. Hypochloraemia
- C. Hypercalcaemia
- D. Hypophosphataemia
Explanation: Urethral obstruction reduces potassium excretion and can produce life-threatening hyperkalaemia, especially when renal function is…
Correct answer: Hyperkalaemia- A. Oestrogen
- B. Progesterone
- C. Prolactin
- D. Oxytocin
Explanation: Progesterone from the corpora lutea maintains the uterine environment and suppresses excessive myometrial contractions during canine…
Correct answer: Progesterone- A. Mild pain relieved by feeding
- B. Normal heart rate with soft faeces
- C. Persistent severe pain with cardiovascular compromise
- D. Gradual weight loss without abdominal pain
Explanation: Strangulating obstruction causes severe, persistent pain and rapidly worsens cardiovascular status because intestinal blood supply is…
Correct answer: Persistent severe pain with cardiovascular compromise40. Which clinical sign is particularly characteristic of canine distemper during its neurologic phase?
- A. Marked swelling of the distal limbs
- B. Progressive enlargement of the thyroid gland
- C. Severe unilateral pupil dilation
- D. Persistent muscle tremors or rhythmic myoclonus
Explanation: Canine distemper may cause rhythmic muscle jerks, especially in the limbs or facial muscles, because of central nervous system…
Correct answer: Persistent muscle tremors or rhythmic myoclonus