Free Veterinary Surgery MCQs with Answers
46 Veterinary Surgery 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 principles of asepsis, tissue handling, haemostasis, wound healing, surgical instruments, sutures, anaesthesia and perioperative care. It includes common procedures and conditions involving the skin, abdomen, bones, joints and urinary or reproductive tracts, while distinguishing surgical emergencies from cases managed medically.
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46 questions · page 2 of 3
- A. Clean-contaminated wound
- B. Clean wound
- C. Contaminated wound
- D. Dirty or infected wound
Explanation: A clean-contaminated wound involves controlled entry into a hollow viscus such as the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract.
Correct answer: Clean-contaminated wound- A. Seal the intestinal lumen permanently
- B. Provide temporary tissue traction
- C. Dissolve intraluminal clots
- D. Measure abdominal pressure
Explanation: Stay sutures provide gentle traction and help align the intestinal segments during anastomosis.
Correct answer: Provide temporary tissue traction- A. Improved epithelial migration
- B. Faster collagen remodelling
- C. Wound edge ischemia and dehiscence
- D. Reduced bacterial contamination
Explanation: Excessive tension compresses small blood vessels at the wound edges, causing ischemia and increasing the risk of dehiscence.
Correct answer: Wound edge ischemia and dehiscence- A. Mandibular lymph node
- B. Prescapular lymph node
- C. Retropharyngeal lymph node
- D. Superficial inguinal lymph node
Explanation: The caudal mammary glands commonly drain toward the superficial inguinal lymph nodes.
Correct answer: Superficial inguinal lymph node- A. Ultrasonic surgical device
- B. Metzenbaum scissors
- C. Allis tissue forceps
- D. Gelpi retractor
Explanation: An ultrasonic surgical device cuts tissue and seals small vessels through high-frequency mechanical vibration.
Correct answer: Ultrasonic surgical device- A. Pupillary light reflex
- B. Oculocardiac reflex
- C. Withdrawal reflex
- D. Patellar reflex
Explanation: Traction on the globe or extraocular muscles can stimulate the oculocardiac reflex, producing vagally mediated bradycardia.
Correct answer: Oculocardiac reflex- A. Purse string inversion pattern
- B. Horizontal mattress eversion pattern
- C. Simple interrupted appositional pattern
- D. Continuous Lembert inversion pattern
Explanation: An appositional pattern brings the bladder edges together accurately while causing minimal reduction in lumen size.
Correct answer: Simple interrupted appositional pattern- A. To deliver antibiotics into the wound
- B. To prevent all bacterial entry into skin
- C. To provide permanent structural support
- D. To remove accumulating fluid by negative pressure
Explanation: An active drain uses negative pressure to remove blood, serum, or contaminated exudate from a wound.
Correct answer: To remove accumulating fluid by negative pressure29. Which collagen type predominates during the early proliferative phase of soft tissue wound healing?
- A. Type III collagen
- B. Type II collagen
- C. Type I collagen
- D. Type IV collagen
Explanation: Fibroblasts initially produce mainly type III collagen, which forms a relatively weak extracellular framework.
Correct answer: Type III collagen- A. To increase venous congestion in the limb
- B. To produce a temporary bloodless surgical field
- C. To accelerate bone healing after fixation
- D. To prevent postoperative limb swelling
Explanation: A tourniquet temporarily stops arterial inflow and venous outflow, giving the surgeon a clearer field.
Correct answer: To produce a temporary bloodless surgical field31. Which parameter is most useful for assessing adequacy of ventilation during general anaesthesia?
- A. Packed cell volume
- B. Peripheral body temperature
- C. End tidal carbon dioxide
- D. Capillary refill time
Explanation: End tidal carbon dioxide provides an estimate of alveolar carbon dioxide and is therefore a useful indicator of ventilation.
Correct answer: End tidal carbon dioxide- A. Adson tissue forceps
- B. Foerster sponge forceps
- C. Doyen intestinal clamp
- D. Periosteal elevator
Explanation: A periosteal elevator has a broad, firm blade designed to separate periosteum from bone.
Correct answer: Periosteal elevator- A. External skeletal fixation
- B. Simple skin stapling
- C. Tension band skin closure
- D. Intravenous fluid therapy
Explanation: External skeletal fixation stabilises bone with pins or wires connected to an external frame, while preserving much of the fracture site…
Correct answer: External skeletal fixation- A. Splenectomy alone
- B. Gastropexy
- C. Pyloromyotomy alone
- D. Colopexy
Explanation: Gastropexy attaches the stomach to the abdominal wall and limits its ability to rotate again.
Correct answer: Gastropexy- A. Maximum tensile strength of the scar
- B. Complete collagen remodelling
- C. Mild inflammation with neutrophil migration
- D. Permanent replacement by mature bone
Explanation: The inflammatory phase begins soon after injury and includes vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, and migration of neutrophils.
Correct answer: Mild inflammation with neutrophil migration- A. A mild rise in peripheral pulse rate
- B. A brief increase in respiratory rate
- C. Transient pupil dilation after induction
- D. A progressive fall in core body temperature
Explanation: A progressive decrease in core temperature is the direct evidence of intraoperative hypothermia.
Correct answer: A progressive fall in core body temperature- A. Ethylene oxide gas
- B. Steam under pressure
- C. Dry heat exposure
- D. Boiling water treatment
Explanation: Ethylene oxide gas sterilises heat-sensitive equipment at a relatively low temperature and penetrates packaged materials.
Correct answer: Ethylene oxide gas38. Which abdominal incision usually provides the widest access for exploratory laparotomy in a dog?
- A. Lateral flank incision
- B. Ventral midline incision
- C. Paramedian abdominal incision
- D. Caudal paracostal incision
Explanation: The ventral midline incision gives broad access to most abdominal organs and can be extended cranially or caudally when needed.
Correct answer: Ventral midline incision- A. Enlarge the surgical incision
- B. Reduce tissue inflammation
- C. Prevent ligature slippage
- D. Speed epithelial migration
Explanation: A transfixation ligature passes through the pedicle and anchors the ligature, reducing the risk of slipping from a large or thick vascular…
Correct answer: Prevent ligature slippage- A. Inverting pattern
- B. Eversion pattern
- C. Purse-string pattern
- D. Appositional pattern
Explanation: An appositional pattern places the intestinal cut edges directly against each other while causing minimal narrowing of the lumen.
Correct answer: Appositional pattern