Veterinary Technician Certification Prep Quiz

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| Questions: 30 | Updated: Aug 4, 2025
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1. How long will a heat-sealed plastic and paper surgical pouch pack remain reliably sterile in an open cabinet?

Explanation

The sterility of items in a heat-sealed plastic and paper surgical pouch pack on open shelves is at least one year. But it is always better to keep sterilized items in a clean, closed, dust-free cabinet.

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About This Quiz
Veterinary Technician Certification Prep Quiz - Quiz

Designed for aspiring veterinary technicians, this quiz focuses on essential skills and knowledge required in the field. It serves as an effective preparation tool, enhancing understanding and readiness for professional certifications.

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2. Which forceps are particularly good for vascular surgery?

Explanation

Debakey vascular thumb forceps have multiple delicate teeth and are good for vascular surgery. Brown-Adson forceps have intermeshing teeth; they are used for suturing and wound closure. Rat tooth forceps have large interlocking teeth and are used for tough connective tissue and fascia. Russian thumb forceps are good for needle handling but are hard on tissues.

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3. What is another name for a thrombocyte?

Explanation

Thrombocytes are actually platelets, which help clot blood.

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4. Why are most antibiotics contraindicated in rabbits and hamsters?

Explanation

Rodents like rabbits and hamsters are at a high risk of developing enterotoxemia when exposed to antibiotics, which disrupt their normal gut flora.

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5. Which is more severe, periodontitis or gingivitis?

Explanation

Periodontitis is typically a more chronic and severe problem compared to gingivitis. Periodontal disease includes gingivitis (gum inflammation) and peridontitis (more chronic, severe damage from bacterial plaque).

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6. A cockatoo has been prescribed 10 mg of Supercillin, s.i.d. for 10 days. How often does the bird get medicine each day?

Explanation

s.i.d. means once a day. Remember 'S' for Single (s.i.d.), 'B' for Bi (twice a day, b.i.d.), 'T' for Tri (3 times a day, t.i.d.) and 'Q' for Quad (4 times a day, q.i.d.). Many clinics use capital letters (SID, BID, TID, etc., to mean the same things). prn or PRN means 'as needed'. q.o.d. means 'every OTHER day'. Some clinics use e. o.d. to mean every other day.

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7. What is a Frick speculum used for in large animal medicine?

Explanation

A frick speculum is a blunt ended metal tube used in large animal medicine to protect a plastic orogastric tube from being bitten, typically during procedures involving the insertion of the tube into a cow's mouth for various medical interventions.

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8. What is an iatrogenic medical or surgical problem?

Explanation

Iatrogenic problems are those caused by the therapy or treatment itself, not by genetic predispositions, inbreeding, or diseases that improve without treatment.

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9. What is the problem if a cat has a luxated hip?

Explanation

Hip luxation is another term for hip dislocation, which is a common issue in dogs and cats, often caused by trauma such as being hit by a car.

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10. Which direction is rostral?

Explanation

Rostral means towards the nose. Cranial means towards the head. Caudal means towards the tail/hind end. Ventral is towards the belly.

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11. Which statement about the proper storage of fresh or frozen plasma is most correct?

Explanation

Correct storage of fresh or frozen plasma is crucial to maintain its integrity and effectiveness. The incorrect answers provided do not align with the standard storage guidelines for plasma.

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12. Which of the following dog breeds is classified as brachycephalic?

Explanation

English bulldogs are brachycephalic which means that they have broad short head, and pushed in faces. Dolichocephalic dogs are the long narrow headed dogs. Doberman pinschers are typical. Cephalic index is the ratio of the maximum width of the head to its maximum length.

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13. You are presented with a cat who looks like this (dilated pupils). What is the name of this condition?

Explanation

Another name for dilated pupils is mydriasis. Two commonly used pre-anesthetics, atropine and glycopyrrolate, both cause mydriasis. When both pupils are small, that is called miosis. Meiosis is a form of cell division. Myiasis is a name for invasion of tissue by parasitic fly larvae, like screwworm fly larvae.

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14. What is the total serum protein level in a dog with an albumin of 4.0 g/dl and a globulin level of 3.5 g/dl?

Explanation

Serum total protein is the sum of globulins and albumin. To calculate total protein, you need to add albumin and globulin levels together.

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15. What health problem is indicated by a case of conjunctivitis?

Explanation

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the tissues around the eyes. Look for reddening and swelling. Conjunctivitis can be caused by irritants or infections.

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16. What kind of diet could help in preventing struvite formation in cats?

Explanation

Think of acidifying diets with feline urolithiasis (FUS, bladder stones). Acidifying diet is prevents struvite-related urinary tract disease (by dissolving the crytals). Struvite crystal formation is not possible at a urine PH below 6.5.An acidifying diet is NOT recommended for kittens and older cats.

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17. Roughly what percentage of mammary tumors in dogs are malignant?

Explanation

About half, 45%, of canine mammary tumors are malignant. Note that this is DIFFERENT than cats. About 90% of feline mammary tumors are malignant!

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18. Which term describes inflammation of the testicle?

Explanation

Orchitis is inflammation of one or both testicles characterized by pain, and sensitivity to touch. Phlebitis is inflammation of the veins and may be associated with formation of blood clots. Cryptorchid animals have an undescended testicle. Phimosis is a condition where the penis cannot be extruded because of a small constricted preputial orifice.

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19. Which choice is best for an x-ray of a nervous, moving dog?
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20. Which kind of tissue causes the most x-ray scatter?

Explanation

The thicker the tissue, the more the x-ray scatters. Thick body parts like thorax, abdomen, skull and joints greater than 10 cm require a grid. A grid is like the focusing lens in a camera. A high-ratio grid permits FEWER x-rays to pass through it from the animal, but you get a better, more high-resolution radiograph. The grid prevents scattered radiation from reaching an x-ray film, so that only the primary, directly aimed x-rays penetrate straight into the animal for the best image. An x-ray grid is basically a plate made of alternating strips of lead, which block scattered x-rays, interspersed between strips of plastic or aluminum, which allow the straight x-rays through.

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21. Which side effect must you beware of when using ketamine as an anesthetic pre-medication in cats?

Explanation

Ketamine (and tiletamine) are dissociative anesthetics often used as a pre-med to immobilize cats prior to catheter placement or induction of general anesthesia. A cat's EYES stay OPEN on ketamine/tiletamine, so must protect moisturize eyes with an eye ointment like Lacri-lube. Remember cats ARE vulnerable to laryngospasm if you touch the larynx too much/too roughly during intubation for gas anesthesia. Spray w/ lidocaine topical anesthetic to prevent laryngospasm.

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22. Which two drugs are contraindicated in animals with a history of seizures?

Explanation

Acepromazine, ketamine, and xylazine are contraindicated in animals with a history of seizures. Thiopental is contraindicated in animals with a history of asthma, because it can cause apnea, and in Greyhounds. Morphine should not be used in cases of high intracranial pressure (like head trauma after being hit by a car). Diazepam and phenobarbital are drugs used to TREAT seizures.

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23. A dog is presented with numerous small pinpoint hemorrhages on the mucous membranes of the mouth. What are these hemorrhages called?

Explanation

Small pinpoint hemorrhages on the skin or mucus membranes are called petechiae. It is found in diseases that cause problems with coagulation. Larger hemorrhages (1-2 cm diameter) are called ecchymoses.

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24. What does it mean if a disease is zoonotic?

Explanation

A zoonotic disease is one that can be transmitted from animals to people, posing a potential health risk. This distinction is important for monitoring and controlling the spread of diseases that can impact both animal and human populations.

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25. What is the clinical importance of the anatomic area indicated by the red arrow in this image?

Explanation

The correct answer provides information on how to take the pulse of a horse using the anatomic area indicated by the red arrow. The incorrect answers are not relevant to the topic of equine pulse palpation.

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26. Which choice includes only absorbable sutures?

Explanation

Dexon, Vicryl, PDS (and catgut and Maxon) are all absorbable.Surgical gut (also known as catgut) is an absorbable (nonsynthetic) material made from the submucosal layer of sheep intestine.Absorbable synthetic sutures are Dexon, Maxon, Vicryl and PDS.Nonsynthetic nonabsorbable sutures are silk and stainless steel. Synthetic nonabsorbable sutures are Prolene, Ethilon, and Vetafil.

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27. If an IV set dispenses 60 drops/ml, what is the IV drip rate (drops per minute) needed to give a cat 300 ml of Lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) over 6 hours?

Explanation

Drip rate = (Volume of solution in ml X drops/ml) / time in minutes. For this question, it is 300 ml X 60 drops/ml = 18,000 drops. Since the time is 6 hours which is equal to 360 minutes, the drip rate will be 18,000 drops / 360 min = 50 drops/min.

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28. What is the clinical significance of the femoral triangle in dogs and cats?

Explanation

Anterior cruciate injuries are knee problems. Surgical approaches to repair hip dysplasia (like a triple pelvic osteotomy) would not go through the femoral triangle.

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29. Which anatomic area do these three surgical approaches access in the horse? Modified Whitehouse, Viborg's triangle, Hyovertebrotomy

Explanation

The surgical approaches Modified Whitehouse, Viborg's triangle, and Hyovertebrotomy all access the guttural pouch area in horses, commonly used for diseases such as guttural pouch tympany, empyema, and mycosis.

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30. In which species do you typically AVOID using Atropine (anti-cholinergic) as a premedication before inducing anesthesia?

Explanation

Atropine slows the gut, so there is concern that they might cause colic in HORSES. This is less likely with another anti-cholinergic, glycopyrrolate, so it is sometimes used to prevent bradycardia (slow heart rate) in anesthetized horses.

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How long will a heat-sealed plastic and paper surgical pouch pack...
Which forceps are particularly good for vascular surgery?
What is another name for a thrombocyte?
Why are most antibiotics contraindicated in rabbits and hamsters?
Which is more severe, periodontitis or gingivitis?
A cockatoo has been prescribed 10 mg of Supercillin, s.i.d. for 10...
What is a Frick speculum used for in large animal medicine?
What is an iatrogenic medical or surgical problem?
What is the problem if a cat has a luxated hip?
Which direction is rostral?
Which statement about the proper storage of fresh or frozen plasma is...
Which of the following dog breeds is classified as brachycephalic?
You are presented with a cat who looks like this (dilated pupils)....
What is the total serum protein level in a dog with an albumin of 4.0...
What health problem is indicated by a case of conjunctivitis?
What kind of diet could help in preventing struvite formation in cats?
Roughly what percentage of mammary tumors in dogs are malignant?
Which term describes inflammation of the testicle?
Which choice is best for an x-ray of a nervous, moving dog?
Which kind of tissue causes the most x-ray scatter?
Which side effect must you beware of when using ketamine as an...
Which two drugs are contraindicated in animals with a history of...
A dog is presented with numerous small pinpoint hemorrhages on the...
What does it mean if a disease is zoonotic?
What is the clinical importance of the anatomic area indicated by the...
Which choice includes only absorbable sutures?
If an IV set dispenses 60 drops/ml, what is the IV drip rate (drops...
What is the clinical significance of the femoral triangle in dogs and...
Which anatomic area do these three surgical approaches access in the...
In which species do you typically AVOID using Atropine...
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