NAVLE (ICVA) Cheat Sheet

Canine Medicine & Surgery

26% of exam
GI Emergencies Endocrine Dermatology Orthopedics Pharmacology

Feline Medicine & Surgery

24% of exam
Renal Disease Cardiology Infectious Disease Toxicology

Equine Medicine & Surgery

15% of exam
Colic Laminitis Infectious Disease Theriogenology

Bovine, Swine & Small Ruminant

22% of exam
Metabolic Disease Herd Health Drug Withdrawal Reportable Disease

Avian, Exotic & Other Species

12% of exam
Poultry Exotic Mammals Reptiles Zoonoses

Public Health, Ethics & Practice

2% of exam
Zoonoses VCPR & Ethics Reportable Disease Competency Domains

Quick Facts

Exam NAVLE
Body ICVA
Questions 360 (12x30 blocks)
Time 7.5 hours total
Pass Score 425 scaled (200-800)
Format CBT at Prometric centers
Fee $825 US/Canada, $1,220 intl
Attempts 5 lifetime maximum
Blueprint 2018 practice analysis

Canine Toxin Red Flags CA

Grapes, Xylitol, Chocolate, and High-Dose Ivermectin
Grapes: acute kidney injury Xylitol: hypoglycemia, liver failure Chocolate: theobromine cardiotoxicity Ivermectin: MDR1 collies, Aussies

Open vs Closed Pyometra CA

Open pyometra

Patent cervix
Visible discharge
Less acute risk

Closed pyometra

Closed cervix
No discharge seen
Higher rupture risk
Closed = more dangerous

Toxin & Drug Contraindication Picker CA

MDR1-positive dog needs antiparasitic → Avoid high-dose ivermectin/loperamide ( Collies, Aussies, Shelties )
Dog ingested grapes or raisins → Induce emesis, treat for AKI ( Even small amounts toxic )
Dog ingested chocolate → Assess dose, treat theobromine toxicity ( Baking chocolate most dangerous )
Dog ingested xylitol gum/candy → Monitor glucose and liver values ( Rapid, profound hypoglycemia risk )
Cat given acetaminophen → Emergency treatment, N-acetylcysteine ( Often fatal within days )
Cat exposed to lilies → Aggressive IV fluids 48-72h ( Any lily part toxic )
Cat exposed to dog permethrin → Bathe, treat tremors/seizures ( Never use dog products on cats )

Canine GI & Emergency Medicine CA

GDV (bloat) Surgery + gastropexy, not decompression alone
Parvoviral enteritis Hypokalemia; supplement potassium in fluids
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) Acute bloody diarrhea, hemoconcentration
Acute pancreatitis Fatty-diet trigger, lipase/PLI elevation
Linear foreign body String under tongue, plication risk

GDV vs Simple Bloat CA

GDV (volvulus)

Stomach rotated
Shock, necrosis risk
Surgery required

Simple bloat

Gas/fluid only
No rotation
Decompression may suffice
Rotation always needs surgery

Canine Endocrine, Dermatology & Oncology CA

Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's) PU/PD, pot-belly, alopecia
Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's) Hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, low Na:K ratio
Hypothyroidism Weight gain, low energy, alopecia
Mast cell tumor Most common malignant skin tumor
Multicentric lymphoma Generalized lymphadenopathy, B or T

MDR1-Risk vs Standard-Dose Dogs CA

MDR1-positive breeds

Collies, Aussies, Shelties
P-glycoprotein defect
Avoid high-dose ivermectin

MDR1-negative breeds

Normal P-glycoprotein
Standard dosing safe
Low mutation prevalence
Genotype before high-dose therapy

Canine Orthopedics & Pharmacology/Toxicology CA

CCL rupture Positive cranial drawer sign
Hip dysplasia Laxity, early-onset osteoarthritis
MDR1 mutation Avoid high-dose ivermectin in collies
Grapes/raisins Acute kidney injury in dogs
Xylitol Hypoglycemia, hepatic necrosis risk
Chocolate (theobromine) Cardiotoxic and neurotoxic in dogs

Feline Toxin Red Flags FE

Lilies, Tylenol, Permethrin, and Onions Kill Cats
Lily: acute kidney failure Tylenol: fatal methemoglobinemia Permethrin: tremors, seizures Onion: hemolytic anemia

FeLV vs FIV FE

FeLV

Oncoretrovirus
Young cats
Casual/close contact spread

FIV

Lentivirus
Adult cats
Bite-wound transmission
Test both before vaccinating

Feline Renal, Cardiac & Endocrine FE

Feline idiopathic cystitis Sterile, stress-related, not infection
Isosthenuria USG 1.008-1.012, confirms renal azotemia
Urethral obstruction Male cats, true emergency
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Most common feline heart disease
Aortic thromboembolism Saddle thrombus from HCM
Hyperthyroidism Methimazole may unmask kidney disease

Feline Infectious Disease & Toxicology FE

FeLV/FIV Test before vaccinating
FIP Confirm via macrophage immunohistochemistry
Toxoplasma gondii Zoonotic; counsel pregnant clients
Acetaminophen Fatal in cats, methemoglobinemia
Lily (all parts) Acute kidney failure in cats
Permethrin Toxic to cats, safe in dogs

Species Emergency Triage Picker EQ

Horse rolling, distended, painful → Evaluate for colic/GDV ( Rectal exam, NG tube )
Cow recumbent after calving → Check for milk fever ( IV calcium borogluconate )
Male cat straining, not urinating → Treat urethral obstruction now ( True emergency, hours matter )
Dog retching, distended abdomen → Rule out GDV, radiograph ( Decompress then surgery )
Goat blind, head-pressing → Give IV thiamine now ( Suspect polioencephalomalacia (PEM) )

Equine Colic, GI & Musculoskeletal EQ

Large colon impaction Most common cause of colic
Equine gastric ulcers (EGUS) Omeprazole 4mg/kg once daily
Enterolith Mineral concretion, arid-region horses
Acute laminitis Digital pulses, heat, grain overload
Navicular disease Chronic forelimb lameness, heel pain
EPM Protozoal, asymmetric ataxia differential

Equine Infectious Disease & Theriogenology EQ

Strangles S. equi, LN abscess, isolate
Equine infectious anemia (EIA) Coggins test required, reportable
Tetanus Horses most sensitive domestic species
Equine anaplasmosis Ixodes tick-borne, zoonotic relative
Caslick's procedure Prevents pneumovagina in mares
Dystocia (red bag) Premature placental separation, emergency

Milk Fever vs Grass Tetany FO

Milk fever

Hypocalcemia
Post-calving onset
S-shaped neck kink

Grass tetany

Hypomagnesemia
Lush pasture onset
Muscle tremors, convulsions
Calcium versus magnesium deficiency

Bovine Metabolic & Herd Disease FO

Milk fever Hypocalcemia, S-shaped neck, post-calving
Subclinical ketosis BHB testing, before clinical signs
Grass tetany Hypomagnesemia, lush spring pasture
Left displaced abomasum High-pitched ping, left flank
Bovine respiratory disease Mannheimia haemolytica, feedlot stress
Foot rot Fusobacterium, wet muddy ground

Food Animal Pharmacology & Withdrawal FO

AMDUCA Extralabel use rules for food animals
Withdrawal time Clears residue before slaughter/sale
Prohibited drugs Chloramphenicol, DES, nitrofurans banned
FARAD Withdrawal-time lookup resource for vets
Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) Required for medically important antimicrobials

Swine, Sheep & Goat Disease FO

PRRS Blue ears, late-term abortion in sows
Enzootic pneumonia Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, cranioventral consolidation
Scrapie Reportable prion disease, no cure
CAE/OPP Retrovirus, small ruminant arthritis-pneumonia
Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) Thiamine deficiency, treat IV thiamine

Avian & Poultry Disease AV

Velogenic Newcastle disease Reportable, high poultry mortality
Highly pathogenic avian influenza Reportable, zoonotic, mass die-off
Psittacosis Chlamydia psittaci, zoonotic pneumonia risk
Marek's disease Herpesvirus, lymphoma in poultry
Egg binding Dystocia, calcium and husbandry issue

Exotic Mammal & Reptile Medicine AV

Rabbit GI stasis Needs continuous high-fiber hay diet
Ferret insulinoma Hypoglycemia, worsens before fasting/feeding
Guinea pig scurvy Vitamin C deficiency, dietary requirement
Reptile metabolic bone disease Low UVB, low calcium diet
Reptiles Universal Salmonella shedders, zoonotic risk

NAVLE Competency Split NO

Clinical 70, Prevent 15, Comm 8, Pro 7
Clinical: data + management Prevent: welfare + public health Comm: client + colleague Pro: ethics + practice mgmt

Reportable vs Endemic Disease NO

Reportable disease

FMD, ASF, HPAI
Mandatory notification
Foreign/high-consequence

Endemic disease

Routine treatment
No mandatory report
Regionally established
Report before treating further

Reportable Disease Response Picker NO

Cattle vesicles on mouth/feet → Report suspect FMD now ( Notify state/federal vet )
Pig sudden high mortality → Report suspect ASF ( Isolate herd immediately )
Poultry mass sudden die-off → Report suspect HPAI/Newcastle ( Lock down biosecurity )
Deer or elk wasting → Report suspect CWD ( No treatment exists )
Sheep or goat tremors/pruritus → Report suspect scrapie ( Contact USDA APHIS )

Species Distribution Weights NO

Canine 25.6% of NAVLE exam
Feline 24.3% of NAVLE exam
Equine 14.7% of NAVLE exam
Bovine 13.3% of NAVLE exam
Porcine 5% of NAVLE exam
Other small mammals 3.3% of NAVLE exam
Ovine/caprine 3.3% of NAVLE exam
Pet bird 2.3% of NAVLE exam
Poultry 2% of NAVLE exam
Non-species-specific 2% of NAVLE exam
Camelid/cervidae 1.7% of NAVLE exam
Reptiles 1.5% of NAVLE exam
Aquatics 1% of NAVLE exam

Top Species Weight Order NO

Canine -> Feline -> Equine -> Bovine -> Porcine
Canine: 25.6% weight Feline: 24.3% weight Equine: 14.7% weight Bovine: 13.3% weight

Competency Domain Weights NO

Clinical Practice 70% of exam weight
Data Gathering & Interpretation 35% (half of Clinical Practice)
Health Maintenance & Prevention 35% (other half of Clinical)
Preventive Medicine & Welfare 15% of exam weight
Communication 8% of exam weight
Professionalism & Practice Mgmt 7% of exam weight

Zoonoses & Public Health NO

Rabies Nearly all mammals, fatal, reportable
Leptospirosis Urine shedding, causes Weil's disease
Brucellosis Reproductive discharge, undulant fever risk
Q fever Coxiella burnetii, parturient sheep/goat fluids
Toxoplasmosis Cat feces, risk to pregnant clients
Ringworm Zoonotic dermatophyte, common in kittens
Psittacosis Bird droppings, atypical human pneumonia

Reportable & Foreign Animal Disease NO

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) Cloven-hoofed vesicles, foreign, reportable
African swine fever (ASF) Swine only, no vaccine, foreign
Highly pathogenic avian influenza Reportable foreign disease, wild birds
Vesicular stomatitis FMD look-alike, endemic in US
Classical swine fever Foreign hemorrhagic disease of pigs
Anthrax Reportable, spore-forming, soil-associated bacterium
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) Prion in cervids, no cure

Common Traps

Pass Score vs Pass Rate

425 is a fixed score ≠ ICVA publishes no pass rate

Species Weight vs Competency Weight

Species = which animal ≠ Competency = which task

FeLV Testing vs FeLV Vaccinating

Test identifies infected cats first ≠ Vaccine protects only uninfected cats

Withdrawal Time vs Drug Approval

Withdrawal clears residue only ≠ Approval means legal food-animal use

Reportable vs Merely Treatable

Report to authorities first ≠ Then pursue clinical treatment

Isosthenuria vs Simply Dilute Urine

Isosthenuria mirrors plasma concentration ≠ Confirms renal origin of azotemia

Last Minute

1. 360 questions in 12 blocks
2. 7.5-hour total testing day
3. Pass score is 425 (200-800)
4. Five lifetime NAVLE attempts allowed
5. Clinical Practice is 70% weight
6. Canine plus feline near half exam
7. Test FeLV/FIV before vaccinating cats
8. No high-dose ivermectin in MDR1 dogs
9. No acetaminophen or lilies for cats
10. Report FMD, ASF, HPAI immediately
11. VCPR required before prescribing medication

ICVA NAVLE North American Veterinary Licensing Examination

Practice Questions 235 questions Study Guide 26 topics Cheat Sheet 99 facts Flashcards 50 cards Videos 1 video Blogs 1 blog Free CE Podcast