NAVLE Canine Practice Questions
Dogs are 25.6% of the NAVLE species blueprint, the largest share · 66 of the 360 questions on our practice exam
360 questions across every species and competency area in 12 timed blocks, with a score for canine so you know where you stand.
Free canine drillA 2-year-old dog adopted 3 months ago howls, scratches at the exit door and urinates indoors only when left alone. The signs begin within minutes of the owner leaving, and the dog follows the owner from room to room. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Canine Clinical Practice on the NAVLE
Dogs carry the largest species weight on the NAVLE: 25.6% of ICVA’s species blueprint. These questions put you in general practice with a dog in front of you and ask what the findings mean and what to do next, the two competencies that make up ICVA’s Clinical Practice domain (70% of the exam).
- Share of the exam
- Dogs are 25.6% of the NAVLE species blueprint, the largest share; 66 of the 360 questions on our practice exam
- Our drill
- 10 questions from 86 canine questions, untimed, an explanation after every answer; one free attempt, unlimited with a pass
What canine questions test
- Emergencies: gastric dilatation-volvulus, shock, trauma, heatstroke, status epilepticus and envenomation
- Endocrine disease: Addison’s disease, Cushing’s syndrome, diabetes and ketoacidosis, hypothyroidism and insulinoma
- Infectious and parasitic disease: parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis, tick-borne disease, heartworm and systemic mycoses
- Toxicology: anticoagulant rodenticides, xylitol, chocolate, ethylene glycol and macrocyclic lactones in MDR1 breeds
- Cardiology, orthopedics and neurology: ACVIM staging of mitral valve disease, cruciate disease, disc disease and epilepsy
- Dermatology, ophthalmology, oncology, urology and reproduction
Sit the full exam under the real clock
360 questions across every species and competency area in 12 timed blocks, with a score for canine so you know where you stand.
Free canine drillHow to study it
- Learn the classic signalment for each disease; the breed and age in a vignette often narrow the list.
- For each emergency, know the first step before the definitive treatment.
- Know the current consensus guidelines (ACVIM, AAHA, AHS, IRIS) because NAVLE answers follow current practice.
- Take the canine drill until you score 80% or better, then move to feline.
Common questions
How many canine questions are on the NAVLE?
ICVA weights canine content at 25.6% of the exam, the largest species share, which is about 92 of the 360 questions across all competency areas. Our practice exam uses that share.
Do canine questions include images?
ICVA says about 15-20% of all NAVLE questions include photos or radiographs. Our questions are text only and describe findings such as radiographic signs or cytology in words.
360 questions across every species and competency area in 12 timed blocks, with a score for canine so you know where you stand.
Free canine drillThe other NAVLE areas
- Feline Clinical Practice
- Equine Clinical Practice
- Bovine Clinical Practice
- Swine, Sheep, Goats and Camelids
- Birds and Exotic Animals
- Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Animal Welfare
- Communication and Professionalism
- NAVLE practice exam (360 questions, 12 timed blocks)
- Mixed drill: all eight areas
- NAVLE practice test: exam facts and every area
Sources
- ICVA: NAVLE Candidate Handbook, 2026-2027 testing cycle (PDF)
- ICVA: NAVLE structure update begins with the October-November 2026 testing window
- ICVA: NAVLE 101, how the exam is created, administered and scored
- ICVA: NAVLE retake policy changes effective December 1, 2025
- ICVA: NAVLE Competency Domains outline (PDF)
- ICVA: NAVLE Species and Diagnoses outline (PDF)
- ICVA: 2026 Report to Veterinary Academia (PDF)
- ICVA: NAVLE Self-Assessments and practice tutorial
Original practice questions written to ICVA’s published NAVLE competency and species outlines; they are not NAVLE questions. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) or the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). NAVLE is a registered mark of ICVA.