Physical Exams

Sponge

1. Turn in your homework.2. Set Up Cornell Notes3. How can you best prepare to give your

veterinarian a good patient history?4. How does changing vets affect your animal?5. Study for your ID test

Objectives

• Take an accurate patient history.• Recognize a healthy animal.• Perform a physical exam. • Take the TPR of several animals.

Lammiman’s Philosophy lesson• I hate it when in someone says “I wish we

could all just be happy all of the time.” Think about this…– Without sad how could we feel happy?– Without dark how would we understand light?– Without war we would not appreciate peace.

In order to understand sick we must realize what healthy is…

• As a pet owner how do you know when your animal is feeling good?

• Can you recognize when he is not feeling well?

• Have you ever been a little unsure if he/she was okay or not?

….what do you do when you are unsure?

The physical exam

• Is an essential tool used by the veterinarian to assess an animal’s overall health and body condition.

• It involves a fixed routine so that nothing is overlooked.

• Why would it be important to not skip around steps when doing a physical?

A Healthy animal will have…

1. Clear bright eyes with pink membranes around the eyes.

2. An appearance of contentment.3. An alert attitude and interest in

surroundings.4. A good appetite.5. A sleek, shiny coat with hair that is

pliable, not dry and brittle.6. Feces and urine that are easily passed

and normal in appearance.7. Temperature, pulse, and respiration in

normal range.

WHICH OF THESECAN BE SEEN IN THE EXAM

ROOM?

HOW CAN THE REST BE

DETERMINED?

Maddie’s first vet visit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lBgYrbXsn4

Kitty Cat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE23zzfUBDw

Patient History

• Be sure not to use yes or no questions. You want to get as much information as possible.

• Practice fixing these questions:– Has Fluffy been drinking more

water?– Does Patsy finish all of her food?– Has Gator been getting exercise?– Do you have other pets?

Patient History Lab

Ms. Tran: Patsy ClineMrs. Lammiman: GatorLacee: Lulu

Fill out a patient history for each of the above clients.

Physical Examine

• When examining an animal, it is best to use a regional approach. Begin at the head of the animal and progress to the tail examining thoroughly all the external areas and all body cavities (eyes, ears, mouth, etc). Examination of underlying structures should also be done at this time.

Physical Examine

• Palpation is used to inspect underlying muscle and skeletal structure, and locate abnormalities.

• Structures should be gently traced with the fingertips and not grabbed. Improper handling is painful to the animal and could damage internal organs.

Tools:

• Stethoscope• Thermometer and petroleum jelly• Ophthalmoscope• Otoscope• Watch with second hand• Muzzle – used to control animals

that may

First

• Take the animal’s weight.• Why?

12 areas to check1. General appearance – is there a healthy overall

appearance? Are eyes bright and coat shiny? Is animal obese or very thin?

2. Integumentary (skin) – is the coat shiny andfull or is it dull and brittle? Are there any baldpatches, rashes, or flaking skin? Fleas?

3. Muscoskeletal (muscles and skeletalstructure) – is there a history of lameness orany visible lameness? Broken bones?

4. Circulatory – coughing, fainting, dyspnea, and murmurs are all signs of circulatory problems.

5. Respiratory – coughing, sneezing, nasaldischarge, exercise intolerance, and cyanosisare signs of possible respiratory problems.

6. Digestive – is the animal eating normally?Have there been diet changes? Was a toxin (ratpoison, antifreeze) ingested? Vomiting anddiarrhea are signs of digestive upset.

7. Genitourinary (genitals and urinary system) –abnormal discharge, smell, or color as well asswelling and inability or difficulty in urinatingand defecating are signs of a problem.

8. Nervous system – seizures, changes inbehavior, difficulty walking, head tilt.

9. Lymph nodes – enlarged?

10. Ears – discharge, unusual odor, or headshaking?

11. Eyes – is there excessive tearing or discharge?Are there any visual deficits?

12. Mouth – are gums and teeth healthy? Aremucous membranes moist and pink? Very red,cyanotic, or pale membranes are abnormal. ACapillary Refill Time (CRT) is done to checkfor circulatory problems.

Review: Homework and Stamp!

TPR

• TPR is different for every species of animal and varies with age, size, environmental temperature, stress, activity level, and most importantly, health.

• It is a diagnostic tool.• If your mom thinks you might be sick…how can

she confirm it?• If you want to stay home from school…how can

you fake it?

TPR

• Temperature, pulse and respiration rates tend to increase as size of the animal decreases.

Elephant: 35Rabbit: 205Guinea pig: 280Mouse: 534

Temperature

• Temperature is taken rectally on the dog and cat and all species of livestock.

• Variations in temperature may occur due to:Infection/diseaseExcitement/stressEnvironment

Procedure:

1. Wipe the thermometer with alcohol and shakeit down till the mercury is below 98 degrees.2. Lubricate the tip with petroleum jelly.3. Gently insert the thermometer into the rectumand hold it securely in place for threeminutes.4. Remove the thermometer and wipe with apaper towel.

Pulse

• Pulse is evaluated using the femoral artery on dogsand cats. The femoral artery is located on the insidehind leg at the top of the thigh.

• Use the maxillary artery for large animals. It islocated under the jaw of the horse and on the outsideof jaw on the cow.

• The ventral tail vein and lower jaw (mandibular) areused to take a pulse in cattle and sheep.

• Doghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47PBFElGG04

• Horsehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5rIPiDuzjY

Pulse

• There are many variations in pulse such as abnormalrhythms, weak, and bounding pulses. Variationsmay occur due to:• Anxiety• Exercise• Pain• Disease• Shock

An increased pulse is called tachycardia. A pulse thatis slower than normal is called bradycardia.

Procedure

1. Using your index and middle fingers, gentlyroll them over the artery feeling for the pulse.2. Count the number of pulses for 15 seconds.3. Multiply the number of pulses in 15 secondsby 4 to get beats/minute.

Respiration

Respiration is evaluated by looking at three parameters:

1. Rate of respiration2. Depth – degree of chest effort needed to take

a breath (deep, shallow)3. Character – (slow, rapid, normal)

Respiration

• Lungs – Normal lung sounds: sound like “ rustling leaves”.

Two main types of abnormal sounds:• Crackles – most often heard in connection with fluid accumulation in the lungs and pneumonia• Wheezes – the result of decreased airflow from

Procedure

1. Observe the rise and fall of the chest.2. Count the number of breaths for 15 seconds.3. Multiply the number of respirations by 4 toget breaths/minute.

Healthy Puppy Exams

• Anna• Bri’s pup