Unit 4:Clinical Exams

Veterinary Medical Applications

TERMS TO KNOW• Arrhythmia – a fluctuation in the heart rate• Auscultation – the use of a stethoscope to

listen to sounds produced by the functions of the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems

• Bradycardia – a decreased pulse rate seen most commonly with electrolyte imbalances or heart disease

• Cyanosis – a bluish discoloration of the skin, resulting from inadequate oxygen concentrations in the blood

TERMS TO KNOW • Dyspnea – difficulty breathing, characterized by

shallow rapid breaths with abdominal effort• Eupnea – normal breathing• Gastrointestinal – a term used to describe the

stomach and intestines as one unit• Murmur – any abnormal heart sounds produced by

improper blood flow through the heart• Palpation – using touch to determine the character

of deeper, underlying body structures• Ophthalmoscope – instrument used to examine the

interior eye

TERMS TO KNOW

• Otoscope – instrument used to examine the interior ear

• Tachycardia – an increased pulse rate seen often with fear, pain, exercise, and certain heart diseases

• Tachypnea – rapid breathing

Healthy Animal

In order to recognize illness and disease in an animal, it is first necessary to know the signs of a healthy one.

Signs of a Healthy Animal1. 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.

Patient History

A patient history is a written documentation of the problem(s) the animal is having. A history should not be confused with the basic statistics on an animal such as age, name, breed, sex, etc. This information is usually taken by the hospital secretary and is recorded before the veterinarian looks at the animal.

Taking Patient History

• When taking a history, be sure to ask questions that cannot be answered with a yes or no. For example, ask, “How much water does Fluffy drink daily?” rather than “Is Fluffy drinking more water now?”

• Also, keep in mind that certain breeds are predisposed to certain illnesses and the age or sex of the animal may be a clue to determining what is wrong.

Equipment Needed For Exams:

• There are several basic pieces of equipment needed to complete a physical exam.– Stethoscope-used to auscult (listen to) the

heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal sounds– Thermometer and petroleum jelly– Opthalmoscope– Otoscope– Watch with second hand– Muzzle-used to control animals that may bite

TEMPERATURE, PULSE, & RESPIRATION

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

TPR

• Temperature, pulse and respiration rates tend to increase as size of the animal decreases. It also varies by type of species (cold blooded, warm blooded, birds).

• Example:– Pulse Rate

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

TEMPERATURE

• Temperature is taken rectally on the dog and cat and all species of livestock. Variations in temperature may occur due to:– Infection/disease– Excitement/stress– Environment

PULSE

• Pulse is evaluated using the femoral artery on dogs and cats. The femoral artery is located on the inside hind leg at the top of the thigh.

• Use the maxillary artery for large animals. It is located under the jaw of the horse and on the outside of the jaw on the cow.

PULSE cont.

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

• There are many variations in pulse such as abnormal rhythms, weak, and bounding pulses.

PULSE cont.

• Variations may occur due to:– Anxiety– Exercise– Pain– Disease– Shock

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

RESPIRATION

• Respiration is evaluated by looking at three parameters:

1. Rate of respiration

2. Depth-degree of chest effort needed to take a breath (deep, shallow)

3. Character-(slow, rapid, normal)

RESPIRATION cont.

• Several terms are commonly used to describe the character of respiration.– Eupnea-normal breathing– Dyspnea-difficulty breathing (shallow, rapid

breaths with increased chest effort)– Tachypnea-rapid breathing

RESPIRATION cont.

• Note-in small or sick animals it may be necessary to place a hand lightly on the chest or observe the nostrils for signs of respiration.

THE PHYSICAL EXAM

• 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.

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.

AUSCULTATION

• Is the use of a stethoscope to listen to sounds produced by the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems. In large animals, auscultation is used to evaluate gastrointestinal sounds.

LUNGS

• Normal lung sounds are louder during inspiration and 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 an obstruction or asthma.

HEART• Detects fluctuations in the heart rate

(arrhythmia), and abnormal heart sounds (murmurs).– Heart sounds are most easily heard on the left

side of the animal due to the placement of the heart.

– Dogs have a normal arrhymia where the heart rate increases on inspiration and decreases on expiration.

• Murmurs occur due to an abnormal flow of blood through the heart.

AREAS TO EXAMINE

• There are 12 general areas that should be examined during each & every physical exam. An order should be developed and followed every time so that nothing is overlooked.

• If a pet owner has a specific area of concern, be sure to spend extra time examining that area.

AREAS TO EXAMINE cont.

• The animal should be weighed as part of the exam. A human scale can be used to determine weight by weighing the animal’s handler first, then weighing the handler with the animal, and subtracting the weight of the handler.

12 AREAS TO EXAMINE

1. 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 and full or is it dull and brittle? Are there any bald patches, rashes, or flaking skin?

3. Musculoskeletal (muscles and skeletal structure)—is there a history of lameness or any visible lameness? Broken bones?

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

5. Respiratory—coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, exercise intolerance, and cyanosis are signs of possible respiratory problems.

6. Digestive—is the animal eating normally? Have there been diet changes? Was a toxin (rat poison, antifreeze) ingested? Vomiting and diarrhea are signs of digestive upset.

7. Genitourinary (genitals and urinary system)—abnormal discharge, smell, or color as well as swelling & inability or difficulty in urinating & defecating are signs of a problem.

8. Nervous system—seizures, changes in behavior, difficulty walking, head tilt.

9. Lymph nodes—enlarged?

10.Ears—discharge, unusual odor, or head shaking?

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

12.Mouth—are gums and teeth healthy? Are mucous membranes moist and pink? Very red, cyanotic, or pale membranes are abnormal. A Capillary Refill Time (CRT) is done to check for circulatory problems.

CRT Procedure

• Find a light pigmented area-dark areas are difficult to assess.

• Press down on the area till the color blanches, then release.

• Color should return in 1 to 2 seconds. A prolonged CRT is a sign of shock or other circulatory problems.