7 - PE Flashcards
What are the 3 top good PE habits?
- Preparation - prep area to manage patient anxiety and fear
- Consistency - consistent and repetitive PE approach
- Focus - focus on performing the PE (do not multi-task)
What senses will help you perform a good PE?
Sight, smell, hearing, touch
When observing during a PE, you should start _____ and look _____.
globally, thoroughly
What clinical signs are associated with <5% dehydration?
Subclinical, unable to detect
What clinical signs are associated with 5-8% dehydration?
Mild;
Tacky MM, slight decrease in skin turgor, pet BAR, normal vitals
What clinical signs are associated with 8-10% dehydration?
Moderate;
Tacky MM, noticeable decrease in skin turgor, sunken eyes, depressed and slow to respond;
May see hypothermia, tachycardia, slow CRT
What clinical signs are associated with 10-12% dehydration?
Severe;
Very depressed and may not be responsive;
Will see signs of CV compromise - hypothermia, tachycardia, weak pulses, CRT > 2 sec (unless septic)
What clinical signs are associated with 12-15% dehydration?
Moribund - shock
What findings could be overlooked in the eyes, ears, nose, throat, and oral cavity by not thoroughly looking?
Otitis, ear mites, linear FB, eye ulcer, tooth abscesses, abnormal intraocular pressure, retained deciduous teeth, missing teeth
What findings could be overlooked in the integument by not thoroughly looking?
Fleas/ticks, fungal infections
Why is it important to know “normal” and why/how it relates to function?
It can help you anticipate disease conditions associated with abnormal findings
What disease processes are associated with entropion?
Inflammation, ocular ulcers
What disease processes are associated with ectropion?
Conjunctivitis - eyes are always gooey
What clinical conditions/disease processes can you infer about this dog just by looking at it (before even touching/doing a PE)?
- Overweight
- Skin folds –> dermatitis, fungal infections
- Probably has entropion with inflammation and discharge
- Short stature combined with weight –> orthopedic issues
- Brachycephalic –> breathing problems, stenotic nares
- +/- heart issues due to stress on body
What 2 things are important when developing palpation skills?
Understanding of regional anatomy and development of tactile skills
A
pinna
B
vertical canal
C
auricular cartilage (vertical)
D
horizontal canal
E
auricular cartilage (horizontal)
F
tympanic membrane
G
middle ear
H
auditory tube
I
inner ear
How should you place an otoscope in the ear?
Pull the pinna laterally, insert otoscope vertically then scoop laterally
What fingers and parts of your fingers are most sensitive?
Fingertips, palm
In which finger are you likely to feel/sense a pulse?
thumbs
T/F: You can palpate more effectively is your hands and fingers are relaxed
True
What should you be able to palpate in a normal feline abdomen?
- Both kidneys
- Bladder
- GI loops
- Spleen (adult males)
- Fluid wave
What should you be able to palpate in a normal canine abdomen (depending on size and BCS)?
- Bladder
- GI loops
- +/- spleen
- +/- stomach
- +/- fluid wave
What should you be able to palpate on a rectal exam in dogs?
Prostate, urethra
When should you do a rectal on cats?
never
When would you not do a rectal exam in a dog?
The dog doesn’t have a butthole or you don’t have a finger
What should we be able to do as far as auscultation skills during a PE?
- Recognize normal and a heart murmur
- Be able to describe a murmur
- What grade is it?
- Where is it the loudest?
- Count an accurate heart rate with a stethoscope (even in cats)
When doing a PE on an animal, you should always be trying to manage _____ and _____.
fear, anxiety
Your PE starts from a _____.
distance
