Animal Care Attendant Midterm Flashcards
What is the definition of anatomy?
The form and structure of the body
What is the definition of physiology?
The function or action of each bodily component
What is the purpose of epithelial tissue?
Covers and lines
What is the purpose of connective tissue?
Provides support
What is the purpose of muscle tissue?
Enables movement
What is the purpose of nervous tissue?
Coordinating and controlling body activities
What do we commonly administer in the hypodermic/subcutaneous space?
Microchips, SQ fluids, vaccines, medications
What are the 3 types of muscle tissue, and how are each controlled?
Skeletal (voluntary), Smooth (involuntary), Cardiac (involuntary)
List the functions of muscle tissue
Movement, generating heat, maintaining posture
List and describe the bodies two types of immunity
Innate - present at birth, fast-acting but non-specific
Adaptive - obtained throughout life (vaccines, illness), slow-acting but targeted
List the health issues brachycephalic animals face
Corneal inflammation, tear staining from improper tear draining, brachycephalic airway syndrome, misaligned teeth causing dental disease
What are the 4 chambers of the heart?
Right and left atrium (top), right and left ventricles (bottom)
Why is it important to study genetics in veterinary medicine?
To promote health of animals, to prevent disease in animals, improve breeding standards (making better choices), determine ancestry
What factors influence an animal’s behaviour?
Proper socialization at the appropriate age, learned behaviour of parents, genetics, health issues
How do behaviour and personality differ?
Behaviour - the way animals respond to a particular situation or stimulus
Personality - the individual’s consistent behaviour (ex., more curious, or timid than others of their species)
List and define the “special senses”
Auditory - sense of hearing
Gustatory - sense of taste
Visual - sense of sight
Olfactory - sense of smell
Vestibular - Sense of equilibrium
List the functions of the spinal cord and the disease most commonly associated with it
-Transmits sensory signals from the periphery to the brain for interpretation, and transmits motor signals from the brain to the periphery.
-Degenerative Joint Disease
List the major endocrine glands in the body and where they might be found
Hypothalamus - Brain
Pituitary - Brain
Thyroid - Throat
Parathyroid - Throat
Adrenals- avbove kidneys
Pancreas - below the stomach
Gonads - testicles in scrotum, ovaries in abdomen
What are the hormones produced by the gonads?
Testosterone and Estrogen
List the functions of the haircoat
Temperature Control, camoflauge
What is the average length of time it takes for a dog’s epithelial cells to change over?
22 days
List PPE items that must be worn when taking an x-ray
Lead apron, thyroid protector, goggles, leaded gloves, dosimetry badge
What are the signs of a relaxed dog?
Soft muscles of the face and mouth, normal pupils, ears forward or relaxed, neutral whiskers, natural tail
fine with interaction and food treats
What are the signs of a mildly stressed dog?
Soft muscles, mouth -maybe curled tongue tip, wrinkling between eyes, normal to slightly larger pupils, ears forward or slightly to the side or back, neutral whiskers, natural tail or held a little lower
What are the signs of a moderately stressed dog?
Furrowed brow, moderately dilated pupils, ears back or down, lips back, panting, tense, fidgety, may exhibit mixed feelings, avert eyes
What are the signs of a severely stressed dog?
Furrowed brow; dilated pupils; ears back or down; lips back; panting; slow or frantic movements; urinating or defecating, may show defensive or offensive aggression, but usually hide and avoid, learned helplessness
When will a dog wag their tail?
When excited to interact, may not be in a positive way
What is the best indicator of feline communication when it comes to body language?
Facial expressions, posture
What are the signs of a relaxed cat?
Soft muscles and face, normal pupils, soft, erect ears, neutral whiskers, closed mouth, softly curved tail, will accept treats and interactions
What are the signs of a mildly stressed cat?
May have mildly dilated pupils, ears slightly to the side, legs, tails, and whiskers closer to the body, may stay in carrier, or approach and retreat
What are the signs of a moderately stressed cat?
Tail tight to body, possible twitching tip, sternal position if lying, ears to side or back,stops exploring, refuses previously accepted food, often escalate to severe stress with prolonged handling
What are the signs of a severely stressed cat?
Pupils dilated, ears and body flat, whiskers flat or forward, tail tucked or held out low, hissing or growling, teeth bared, strikes or bites, generally shows defensive aggression or learned helplessness
What are the appropriate steps when introducing yourself to a dog?
Approach from the side, avoid direct eye contact, allow dog to sniff back of your hand, avoid touching top of their head, start scratching under ear/chest/neck/shoulders/hips, always assume they will bite
What are the appropriate steps when introducing yourself to a cat?
Approach from the side, avoid direct eye contact, allow cat to relax and sniff your hand, talk gently in a calm quiet voice, gently scratch the head or cheek
Why is it important to approach all friendly cats with caution?
May become cage-aggressive and bite/scratch
What is the main hormone produced by the pancreas?
Insulin
What can alert patients to danger, prey or treats?
Scent - important to use enzymatic cleaners and have treats in your pocket
Too much of what can cause FAS?
Visual stimulation
What are some things that clients can do with their cat carrier to make it more welcoming and decrease FAS?
- Train kittens to sleep in crates
- Leave kennel out at all times
- Take top off and place on elevated surfaces for a resting place
- Use pheromones
- Don’t pull cat out of hiding place to put in carrier
- Feed around carrier
What are some recommendations to give owners for transporting cats in the vehicle?
- Place kennel on floor behind passenger seat
- Bring individual carriers for each cat
- Don’t hold the carrier by handle, carry in arms
- Cover carrier with towel
- PVPs if needed
What are some Gentle Control tools?
- Calming music
- Body wraps “thunder shirts”
- Pheromones
- Medications
3 steps of transporting an animal to the treatment area in a veterinary hospital are to:
- Plan the route
- Separate from owner - give treats when owner is leaving the exam room
- Move to other part of hospital
What can be done to reduce FAS in the treatment area?
- Keep things quiet
- Put towels/covers in front of the cages
- Provide enrichment toys
- Give attention to patients besides treatments
- Separate areas for different species
Why does prolonged hospitalization lead to chronic stress?
- Unfamiliar environment
- Prolonged exposure to stimuli
- Pathology can diminish patient’s ability to cope
- Different staff
What are some recommendations to give owners for transporting dogs in the vehicle?
- Use a crate if they are used to it
- Calming music
- DAP sprays/collar
- Thunder shirt
- Don’t try anything new just before transporting, allow the dog to get used to things beforehand
- PVPs if needed
True or false: We should do as much as possible in the exam room instead of taking the patient to the treatment area.
True
What should we always do before moving a patient to the treatment area?
Go to the treatment area ourselves first to:
1. Notify other team members
2. Move other patients out of the way
3. Turn off noisy equipment if possible
What are things that should be taken into consideration when it comes to location when examining cats?
- Reduce any perceived threats
- Provide warmth, comfort and security
- Minimize visual input
- Increase Gentle Control techniques
- Hiding places
What are things that should be taken into consideration when it comes to location when examining dogs?
- Non-slip mat on floor or table
- Outside if appropriate
- Gentle handling
- Know wants vs needs
How long should we allow dogs and cats to struggle during a procedure, and how many tries should we attempt before stopping?
Dogs - no longer than 3 seconds and 3 tries
Cats - no longer than 2 seconds and 2 tries
What are some ways that FAS can be reduced in the exam room?
- Allow the animal to determine location and while being examined
- Let the pet sniff and look at the equipment before being such such as the otoscope and stethoscope
- Clean room well between patients with enzymatic cleaners
- Use pheromones
- Soothing music/white noise
- Provide hiding areas
- Ideally provide a window and perches for cats
- Ideally have a specific exam room just for cats
- Non-slip surfaces
- Minimize exit and entry of exam room - anticipate what procedures will be done and supplies needed
What can you do to reduce FAS in the reception area/waiting room?
- Separate species
- Move clients and pets away from the desk
- Wait in the car until exam room is available
- Stagger appointment times
- Pheromones, soothing music
- Treats
- Non-slip surfaces
- Separate check in/check out areas or check out in exam room
What is the #1 fear for animals and what can we do to prevent it?
Falling, providing non-slip surfaces
What are 5 reasons why Fear Free handling is so important?
- Decrease FAS in patients
- Decrease stress in veterinary staff
- Increase number of patients and number of appointments
- Stress and distress diminish longevity
- Decrease in FAS can increase healing
In the Fear Free certification program what does Gentle Control mean?
How we comfortably and safely position the patient to allow us to administer veterinary care.
