Cardio - Exam Flashcards
What are 3 general pieces of info to gather for a cardio exam?
Signalment, presenting complaint, and history
What things are included in the signalment?
Species, breed, and age-specific diseases
What things are included in the presenting complaint?
Murmur, collapse or exercise intolerance, respiratory signs
What are some things that are included in the history?
- Onset, duration, progression of presenting complaint
- Changes in weight, appetite, thirst, urination/defecation, vomiting
- Coughing/sneezing/respiratory effort/gagging (frequency, character)
- Activity level and any recent changes in activity or endurance, fainting spells, weakness, collapse
- Travel and vaccine history and any concurrent medical conditions
- Diet and meds and supplements (drug, dosage, route, response)
What is cachexia?
Disproportionate loss in muscle mass that is commonly seen in inflammatory conditions
What are DDx for cachexia?
End stage CV disease, neoplasia, renal disease, chronic inflammatory conditions
What are DDx for abdominal distension?
Abdominal fluid (R-CHF), organomegaly, weakened abdominal muscles
What is a fluid wave?
Vibration of fluid palpated on ballotment of moderate to severe abdominal fluid
What are DDx for a fluid wave?
R-CHF (modified transudate), liver dz, PLE/PLN (transudate), neoplasia (mod transudate), trauma, bleeding mass, coagulopathies (hemorrhagic)
What color are normal mucous membranes?
pink
What are DDx for pale MM?
Poor perfusion, peripheral vasoconstriction, anemia
What are DDx for blue/gray (cyanotic) MM?
R to L shunting, pulmonary parenchymal disease (i.e. pulm edema from L-CHF), airway disease, hypoventilation, shock
What is the appearance of “differential cyanosis” and what does it mean?
Pink MM cranially and blue MM caudally - finding in dogs with R to L shunting PDA (reverse PDA)
What is the Dx for brick red or “injected” MM?
early phases of shock
What are the DDx for yellow (icteric) MM?
hemolysis, hepatobiliary disease
What is a CRT of 0-1 seconds?
Early, hyperdynamic phase of shock
What is a CRT of 2 seconds?
normal
What is a CRT of 3+ seconds?
poor perfusion
What is peripheral pitting edema?
Edema (fluid in the tissues) in the ventral extremities or ventral thorax/abdomen
(When you push your thumb into edematous areas it leaves an imprint)
What are DDx for peripheral pitting edema?
R-CHF (uncommon); more common in horses and cattle
Non-cardiac = hypoalbuminemia, renal disease (rare)
What is palpation of the precordium?
Palpating the heartbeat on the chest wall
Where is the precordium normally felt the strongest?
L hemithorax
What does it mean if the precordium is felt strongest on the right?
R heart enlargement
(Can also be mass lesions displacing the heart, collapsed lung lobes that displace the heart, or focal accumulations or air or fluid)
What does it mean if the precordium is the same strength on the L as it is on the R?
R and L heart enlargement


