Care of The Hospitalised Patient

Question 1

What are some questions to ask when patients are being admitted to hospital?

Answer 1

How is the animal? Are they on medication? Has their behaviour changed? What does he normally eat?

Question 2

How should the patient be identified in practice?

Answer 2

Name bands/tags placed around patients neck with name and phone number.
Hospital sheets should also be on kennel door with relevant information

Question 3

What is the law regarding permanent ID with horses, ponies and donkeys?

Answer 3

From 1st July 2009, it requires they must be microchipped and have a passport. All foals must have a passport before Dec 31st in year of birth or with 6 months of birth.

Question 4

How are racehorses identified?

Answer 4

With a lip tattoo on, which began in the 1900’s

Question 5

What is freeze branding?

Answer 5

Used on horses, A branding iron cooled in liquid nitrogen is placed onto the skin for a few seconds. The hair in the area grows back white

Question 6

Where are microchips located in a horse?

Answer 6

Between the poll and withers, on the LHS into the nuchal ligament

Question 7

What’s the law regarding microchip in dogs?

Answer 7

By 31/12/16 all puppies must be microchipped by the time they are 12 weeks old or before they leave their place of birth

Question 8

Where are microchips placed in dogs? What databases are they registered on?

Answer 8

Subcutaneously between the shoulder blades or on the LHS of the neck. They can be stored on databases such as Animark and Fido

Question 9

What risk is there to animals recovering from anaesthesia?

Answer 9

Hypothermia is a big risk, the patients temp should be covered every 5 mins until a normal temp has returned

Question 10

List some sources of supplementary warmth for patients following anaesthesia

Answer 10

Incubators, heat pads, bear hugger, hot water bottles

Question 11

What does SOAP mean

Answer 11

Subjective, objective, assessment, plan

Question 12

Give an example of SOAP

Answer 12

S- is the animal showing abnormal symptoms? (lameness, not bearing weight on right foreleg)
O- Physical examination of the leg causes patient to whimper
A- assessment, patient is in pain
P- Support leg with bandage until seen by vet

Question 13

What is OD, OS, OU?

Answer 13

OD - right eye, OS- left eye, OU- both eyes

Question 14

What is sid, bid, tid, qid?

Answer 14

once, twice, three, four times a day

Question 15

How can you promote normal behaviour in a hospitalised patient?

Answer 15

Use basic commands with dogs, exercise them daily, ensure they have human interaction or source of fun e.g toys, rest