Care of the Terminally Ill Animal Flashcards
Apparent Dementia
Signs:
Lowered response to stimuli
Become less adaptable to change
May become disorientated – and distressed if they don’t know where they are i.e. Trapped in corners etc.,
May appear to be less obedient
Soiling in the house
May become more or less ‘vocal’
Social changes towards owner or other pets
Nursing Care:
Be aware of the animal’s potential loss of sensory ability, so make your presence known
Warm, soft bedding – be aware of animal’s reduced capacity for temperature control
Avoid sudden changes
Take care with other animals in the house as they will be distressed at seeing their companion’s behavioural changes – won’t understand!
Nursing Care of Owners:
Tempt with smelly, warm foods as will lose condition if they don’t eat ‘something’, - give what they want
Special diets in process of being developed that take into account such things as omega oils, vitamin E, beta carotene, vitamin C or selenium as these are thought to be of benefit
Gentle exercise as dictated by the patient (familiar routes)
Frequent grooming
Environmental enrichment (gradual as change may be detrimental) may help in greater cognitive function
Liver Failure
Signs: General
Vomiting and diarrhoea
Loss of weight, Polydipsia/polyuria, Anorexia
(Specific) Abdominal pain, Arched back, Jaundice(icterus)
Ascites, Pale faeces – fatty, Dark urine, Bleeding disorders
Nursing Care:
Monitor vital signs
Assist with diagnostics such as ultrasound, x-ray, blood tests, fine needle aspiration of the liver,
biopsy
Isolation of patient if infectious - will also be immunosuppressed.
Administration of IV fluids, antibiotics, corticosteroids as necessary
Encourage patient to eat (very little appetite) their special liver diet
Nursing Care of Owners:
Kidney Failure
Signs: Polydipsia, Polyuria, Uraemia, Anaemia, Oral ulceration, Uraemic breath
Hypertension, Renal hyperparathyroidism, possibly resulting in ‘rubber jaw’
Nursing Care:
Monitoring vital signs
Monitoring urine output
Special diet (and encourage patient to eat though making the food palatable) and plenty of water to drink (unrestricted)
Plenty of access to outside/litter tray for u/f
Nursing Care of Owners:
Heart Failure
Signs:
Exercise intolerance, tachypnoea, dyspnoea, weak pulse, exercise intollerance, cyanosis
Acute = collapsed with pale m.m’s, weak pulse and slow CRT
Nursing Care:
Strict rest
Oxygen supplementation
Encourage loss of weight where necessary
Administer treatment as prescribed by vet – diuretics, cardiac drugs, antiarrhythmics
MONITOR VITAL SIGNS
Regular blood testing to monitor the patient for electrolyte imbalances and levels of hydration.
Avoid extremes of temperature as this can cause syncope or rapid exacerbation of the heart problem
If acute, glycerol trinitrate administration to inside of ear – MUST WEAR GLOVES!!!
Nursing Care of Owners:
Osteosarcoma
Develops in connective tissues = bone tissue – commonly long bones
Signs: usually presents in limbs = Lameness (with or without obvious swelling/mass at tumour site)
mandibular or orbital site tumours = dysphagia
Skull = neurological symptoms
Nursing Care:
Nursing Care of Owners:
Lymphosarcoma
Develops in connective tissues - lymph tissue
Signs: Swollen glands (lymph nodes), can effect nodes that are not visible or palpable (chest or abdomen), vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, weight loss, lethargy, dyspnoea, polydipsia, polyurea
Nursing Care:
Nursing Care of Owners:
Mammary Tumours
Signs: originates in the mammary gland, can be small simple nodules or large, aggressive, metastatic growths. Can usually be easily detected by palpating the mammary glands
Nursing Care:
Skin Tumours
Signs:
lump or bump that may or may not be ulcerated, surrounding skin may be red/flaky, site may be itchy, can cause dog to lick bite, scratch area
coughing, wounds not healing, lethargy, diarrhoea, anorexia, vomiting, enlarged lymph nodes
Nursing Care of Owners:
Better chance of cure if detected/treated early
educate owners of symptoms
encourage frequent check ups (look for any lumps, scaly/crusty lesions/ lesions that do not heal easily, swelling in breast tissue)
Mast Cell Tumours
Signs: may develop anywhere on surface, internal organs = upper thigh, ventral abdomen & thorax most common
raised nodular masses, may be solid or soft, usually have dark granules in them. granules contain substances which contain itching, swelling & redness
Nursing Care:
Treatment based on size, type and grade. may be radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy etc
What is the purpose of a consent form?
Shows the owner understands and agrees to the procedure
Left Side Heart Failure
with pulm. oedema a cough dyspnoea tachypnoea, tachycardia, murmurs, weak pulse, exercise intolerance, cyanosis
Right side heart failure –
Ascites, enlargement of liver and spleen, exercise intolerance, pale m.m’s dyspnoea, tachypnoea, cyanosis, weak pulse
Right Side Heart Failure
Ascites, enlargement of liver and spleen, exercise intolerance, pale mm’s dyspnoea, tachypnoea, cyanosis, weak pulse
Right Side Heart Failure
Ascites, enlargement of liver and spleen, exercise intolerance, pale mm’s dyspnoea, tachypnoea, cyanosis, weak pulse
Hepatic Encephalopathy
A condition known as hepatic encephalopathy will occur when more than 70% of the hepatic function is lost, as toxins build up in the circulation resulting in neurological signs – this will require greater nursing skills similar to those employed when dealing with patient with dementia
