Clinical exam. Signalment, History, distant exam and vital parameters

Question 1

Parts of the clinical exam

Answer 1

1. Physical exam
2. Ancillary diagnostic methods e.g endoscopy, tuning, US, radiography
   3, Lab exams- blood, urine, faeces

Question 2

Methods of the physical exam

Answer 2

Inspection 
Palpation
Ausculation
Percussion
Olfaction
Measurement

Question 3

When is a physical exam unnecessary

Answer 3

Colic
Injured
Recommended to quickly check all the organs

Question 4

Signalment and identification

Answer 4

Owners name and details
Permanent data
Non-permanent data
Horse passport

Question 5

Permanent data

Answer 5

species 
breed
sex
colour
white marks on the head and limbs 
Whorls/feathering

Question 6

Describe the different white marks of the head

Answer 6

Star: on the forehead
Stripe: down the face not wider than the flat surface of the nasal bones
Blaze: covering almost the entire forehead
White face: covers forehead and front of the face
Snip: isolated in region of the nostrils
White muzzle: on both lips and region of the nostrils

Question 7

White marks on the limbs description

Answer 7

Start left fore then right fore then left hind then right hind
Reference to their anatomical position
Absence also must be mentioned!

Question 8

Type of white marking on the limbs

Answer 8

White:
coronary
pastern
fetlock
half canon
White to knee, to hock, to hind quarter
white patch on coronary

Question 9

Examples of permanent marks

Answer 9

Scars 
saddle marks 
bridle marks 
collar marks 
girth marks

Question 10

Common places for whorls/ feathering?

Answer 10

Forehead
Crest
Pectoral region
Flank Fold

Question 11

Examples of non-permanent data

Answer 11

Age
body weight
height at withers
body length
branding marks 
freeze markings

Question 12

History

Info about the ill horse and the disease

Answer 12

Duration
Abnormalities observed 
Changes since animal was ill
Prior vet and non-vet interventions 
Use of horse! e.g racing etc 
Repro status 
Transport

Question 13

History

Info about the yard/stable mates

Answer 13

Species and number of animals 
Symptoms of other animals 
Morbidity and mortality rates
Infectious and parasitic diseases (immunisation records-would this be prior vet intervention?)
Feeding technology
Toxic materials
Change in ownership/staff

Question 14

Distant exam/ general inspection

Answer 14

Size 
Conformation
Body condition (cachexia --- obesity 1--9)
Posture e.g dog sitting, ataxia 
Gait 
Behaviour - excitation/depression
Obvious patho changes

Question 15

Rectal temp adult horse

Answer 15

37-38

Question 16

Rectal temp foal

Answer 16

37.5-38.5

Question 17

Rectal temp exam

Answer 17

Thermometer as deep as possible! in contact with the rectal mucosa
Anal sphincter is very long!

Question 18

Changes of rectal temp

Answer 18

Physio, patho
Hypo/hyper thermia
Fever

Question 19

What are the vital parameters/ basic clinical values

Answer 19

Rectal temp
Pulse rate 
heart rate 
palpation
resp rate

Question 20

Pulse rate in adult horse

Answer 20

28-42 beats per minute (30-40)

Question 21

Heart rate

Answer 21

Take if pulse is difficult

Palpation/auscultation at the cardiac region

Question 22

Palpation of pulse: where to take it

Answer 22

Facial artery
Transverse facial artery
Medial and lateral digital artery– also for acute conditions around the hoof

Question 23

Resp rate adult horse

Answer 23

10-18 breaths per minute

Question 24

Examination of the resp rate

Answer 24

Inspection of the thoracic and abdominal wall

Auscultation over larynx, trachea and lungs

Question 25

Sequence of the examination of organs

Answer 25

skin
lymph nodes
mucus membranes 
resp system
cardiovasc system
GI
urinary
genital
haematopoietic 
endocrine
locomotor 
nervous