Clinical Examination Flashcards
Name 4 important things about a dog clinical exam
- Better to have them on the table rather than on the floor
- Big dogs or nervous dogs should be on the floor
- Treats can help
- Leads should be kept on
Name 4 important things about a feline clinical exam
- Should be a cat friendly space
- Preferable to be on the floor
- May be stressed/ try to escape
- Make sure the restraint is adequate
Name 5 important things about an equine clinical exam
- Need to ensure appropriate restarint (bit better than headcollar)
- Stand on same side as the handler
- Ensure adequate lighting
- Ensure that the environment is safe
- Ensure there are no obvious escape routes
Name 3 important things about a cow clinical exam
- Halters are useful
- Ensure crush race is secure
- ensure access to the animal is appropriate
Name 4 important things about a sheep clinical exam
- Have an experienced assistant
- Press sheep against the wall to limit movement
- Moving them in groups is less stressful
- The less you restrain the easier it is
Name 5 pieces of equipment needed for a clinical exam
- Stethoscope
- Lubricating jelly
- Thermometer
- Gloves
- PPE
assistants are also useful
Name the four important components for a clinical exam
- S- Signalemt
- H- History
- O- observation
- E- examine
Why is signalment important?
name/ identification/ breed/ species…
- Need to maintain accurate clinical records
- Species breed etc have an impact on diagnosis
What may you observe in a clinical exam?
- Demeanour
- Mobility/ gait
- Posture/ Body condition
- Body sillhouette
- Coat/ Fleece condition
What is the best direction to undergo the examination?
Head to tail
What would you examine in the ears?
- Examine the pinna and the inside of the ear
- Note appearance, odour, pain, colour..
What would you examine in the eye and eyelids?
- eye position
- ocular discharge and inflammation
- conjunctival appearance
- scleral appearance
- assess vison/ ability to track an object
What would you examine in the nose?
- Examine the external nares, lips and muzzle
- discolouration, symmetry, presence of masses
- symmetry of air flow
What would you examine in the mouth?
- Observe the oral mucous membrane
- perform capillary refil time over the root of the upper canine teeth
- examine gingiva and teeth on both sides
- Observe dental occlusion
- note malodour
What may you examine in the neck?
- Palpate the mandibular salivary glands
- Inspect and palpate the neck
- look for jugular fill/ distension
- Flex and extend the head to assess the range of movement
What may you examine in the thorax?
- palpate the pre-scapular lymph nodes
- palpate the thoracic wall looking for symmetry and to identify areas of pain
- palpate the thoracic spine
- examine the skin of the thorax
- Auscultate the thorax
What are the four beats you can hear in the heart?
- Pulmonic- 2nd-4th rib space on the left side
- Aortic- 4th rib space on the left side
- Mitral- 5th rib space on the left side
- Tricuspid 3rd-5th rib space on the right side
What is the function of the withers test in cattle?
identifies abdominal pain
What would you auscultate in the abdomen?
- Palpate/ inspect the surface of the abdomen
- palpate the abdominal organs
- listen to gut sounds
- Ballotte (mass moving around in the abdomen)
What would you assess/ auscultate in the abdomen in the cow?
- Assess the rumen fill
- Ausculate the left side (rumen, percussion etc.)
- Auscultate the right side (intestines, caecum…)
- Palpate the rectum
- Paralumbar fossa
What would you assess in the abdomen of the sheep?
- Assess rumen fill
- Auscultate left/ right side and ballotment (fluid in the abdomen)
What do you palpate as part of the thoracic area?
- Palpate muscles, joints, tendons and long bones
- evaluate for swelling, pain or heat
- inspect the tail for masses, hair loss or pain on manipulation
What may you palpate as part of the perineum?
- Inspect the area
- inspect udder, teats, milk, supra-mammary lymph nodes
- palpate testicles and check for symmetry/ texture
- perform vaginal exam if indicated
- measure rectal temperature
What is the skin turgor test an indicator of?
Indicator of dehydration
