Feline Friendly Clinical Exam lecture 2 Flashcards
Suggest some body posture changes of an anxious or fearful cat.
Tense musculature
Closed crouched body position
Ears flattened down against the head
Dilated pupils
Head and neck pulled in close to body
Pads on floor
Tail tucked close or under body
Common behaviours exhibited by an anxious/fearful cat.
Creating distance
Hiding (need opportunity to do so)
Hypervigilance (keeping an eye)
Inhibition of sleep (effect on recovery)
Inhibition of maintenance behaviours (eg grooming)
Altered eating patterns (more of a worry in cat compared to dog)
Less exploratory and play behaviour
Decreased movement
Startling easily
Tail swishing indicates?
Irritation, frustration, anxiety
Common behaviours exhibited by an anxious/fearful cat when avoidance and retreat are not an option.
Hypersalivation, tongue licking nose, exaggerated swallowing.
Vocalisations, spitting
Rapid breathing (abnormal esp open-mouth)
Aggressive bhvr (biting, scratching)
Trembling/shaking
How can clinical findings be affected by the cat’s emotional state?
Stress can cause tachypnoea, tachycardia and increased glucose levels.
How can you signal that you are not a threat?
slow blinking at them
How can you approach a cat before a clinical exam?
Observe cat at distance.
Approach quietly and calmly
Slow blinking
Offer hand slowly with palm down to show you’re a safe person
Stroke head if tolerated
Tickle gently around back of the ears and under chin
Tips from practice
Separate cat and dog waiting areas or offer o to wait in car if needed.
Feliway – towels or plug-ins
Open carrier door to allow cat to acclimatise before getting cat out.
Treats
Familiarise self with cat escape routes and hiding places in the consult room.
Leave in own carrier if top comes off.
If all else fails…
Give examples
Pharmacological intervention.
Less aversive experience.
Local anaesthetic ointment eg Emla
Butorphanol 0.3mg/kg IM
Gabapentin (oral)
Full sedation (a2 agonist and opiate)
– alphaxalone, midazolam, butorphanol.
