First Aid & Wound Management Flashcards
What is a physical examination?
- the act of examining an animal’s body to check for abnormalities
- should be done in a systematic manner
Why are physical examinations done?
- an essential part of the diagnostic process
- enables us to check an animal’s vital signs (TPR)
- gives us an overview of the health of a patient
What is TPR/how to check an animal’s vital signs?
- Temperature
- Heart rate/Pulse rate
- Respiratory rate
- Mucous membranes
Describe a severely underweight dog and state its body condition score.
- Ribs, backbone and hip bones are highly visible, even from a distance, with complete absence of fat
- obvious muscle loss particularly around shoulders and thighs
- severely exaggerated waistline
- BCS 1/5
Describe a slightly underweight dog and state its body condition score.
- ribs, backbone and hip bones easily seen, with no overlying fat layer
- some mild muscle loss particularly noticeable around shoulders and thighs
- obvious waistline
- marked tummy tuck
- BCS 2/5
Describe a dog of ideal body condition and state its body condition score.
- ribs can be easily felt, and may/may not be seen with minimal layer of overlying fat
- a clear waistline can be easily seen
- noticeable tummy tuck
BCS 3/5
Describe a slightly overweight dog and state its body condition score.
- ribs are hard to feel and see under a thickened layer of overlying fat
- distinct pads of fat can be felt along the lower back and at the base of the tail
- waistline absent or difficult to see
Describe an obese dog and state its body condition score.
- ribs are impossible to feel with a marked layer of very thick overlying fat
- very chunky pads of fat can be felt along the back, at the tail
- waistline is absent
- tummy distinctly bulges outwards and sags noticeably downwards
What is mentation and what are the commonly used descriptors?
- mentation is used to describe a patient’s level of consciousness and behaviour
- Bright, alert and responsive (BAR)
- Quiet, alert and responsive (QAR)
- Depressed
- Obtunded
- Comatose
What are the normal vital signs for a dog?
- Temperature: 38.3-39.2°C
- Heart Rate: 80-160 beats per minute (depends on size)
- Respiratory Rate: 15-30 breaths per minute
- Pulse rate: same as heart rate
- Gum colour: pink
What are the normal vital signs for a cat?
- Temperature: 38.0-39.0°C
- Heart Rate: 110-200 beats per minute
- Respiratory Rate: 20-40 breaths per minute
- Pulse Rate: same as heart rate
- Gum colour: pink
Describe how to obtain a dog’s heart rate.
- make the dog stand up
- find the point of the elbow
- place your hand where the dog’s elbow meets its chest
- count the number of beats you feel in 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4.
Describe the two ways to obtain a dog’s respiratory rate.
- When the dog is resting, observe how many times its chest rises and falls over 15 seconds, and multiply that number by 4
- Place the hand near to but not touching the dog’s nose and feel for air movement. Count the number of times you feel air brush your hand over 15 seconds, and multiply that number by 4.
Describe how to obtain a dog’s temperature.
- make sure the thermometer is clean and that you use K-Y jelly for lubrication
- have someone hold onto the dog
- lift its tail and insert the thermometer into the anus
- wait for the thermometer to beep then read the temperature.
Describe how to assess gum colour.
- have someone help you restrain the patient
- use one hand to support under the dog’s chin
- the other hand is used to lift the upper lip
- observe the colour of the gums
- normal: pink
- abnormal: pale, icteric (yellow)
