General Animal Health Flashcards
When taking respiratory rate, it is also important to note… (5)
- Is it easy or difficult for this animal to breathe?
- How much chest +/- abdomen effort does it take to breathe?
- How deeply is the animal breathing
- How much does the chest move when the animal breathes?
- Noises – cough, gasp, wheeze?
If a mucous membrane is pale, this could indicate… (2)
Low red blood cell count (anaemia)
Peripheral vasoconstriction (blood vessels constrict)
If a mucous membrane is blue or purple, this could indicate… (2)
Cyanotic
Low oxygen content in the blood
Severe heart or respiratory problem!
If a mucous membrane is yellow, this indicates…
jaundice
What is a normal CRT?
1-2 seconds
When doing a physical exam, start at the ___ and work ___, examining the ….. (9)
Tip of the nose; towards tail
- nose
- mouth
- eyes
- ears
- neck
- chest
- abdomen
- limbs (skin, joints, pads, nails)
- tail
What can low heart rate indicate?
- Shock or very ill;
- Anaesthesia or sedation
- Athletic
What can high heart rate indicate?
Ill; painful; scared
What is heart MURMUR?
Abnormal heart sounds caused by turbulent blood flow in the heart
What is heart ARRHYTHMIA?
- Irregular or abnormal heart rhythm.
- Can be fast, slow, variable.
How to measure number of breaths per minute (br/m)?
Watch the chest rise and fall
Count the number of breaths in 15 seconds (x4 for br/m)
When to NOT take br/m?
- Animal is exercising, jumping, excited, stressed, etc – wait til animal is calm
- Animal is sniffing, coughing, barking, purring, vocalising – wait until animal is finished, or distract animal so they stop
3 steps to general health exam:
- Patient history
- distant inspection
- physical exam
Where to start inspection
As soon as you see the animal –> in the waiting room/when you arrive at the property
Things to note in history (10)
- Species
1b) Breed/Cross breed - Age
- Gender
- Reproductive status
- Weight
- Body condition
- Symmetry
- Stance
- Appearance
- Demeanour
When making observations it is important to avoid…. (2)
Assumptions or
Premature judgements/conclusions
Husbandry considerations when observing patient (4)
- Paddocks
- Feed
- Time of year
- Infrastructure
Identifying aging dogs (6)
- Body shape – fat pads, muscle
wastage - Lens opacity
- Coat colour – muzzle & eyes
- Teeth (Dental wear and disease)
- Behaviour – slow, sleeping more
- Stiffness, incontinence and weight gain, hearing loss
Guide to dog teething:
Puppy teeth ~4-6 weeks
Losing puppy teeth from ~12 weeks
Adult teeth by ~6 months
General appearance takes into account… (4)
- alterness
- grooming care
- status of nutrition
- abnormalities/deformities
BAR =?
Bright? Alert? Responsive?
Demeanour (D.A.C.S.)
- Dull/depressed?
- Anxious?
- Conscious/unconscious?
- Segregated/isolated?
In dogs, “praying posture” indicates what?
acute abdominal pain
What can an arched back with abdominal tucking indicate (kyphosis)?
- Behavioural
- Abdominal pain
- Injury?
- Malformation?
