Health Flashcards
What’s the difference between a digital and mercury thermometer?
The digital thermometer will make a sound once an accurate temperature has been measured whereas a mercury thermometer you have to wait for the mercury to stop moving then the temp can be read this can lead to a less accurate result
How is temperature taken?
- Add lubricant to the thermometer
- Lift animals tail and insert the probe into the rectum
- Wait until you hear a beep or the mercury has stopped moving and record the temperature
- Remove the probe, clean and disinfect
What is the normal temperature of a cow?
36.7-39.3
What is the normal temperature of a cat?
38.1-39.2
What is the normal temperature of a dog?
37.9-39.9
What is the normal temperature of a horse?
37.2-38.3
What is the normal temperature of a pig?
38.7-39.8
What is the normal temperature of a rabbit?
38.6-40.1
What is the normal temperature of a sheep?
38.3-39.9
How can the pulse rate of an animal be taken?
A pulse can be take By locating a major artery and lightly pressing your index and middle finger against it.
Where is the best location to take pulse rates?
Cattle- underneath base of tail Sheep and goats- top of inside back leg Pigs- at the top of inside back leg Horse- the jaw/cheek Dog- top of inside back leg Cat- top of inside back leg
What is the normal pulse rate for a cat?
120-140 bpm
What is the normal pulse rate for a dairy cow?
48-84 bpm
What is the normal pulse rate for a dog?
70-120 bpm
What is the normal pulse rate for a hamster?
300-600 bpm
What is the normal pulse rate for a horse?
28-40 bpm
What is the normal pulse rate for a pig?
70-120 bpm
What is the normal pulse rate for a rabbit?
180-350 bpm
What is the normal pulse rate for a sheep?
70-80 bpm
How is respiration measured?
Either counting the fall and rising of an animals chest or by placing hand on the flans of the animal and count it that way
What is the normal respiration rate for a cat?
16-40
What is the normal respiration rate for a dairy cow?
26-50
What is the normal respiration rate for a dog?
18-34
What is the normal respiration rate for a horse?
10-14
What is the normal respiration rate for a pig?
32-58
What is the normal respiration rate for a sheep?
16-34
What is a capillary?
A very small blood vessel
What is capillary blood refill time?
How long it takes for blood to return to a section of the capillary system after its supply has been interrupted
How is capillary refill time measured?
To measure thus you have to firmly press on an animals gums so that that part turns white then release your finger and see how long it takes for the blood to flow back to that portion of the gums
What is the normal healthy capillary refill time?
Less than 2 seconds
What are the daily checks?
Appetite and water intake
Faeces and urine
Behaviour
Movement and gait
What are the weekly checks?
Appearance of eyes, ears, nose, mouth and teeth
Appearance of skin, fur, feathers and scales
Appearance of mucous membranes
Appearance of limbs and feet
Genital and anal area
Signs of coughing, sneezing or vomiting
What are the monthly checks?
Body condition
Appetite and water intake
Record of the animal has eaten a normal amount of food and water since the last time they were fed or has their appetite changed
Faeces and urine
What colour is the urine
Is their a change in the consistency of faeces
Is the animal passing faces and urging more or less often than normal
Behaviour
Is their a change in animals temperament
Are they quieter, more timid or more fearful than normal
More aggressive than normal
Do they appear to be in any pain
Movement and gait
Is the animal moving normally
Do they appear to have any restrictive movements
Does their posture look normal
Does their gait look normal, are their limbs co-ordinated, staggering, missing a stride
Appearance of eyes, ears, nose, mouth and teeth
eyes bright, clear and free from cloudiness
Ears free of unusual discharge
Nose free of unusual discharge, in good condition
Mouth a teeth in good condition, normal colour, no unusual smells
Appearance of skin, fur, feather and scales
Glossy Scales shiny Matted fur or bad condition Visible sores, broken skin or any other damage Evidence of lick marks
Mucous membrane
White mucous- animal is in shock , low count of red blood cells due to bleeding
Pink mucous- normal
Red mucous- signs of infection or heat stroke
Blue mucous- low oxygen content in blood
Yellow mucous- signs of liver or kidney problems
Limbs and feet
Is animal limping Using all limbs equally Any swelling Hooves in good condition Claws in good condition, not too long or twisted out of shape
Genitals and anal area
Any discharge
Any unusual smells
Body condition
Does animal look like they are in good condition
Animal underweight or overweight
What is mucous membrane ?
A layer of cells that surround certain organs and openings in the body such as openings including the inner nose, mouth and tongue. The mucous membrane protects those areas from infection and stops them from drying out
What is gait?
The movement of the limbs of as the animal walks or runs
What is the animal welfare act 2006?
The main aim is to have all their welfare needs met, its makes it illegal for anyone to mistreat animals, five welfare needs
What is the Welfare of animals (transport) order 2006?
This is an act to regulate how animals are transported from place to place, it enforced minimum requirements on transportation of vertebrate animals, for example, How much space they should be given Breaks for food and water Ventilation and correct temperature Littering for toileting First aid
What is the welfare of animal at market order 1993?
The aim is to cover what happens to animal when they are at markets and shows, it provides welfare rules and penalties for people who break the rules. This includes
Can’t be sold if pregnant
Cannot be tied up or suspended off the ground
Enough bedding, food, water, lighting etc
What is The veterinary surgeon act 1966?
This act states that someone can only operate on animals or call the self a vet if they are listed on a register of vets Randy surgeons
What is the welfare of farmed animal regulations 2007?
This is to implement EU regulations on the welfare of farmed livestock, these regulations replace the welfare of farmed animal act
What is The welfare of animals regulations 1999 (slaughter or killing)?
This is to regulate slaughterhouses and ensure that animals are not caused any avoidable pain or suffering, that the industry is regulated by requiring licensing for people slaughtering or killing animals
What is the hires passport regulation act 2009?
The aim is to keep track of horses that end up in the human food chain, the purpose is to make it a legal requirement for all horses to be issued with a passport and microchipped. It is an offence for someone to own a horse and not have a passport
What is the structure of bacteria?
Single celled organisms that belong to a class of cells called prokaryotes, they have a cell wall but do not have a membrane bound nucleus. Don’t contain mitochondria
What is the structure of a virus?
Simple organism that consists of genetic material, either DNA OR RNA. They are surrounded by a protective protein coat. Non living organisms as they require a host cell in order to reproduce
What is the structure of a fungi?
Multicellular fungi are made up of fungal cells that are organised into thread like structures called hyphae
What is the structure of a Protozoa?
Single called organisms that display animal like characteristics such as movement and feeding
What is the structure of a parasite?
A parasite is any organism that lives on another organism, pathogenic parasites in animals tend to be either Protozoa, ticks or worms
What is the size of a bacteria?
Measured in micrometers, around 0.5-5 micrometers
What is the size of a virus?
They are measured in nanometres, they are a thousand times smaller than typical bacteria
What is the size of a fungi?
Varies from microscopic to very large
What is the size of a parasite?
Parasites vary in size
What is the replication process of a bacteria?
Replicate asexually through a process called binary fission, when a cell is big enough it replicated its genetic material then divides into two, with each cell containing the same genetic material. Genetic material can be transferred though a different process known as conjugation
What is the replication process of a virus?
They are so small that they can get into cells, once they are there they reproduce themselves by taking over the cells normal reproduction process
What is the replication process of a fungi?
Fungi can reproduce sexually or asexually, sexual occurs when two parent cells of opposite strains fuse which leads to new cells that are genetically different to the parent. Asexual happens when the fungus developed spores which are identical to the parent, the spores are then dispersed and then grow into hyphae
What is the replication process of Protozoa?
Protozoa can reproduce sexually or asexually , the most common asexual reproduction if binary fission however it also included budding and plasmotomy
What is the replication process of parasites?
Fleas, ticks, mice, lice and worms reproduce by laying their eggs inside their host
Common examples of bacteria
E.coli
Smonella
Pneumonia
Anthrax
Common examples of viruses
Foot and mouth
Influenza strains
Common examples of fungi
Candida
Ringworm
Athletes foot
Common example of Protozoa
Malaria
African sleeping sickness
Plasmodium
Common examples of parasites
Roundworms
Tapeworms
What is an invertebrate?
An organism without a backbone
What is a parasite?
Organism who obtain food from another host organism
What is an endoparasites?
Organisms that live in and animal
What are ectoparasites?
Organisms that live on a animal
What are Roundworms and tapeworms?
Worms are invertebrate organisms that live within an animals body
Roundworms- round, white and grow up to 15cm long
Tapeworms- flat worms consisting of a head with a body made up of independent segments and grow up to 60cm long
What are the symptoms of worms?
Presence of worms in faces or vomit Diarrhoea Anaemia Dehydration Loss of weight Pot belly
What is the lifecycle of a roundworm?
Eggs are laid in the intestine and pass out of the body with the animals droppings or vomit
Larvae develop after about two weeks whilst still in the eggshell, the eggs are sticky and will attach to the animals fur and are infested when animal cleans itself
Once larvae is in the stomach the eggs hatch and makes its way to the small intestine
Larvae then developed in liver which moves through blood vessels into the heart and then lungs, animals will cough up the larvae and swallow it
They then get to the stomach and begin to lay more eggs
What is the lifecycle of a tapeworm?
Segments of the tapeworm separate from the main body and pass out the animals body, each segment contains eggs
Eggs are then ingested by other organisms, these then turn into adult tapeworm in the animals intestine
What is the treatment of worms?
Deworming tablets, injections or spots on the collar
What is the prevention of worms?
Keeping animals free from fleas, dispose of faeces quickly, restrict animals movement outdoors in order to avoid areas with droppings
What are the symptoms of fleas?
Skin irritation
Allergic reactions
Blood infections
Dark red or brown spots
What is the lifecycle of a flea?
Egg stage- 2-14 days
Larvae stage- 4-20 days, they are blind and deed on predigestion blood passed from adult fleas. At the end of this stage the larvae spins a cocoon
Cocoon stage- lasts a few days to a few weeks
Adult fleas then emerge from the cocoon when it senses that there is a host ,they live for about 2-3 months
What is the treatment of fleas?
Sprays Powders Tablets Shampoos Vacuums Cleaning the area
What are preventions of fleas?
Normally using tablets, collars , shampoos and sprays that include ingredients that are toxic for fleas
What are the symptoms of fleas?
Itching and skin irritation
Loss of fur
Dull coat
What is the lifecycle of a tick?
Egg- hatches in a few weeks
Larvae- need to find a host to feed on, if they find one then they take several weeks or longer to develop into nymphs
Nymphs- they require another host on which to feed and if they find one then it take several weeks to months to develop into adults
Adults- once the adults have had enough food from their hosts they will mate and die
What are the treatment of ticks?
Sprays Powders Tablets Collars Shampoos Removal of ticks using specialist equipment
What are the prevention of ticks?
Keeping animal indoors
Restricting outdoor movements