health exam Flashcards
signs of healthy behaviour
- B.A.R - bright, alert, reactive/responsive
- interacting with people/animals
signs of unhealthy behaviour
- quiet, lethargic, unresponsive
- reluctant to move
- change in behaviour
- aggressive or hiding
signs of a healthy posture
- free head movement
- can stand evenly on all feet
- straight spinal posture
- free tail movement
signs on an unhealthy posture
- stiff neck
- hunched stance
- tail hanging unmoving
- difficulty sitting/lying
- head tilt
signs of a healthy gait
- smooth & flowing
- symmetrical gait
signs of an unhealthy gait
- lameness/limping or weakness in limbs
- trembling
- reluctance to move
- wobbly/unsteady gait
signs of healthy ears
- symmetrical in shape/position
- pricked
- clean
- responds to sound
signs of unhealthy ears
- discharge & redness
- abnormal odour/smell
- swollen ear flap
- head tilt & ears drooped
- scratching/rubbing at ears
signs of healthy eyes
- bright
- clear cornea
- open & normal blinking
- even eye & pupil shape & size
- normal colour & no marks on surface
signs of unhealthy eyes
- discharge & cloudiness
- redness
- uneven pupil size
- dullness or glassy
- one closed/blinking a lot
- eye & surrounding area swollen or shrunken
signs of healthy respiration
- expected rate, pattern & effort
- clean nose
- no crust or nasal discharge
- no cough or excessive sneezing
- normal breathing sounds
signs of unhealthy respiration
- difficulty breathing/panting unnecessarily
- nasal discharge/crustiness
- coughing/sneezing
- chest sounds (wheezing)
- fast/slow/shallow/deep breathing
signs of a healthy coat
- evenly covered
- smooth, glossy & shiny
- cost laying flat (if applicable
signs of an unhealthy coat
- hair loss
- flaky/crusty skin
- change in skin/ hair pigmentation
- dry/greasy
- excessive scratching
- odorous skin/coat
- redness or thickened skin
signs of a healthy urinary system
- urine clear pale yellow
- normal volume/frequency
- passing urine with ease
signs of an unhealthy urinary system
- frequent urination
- difficulty
- cloudy/bloody
- change in volume
- change in drinking habits
- change in colour
- strong smell
signs of healthy limbs
- symmetrical
- all held evenly
signs of unhealthy limbs
- swellings/thickening
- held at unusual angle
- asymmetry
- muscle wasting
- not using limb/bearing weight
signs of a healthy digestive system
- normal faeces colour/consistency
- normal volume & frequency of faeces
- defecates with ease
- normal appetite
signs of an unhealthy digestive system
- diarrhoea/constipation
- vomiting/regurgitation/signs of nausea (licking lips, turn head away)
- increases volume of faeces
- abdominal noises/distension
- flatulence & hunched, tense stance
- ravenous appetite & mouth door
- weight loss & gain
what can be determined from a close examination?
- detection of external masses/swellings & abnormalities of internal structures
- localising areas of pain or discomfort
- tpr & heart rate
- heart & respiratory sounds & rhythm
- pulse strength
- mmc & crt
- assessing hydrating via skin tent/mucous membrane dryness
what is the most useful & common approach to the physical exam?
- hands on exam, usually from head to toe
2. taking tpr - temp, pulse, respiratory rate
what should be examined on the head in a close exam
- ears
- eyes
- nose
- oral cavity
- lymph nodes
- throat
body temperatures for dogs & cats
cat - 38-39.2 degrees
dog - 38.3-39.2 degrees
cats & dog pulse rate
cat - 120-140
dog - 60-120
cats & dogs respiratory rate
cat - 20-40
dog - 10-30
what is a systemic approach to an health exam
- history
- distant exam
- close exam
- ancillary tests
