History & Physical Flashcards
Examinations help establish a relationship between the vet, the client, and the patient.
Legal requirement in most states.
Necessary for the vet to be able to treat the animal and prescribe medications.
Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR)
The most common veterinary procedure and the foundation of diagnosis/treatment.
Physical Examination
First step of every vet physical examination.
Provides information that helps the vet evaluate the patient’s physical status, develop a diagnosis, create a treatment plan, and offer a prognosis (outlook) for the patient).
Medical History
Overall patient description.
Includes breed, gender, age, and reproductive status.
Signalment
Key components of a good, thorough history are:
Identifying primary/presenting problem.
Completing a medical history.
Completing the environmental history.
Reviewing the body systems.
The reason for the patient’s visit.
Primary/Presenting Problem
Client Complaint
Details animal’s current living situation.
Including travel history.
Ownership, diet, medications, environment.
Environmental History
Discuss each body system in sequence and record any current or previous problems.
Body Systems History & Body Systems Review
Skin, scales, hair, nails, hooves, horns, feathers.
Integumentary System
Nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs.
Respiratory System
Heart, blood, blood vessels.
Circulatory System
Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, anus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas.
Gastrointestinal System
Digestive System
Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, reproductive organs.
Male - penis, prostate, testes.
Female - ovaries, uterus, vagina.
Urogenital System
Bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, connective tissues.
Musculoskeletal System
Brain, spinal cord, nerves.
Nervous System
Science that relates to different parts of an animal’s body.
Anatomy
Science that explains how body parts function individually and collectively.
Physiology
Way to measure a horse’s weight by measuring around the horse’s chest (heart area just behind the elbow) and a conversion char that translates the circumference of horse’s chest into total body weight.
Heart-Girth Tape
Mitral and tricuspid valve closures.
“Lub” (heart sound)
Aortic and pulmonic valve closures.
“Dub” (heart sound)
Abnormal heart rate or rhythm.
Arrhythmia
Abnormally slow heart rate (arrhythmia).
Bradycardia
Abnormally fast heart rate (arrhythmia).
Tachycardia
Heart rate cyclically decreases when the animal exhales and increases when the animal inhales.
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia
Abnormal “swooshing” sounds relating to the improper closure of heart valves (or other cardiac diseases).
Murmur
Heart pumps blood through the arteries —> arterial walls expand/contract.
________ is created via this pressure on the arterial walls.
Pulse
Pulse - excessive pressure.
Bounding
Pulse - weak, feels like a small thread moving under your fingers.
Thready
One inhalation and one exhalation.
Breath
Full Respiration
Lung sound - harsh noises that sound like crumpling cellophane paper.
Crackles
Lung sound - high pitched musical noises hear on expiration.
Wheezes
Lung sound - high pitched noises on inspiration OR expiration.
Stridor
Blood flow to organs and peripheral tissues.
Perfusion