Lecture 1 - 8/23/23 Flashcards
What things are included in signalment?
-age
-sex
-breed
Why is signalment important?
allows you to begin thinking of diseases that are more common in certain breeds/age of animal
What three things does physical diagnosis begin with?
-signalment
-history/anamnesis
-physical exam
What are the different parts of a SOAP diagnostic tool?
-subjective/history
-objective/physical exam
-assessment
-plan/diagnostics and treatment
What are the different age estimates for animals?
-young: puppy/kitten and junior
-adult: adult and mature
-senior: senior and geriatric
Why is it important to consider the size of the dog when aging?
small and medium dogs age “slower” than large dogs, which affects the age at which they experience aging-related problems
How are teeth types used to assess an animals age?
-no deciduous teeth: < 3 weeks
-all deciduous teeth: < 3 months
-mixed dentition: 3-6 months
-all adult teeth: > 6 months
In addition to types of teeth, how else can teeth be used to assess age?
increasingly worse dental disease is associated with increased age
What is the relationship between age and weight in cats?
for the first 6 months of life, kittens weigh one pound per month of age
What is the relationship between age and weight in dogs?
a dog’s four month body weight x 2 is an estimate of their adult weight
How can the eyes be used to assess age?
nuclear sclerosis/cloudy eyes begins appearing at 6-8 years of age
How can coat be used to assess age?
greying of the fur begins around 6-8 years of age
How can reproductive development be used to assess age?
-jowls in male intact cats develop around 2 yrs old
-mammary/testes development in intact animals is more pronounced in older animals
How are dogs sexed?
-females have orifices pointing caudally
-males have prepuce/orifices pointing cranially
-looking for presence/absence of vulva
How are cats sexed?
-males have a greater distance between anus and prepuce/penis
-females have a shorter distance between anus and vulva
-can compare individuals in a litter in younger cats
How can neutered animals be identified?
-tattoo
-spay scar/fibrous tissue
-lack of reproductive development
-often overweight compared to intact counterparts
What are the size classifications for dog breeds?
-small <20 lbs
-medium 20-50 lbs
-large >50 lbs
What are the classifications for cat breeds?
-domestic short hair
-domestic medium hair
-domestic long hair
What are the key components of fear free dog restraint/handling?
-calm environment
-pheromones
-towels/blankets
-food/treats
-toys
What are the key components of fear free cat restraint/handling?
-calm and quiet environment
-separate from dogs
-minimal restraint
-pheromones
-treats/food/catnip
-low-stress restraint tools (towel wraps, muzzles, cat bags)
What is the main thing to avoid when restraining cats, if possible?
scruffing
Why is it important to know when to stop attempting procedures on an animal?
-every attempt is an escalation
-will make the animal more afraid of future appointments/attempts
How many attempts at a procedure should be made before stopping to reassess the situation?
-2 attempts for cats
-3 attempts for dogs
What are the main vital signs?
-weight
-temperature
-pulse rate
-respiratory rate
