Patient Care Flashcards
What are the 6 investigating protocols?
- History taking
- Initial observations
- Physical observations
- Diagnostic procedures
- Treatment
- After care
What are the initial observations?
- General condition including weight
- Behaviour
- Symmetry
- Posture
- Gait
What is the physical examination?
To establish the extent and effects of a problem; start cranially and then caudally
What should be checked on the head?
- Nares
- Mouth
- Smell, mucous membranes and capillary refill time
- Eyes
- Ears
What do pale mucous membranes mean?
- Poor perfusion
- Haemorrhage
- Severe vasoconstriction
What do red mucous membranes mean?
- Congestion
- Fever
- Sepsis
What do cherry red mucous membranes mean?
Carbon monoxide poisoning
What do cyanotic mucous membranes?
Hypoxia
What do jaundice (icterus) mucous membranes?
- Liver disease
- Bile flow obstruction
- Can be normal in horses
How many seconds should a healthy capillary refill time?
1-2 seconds
What does it mean if CRT is shorter than 2 seconds?
- Poor perfusion
- Dehydration
What does it mean if CRT is longer than 2 seconds?
- Fever
- Sepsis
What should you check on the neck?
Pinch the skin around here and the skin should go back immediately
- Check for wounds
- Check lymph nodes
What does an enlargement of the lymph nodes mean?
- Infection
- Neoplasia
- Inflammation
What should be checked on the limbs and body?
- Forelimbs
- Thorax
- Abdomen
- Pelvis and hindlimbs
- Tail
- Anus
- Genitalia
- Skin and coat
What does anorexia mean?
Loss of appetite
What does inappetance mean?
Reduced appetite
What does dysphagia?
Difficulty in swallowing
What does polyphagia?
Increased eating
What does voracious mean?
Wolfing down food with weight loss
What does pica mean?
The craving of unnatural foods
What does coprophagia mean?
Eating faeces
What does capricious mean?
Picky eating
What does polydipsia mean?
Increased drinking
What does adipsia mean?
Lack of drinking
What does polyuria mean?
Increased urination
What does oliguria mean?
Decreased urination
What does anuria mean?
Lack of urination
What does dysuria mean?
Difficulty in urination
What does haematuria mean?
Blood in urine
What does urinary incontinence mean?
Dripping urine
What does urinary tenesmus mean?
Straining to pass urine