Patient Examination

Question 1

What should a general exam begin with?

Answer 1

Initial observation from afar, and their surroundings. animal’s stance/behaviour will reflect their mental state

Question 2

When assessing the patient walking, what are you looking out for?

Answer 2

Can they walk soundly on all 4 legs
Is any leg being carried or dragged
Observe toenail length
Any signs of muscle wastage?

Question 3

What is the normal resp. rate in dogs, cats and horses? how do you measure it?

Answer 3

Dog 10-30
Cat 20-30
Horse 12-20
Can be measured by observing the rise/fall of flank

Question 4

How is BCS assessed?

Answer 4

1-9.
1- emaciated, everything visible
5- ideal, palpable but not visible
9- obese, have to dig in to feel

Question 5

What environmental conditions should be considered when checking in on a patients in the kennel?

Answer 5

Is animals eating/drinking normally

Is animal urinating/defaecating normally

Question 6

What is the definition of auscultation? What is the normal heart rate of dog, cat, horse?

Answer 6

Listening to sounds of the heart, lungs or other with a stethoscope or with ear.
Dog - 70-140
Cat - 100-200
Horse - 30-40

Question 7

What is palpation?

Answer 7

Examining the body by touching or feeling

Question 8

What is percussion?

Answer 8

The striking of a part of the body with short, sharp blows of the fingers.

Question 9

What is ballottement ?

Answer 9

Pushing of the fist into the abdominal wall, causing foetus to move from and quickly back to the fingers

Question 10

Prior to the clinical examination, what should be prepared?

Answer 10

Ensure you’ve read clinical history
Assistant if restraint is needed
Clean equipment i.e stethoscope, thermometer

Question 11

Starting with an exam of the head and oral cavity, what do you look for?

Answer 11

Nasal discharge, ocular discharge, ear smell/wax, the mouth CRT >2??

Question 12

Describe different MM colours

Answer 12

Normal mm are pink/salmon in colour
Pale colour indicates anaemia/lack of o2
Red colour possible fever/infection
Yellow colour indicates jaundice/icterus 
Blue/purple colour indicates hypoxaemia

Question 13

Where can lymph nodes be palpated?

Answer 13

Submandibular, prescapular and popliteal can be located in dog/cat
Retropharyngeal lymph nodes in the horse

Question 14

How is temp taken? what are the normal temp rates?

Answer 14

With digital thermometer in the rectum against the dorsal rectal wall
Dog 38.3-39.2
Cat 38.2-38.6
Horse 37.2-38.9