Physical Exam Flashcards
Each system is examined in its entirety before moving on.
Systems exam
All systems are examined but many systems may be evaluated simultaneously.
Head to tail exam
What scenes are used during examination?
Sight, smell, sound, touch
What details do we focus on?
Size, shape, color, consistency, location, appearance, rate, volume
What data can you get on the way to the exam room?
Gait, weight, behavior, temperament, appearance of skin (zoonotic disease)
Why is weight important?
Metabolic disorder monitoring, drug dosing,
What is the starting point for every exam?
TPR
What if oral mm aren’t able to be viewed?
Find a different conjunctiva
What ways can you stop a cat from purring to get heart rate?
Running water, alcohol or palpate a pulse
The time period of pulse where the left ventricle is contracting?
Systole
The time period of heart rate where the heart is relaxing.
Diastole
Normal heart sound?
Lub dub
What does a murmur sound like?
Swishing
What can cause a murmur?
Defective valve, narrowed blood vessel, defective wall
Three types of heart murmurs?
Systolic, diastolic, washing machine
Heart rate influxes when an animal breathes.
Sinus arrhythmia
What is a normal sound of lungs?
Rustling leaves
Abnormal lung sounds?
Wheezing, cracking, whistles, pops, clicks
What if a cat is panting?
Report immediately to the doctor!
Perform a complete and efficient physical exam with….
Proper documentation
Advanced
Physical exam
What do you analyze about lumps?
Size, location, both sides, discharge, pain
What do you analyze about eyes?
Discharge, eyelids (entropian, cherry eye) conjunctiva and sclera, cornea, iris, lens, reflexes (PLR)
What do you analyze about coat?
External parasites, debris, redness, wounds, flakes, missing patches of hair
What is an entropian?
Eyelid is rolled in
What are indications of entropian?
Discharge, blue and hazy cornea, swelling, eyelid rolled in
What is an ectropian?
Droopy eyelid
What are some issues with ectropians?
Discharge, debris
What is a cherry eye?
Prolapse of the tear gland of the third eyelid
What do we test for with pupillary light reflex?
Neurological function of the cranial nerves during head trauma or neurological disease
What response should come when we perform pupillary light reflex?
Both pupils restrict at the same speed
What does a Schirmer tear test test for?
Dry eye
What does flourescein dye test test for?
Ulcerations
How do you check the third eyelid?
Proparicaine and pull eye lid forward
What does ocular tonometery test for?
Glaucoma
What result from tonometery indicates glaucoma?
Over 25 Hg
Where is a complete eye exam done?
Dark room
What indications come with cataracts?
Can’t see through the eye (opacity of the lens)
An eye change that is known in geriatrics.
Nuclear sclerosis
What do we analyze about ears?
The pinna, discharge and debris, response to stimuli
What do you analyze out their nose?
Discharge, sneezing, coughing, mucous membranes, moisture
What do we analyze about the mouth?
Lips, Gums, teeth, tongue, tonsil, fractured teeth, halitosis, malocclusion (under or over bite) lumps or bumps in mouth
What is considered normal dental alignment?
Scissors
What are the names of lymph nodes?
Submandibular, prescapular, popliteal, axiallary, inguinal
Which two nodes are only palpated if abnormal?
Axiallary, inguinal
What do we analyze about the trunk of an animal?
Skin turgor, integumentary and muscular system
What is the ideal body score?
3/5
What are characteristics of a fit animal?
Has a waist, can easily palpate ribs, have a “tuck” before the pelvis
Ability to view ribs or spine.
Emaciated
Over 20% of body weight is excess
Obese
What do we observe about extremities?
Gait, skin and hair, muscle mass, range of motion, toe nails, foot pads, check righting reflex
What do we analyze genetalia for?
Discharge, inflammation, smegma, blood, odor
What about perianal area do we analyze?
Hair loss, matting, inflammation, abscess
Why would we do rectal exam?
Prostate size, tumors, Anal glands
