Physical exam: vital signs

Question 1

TPR

Answer 1

temp, pulse/heart rate, respiration, mucous membranes

Question 2

where can a temperature be taken from?

Answer 2

rectal (ideal), armpit, ear

Question 3

what degree difference is there when temperature is not taken rectally?

Answer 3

2 degrees

Question 4

what is a normal temp range for dogs and cats?

Answer 4

100.5-102.5 F

Question 5

high temp

Answer 5

hyperthermic/pyrexic
hyperthermic when temp rises due to stress
pyrexic when temp rises due to immune response

Question 6

where is the pulse evaluated from?

Answer 6

femoral artery

Question 7

normal pulse

Answer 7

strong and steady

Question 8

pulse too strong

Answer 8

snappy or bounding

Question 9

pulse too weak

Answer 9

thready

Question 10

normal dog heart rate

Answer 10

70-160 bpm

Question 11

normal cat heart rate

Answer 11

150-210 bpm

Question 12

how can breed impact heart rate?

Answer 12

smaller breeds will have a faster heart rate and larger breeds will have a slower heart rate because of more or less body the blood has to travel through

Question 13

where do you auscultate dogs?

Answer 13

lateral sides
pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves on left side
tricuspid valve on right side

Question 14

where do you auscultate cats?

Answer 14

near sternum
valves located same as dogs

Question 15

how do you evaluate respiration?

Answer 15

watch rise and fall of chest while animal is sitting or standing, Bpm is # of breaths in 15sec times 4 (same as bpm)

Question 16

what are the 4 lung fields?

Answer 16

cranial dorsal, cranial ventral, caudal dorsal, caudal ventral

Question 17

normal lung sounds

Answer 17

wind through trees

Question 18

high heart rate

Answer 18

tachycardic

Question 19

low heart rate

Answer 19

bradycardic

Question 20

high respiration

Answer 20

trachypneic (tachypnic)

Question 21

low respiration

Answer 21

bradypneic

Question 22

wheezing lung sounds

Answer 22

high pitched, narrowed airways, bronchoconstriction

Question 23

rhonchi lung sounds

Answer 23

large airways with rapid air movement, low pitched

Question 24

stridor/stertor lung sounds

Answer 24

upper airway, snoring sound, obstruction

Question 25

crackles lung sounds

Answer 25

fluid in aveoli, re-opening airways

Question 26

normal mm color

Answer 26

pink and moist

Question 27

what other places can you check mucous membranes if gums are normally a different color?

Answer 27

conjunctiva, prepuce, vulva

Question 28

pale mm color

Answer 28

vasoconstriction

Question 29

blue mm color

Answer 29

inadequate oxygenation

Question 30

red mm color

Answer 30

increased perfusion

Question 31

icteric (yellow) mm color

Answer 31

bilirubin accumulation

Question 32

brown mm color

Answer 32

methemoglobinemia

Question 33

petechiae mm color (pinprick blood vessel dots)

Answer 33

coagulation disorder