Physical examination Flashcards
Why is it important to use a logical sequence and methodology to assess a patient?
To ensure you have assessed the entire patient to prevent missing any important information
What does SOAP stand for?
S - subjective, How you think the patient is i.e things you can’t measure
O - Objective, Fact about the patient you can measure e.g TPR, pain score
A - Assessment, Identifying the situation, where is the patient in regards to its condition
P - Plan, Veterinary or nursing intervention for that day
As well as kennel guarding, what can agitation or vocalisation indicate in kennelled dogs?
The need to go to the toilet
What is the name given to describe characteristic, repetitive pacing movements that a horse may make around its stable?
Box-Walking
What is the name given to the locomotor stereotypy where a horse repetitively sways side to side, shifting weight and moving its head and neck back and forth typically over the stable door?
Weaving
What are the examples of oral stereotypy in horses?
Wind-sucking & Crib-biting
What are examples of vices in horses?
Pawing, Digging, door-kicking
How can you reduce stress when hospitalising prey animals?
House them away from predators
How can you reduce stress when hospitalising cats?
Don’t kennel at floor level, keep kennel area quiet, provide hiding places, don’t house cats facing each other provide F3 and F4 pheromones (feliway)
Why should horses be able to see others when stabled?
because they are herd animals
When should patients be isolated?
for infection control, seizures and intensive care
what should be noted during a physical examination of the head?
Correct posture, No head tilt, symmetrical, palpate and note any swellings and masses
what does stertor mean?
noise on inspiration
What does strider mean?
Noise on expiration
What should be noted during a physical examination of the external nares and upper respiratory tract?
External nares slightly moist, no discharge, both nares patient. Note any Stertor or Strider
What should be noted during a physical examination or the oral cavity?
No Jaw misalignment
No dental malocclusions or spurs
no ulceration
examine teeth and not any tartar, gingivitis, teeth fractures, missing teeth or halitosis
check hard pallet for wounds, foreign bodies, or congenital abnormalities in neonates (cleft palate)
What should be noted when examining a hamsters oral cavity?
check cheek pouches for food
what should be checked before anaesthetising a rodent?
check mouth for chewed bedding
What should be checked around the mouth?
skin fold pyoderma, hyper salivation
What would the clinical signs be in an animal that was <5% dehydrated?
Moist MMs, Normal skin turgor, CRT <2s, normal eye position, Normal HR
What would the clinical signs be in an animal that was 5-8% dehydrated?
Tacky MMs, slight tenting of the skin, CRT slightly prolonged, slightly sunken eye position, possibly slightly tachycardic
What would the clinical signs be in an animal that was 8-10% dehydrated?
Dry MMs, moderate tenting of the skin, prolonged CRT, eyes sunken within orbit, Tachycardia
what would the clinical signs be in an animal that was 10-12% dehydrated?
Dry MMs, tenting of skin that remains in place, CRT >2s, eyes sunken within orbit, Tachycardica & signs of shock
What would the clinical signs be in an animal that was 12-15% dehydrated?
Dry MMs, tenting of the skin that remains in place, CRT >2s, eyes sunken within the orbit, Shock, collapse, unconsciousness, death.
What would cause a Pale MM colour and what might this indicate?
Too few red blood cells in circulation
indicates circulatory collapse
What would a Red MM colour indicate?
Sepsis, fever, extensive tissue dammage
What would cause a Blue/purple MM colour and what might this indicate?
Too little oxygen in the blood
Indicated respiratory disease, heart disease
URGENT OXYGENATION REQUIRED
What would cause a Yellow MM colour and what might this indicate?
Too much bilirubin in the blood
indicates liver disease, bile flow obstruction, increased RBC destruction, equine/feline neonatal isoerythrolysis (remove from mother’s milk)
What might cause chocolate brown MM colour in cats and dogs?
Paracetamol poisoning
What would cause a cherry red MM colour and what might this indicate?
Carbon monoxide replacing oxygen in red blood cells
indicates carbon monoxide poisoning from car fumes/fire
