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
What does petechiae mean?
Capillaries bleeding under the skin causing small red or purple spots
What would cause Petechiae in the MMs and what might this indicate?
Submucosal haemorrhage
Indicated clotting disorders e.g. willebrand’s disease, rodenticide poisoning
What does Icteric mean?
the same as jaundice - yellow colouring of the skin
What is a normal CRT time?
<2 seconds (less than 2 seconds)
What can a prolonged CRT time indicate?
Poor tissue perfusion
Hypovolaemia, Dehydration, heart failure, shock
What does hypovolaemia mean?
decreased volume of circulating blood in the body
What can a rapid CRT time indicate?
Severe sepsis, fever
What does blepharospasm mean?
squinting
What does exophthalmos mean?
Protrusions, mass/abscess on the eyeball
what does proptosis mean?
prolapse of the eye or abnormal eye placement
What does keratitis mean?
Inflammation of the cornea
What does Entropian mean?
internal rotation of the eyelids
What does Ectropian mean?
outward rotation of the eyelids
What does Distichia mean?
Extra row of eyelashes that rub against the globe
What is another term for the Nictitating Membrane?
Third eyelid
What is the proper term for the third eyelid
Nictitating Membrane
What does Aniscoria mean?
unequal pupil size
What is the Corpora Nigra?
A normal structure in a horses eye that extended out of the iris and functions to shade the pupil from glare
What is Scleral?
White outer layer of the eyeball
What does Uveitis mean?
Inflammation of the uvea (iris is part of this structure)
What should be noted when examining discharge from a patients eye?
Whether it is unilateral or bilateral - always get the vet to examine discharge before cleaning
What is Lymphadenopathies?
Disease of the lymph nodes
What are the signs of Lymphadenopathies?
Enlargement of the lymph nodes, abnormal shape
Which lymph nodes may not be palpated in a health cat or dog?
Axillary and inguinal
What is the difference between rabbit and dog and cat lymph nodes?
Rabbits are relatively smaller
What is cerumen?
Ear wax
What is Furunculosis?
a skin infection affecting the hair follicles and sweat glands usually bacterial and difficult to treat
What is the best way to take a Resp rate on a patient?
From afar before handling to reduce stress which might affect the reparation rate
What should you note when examining then environment of a horse?
Presence of faeces, urine, uneaten food and remaining water. Check state of bedding for excessive disruption, damage or faecal contamination to stable walls.
What activity would you expect to see in a young health animal?
Cyclical activity, eat - play - urinate/defecate, lots of sleep and suckling if still with mother
What animal would need more frequent mentation checks?
one with a head trauma or brain tumour
When observing an animal from afar what would you check?
Resp rate, mental alertness, response to surroundings, posture, gait, body condition, lameness
What is Otodectes cynotis?
Ear mite of the cat, dog, ferret or fox
What is Psoroptes Cuniculi?
Rabbit Ear mite
What is Psoroptes equi?
Horse ear mite
What is Dematophytosis?
Ringworm
What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Gram negative bacteria
What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa commonly a cause of in dogs?
Otitis externa and otitis media
What smell could be a sign of Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Very strong and foul smell
What smell could indicate Malassezia Pachydermatis?
Yeasty smell
What does Purulent mean?
Pus-containing
What might a long, curly coat indicate in older ponies?
Cushing’s disease
What visible parasites might be present on a dog or cat?
fleas, lice, mites and ticks
What microscopic parasites might be present on a dog or cat?
demodect, sarcoptic and cheyletiella mange
What microscopic parasite might be present on a horse?
chorioptic mange
