Canine PE

Example of Signalment

Name (optional), age, sex (if altered), Color (optional), breed, species

“Sammy is a 6-year-old neutered male black labrador mix canine”

Oral Mucous Membranes

Healthy = Normal pink & moist

Capillary Refill Time

Normal- Returns to original color in 1-2 seconds

Skin Tent

Less than 5 % dehydrated: No detectable clinical signs

Dog and cat normal temp

Dog: 100-102.5 F

Cat: 100-102.5 F

Dog normal HR

Large: 60-120 bpm

Small: 120-160 bpm

Dog and Cat normal resp rate

Both 10-30 rpm

Common Heart Rate collection sites:

Auscultate OR palpate Apex beat (mitral valve) on Left hemithorax

Palpate- femoral artery pulse

Common Respiratory Rate collection sites:

Visualize thorax and abdomen move with each breath from a distance

Palpate- Place hand on caudal thorax/cranial abdomen and palpate each inhalation

Auscultate- place stethoscope on thorax or trachea

If patient is panting the majority of the time, state as “Panting,” but also provide rate. (will be fast, tachypneic)

Peripheral Lymph Nodes

Describing Healthy Peripheral Lymph Nodes:

1. Symmetric (to contralateral LN)

2. Soft

3. Mobile

4. Non-painful

5. No heat

Mandibular Lymph Node & Salivary Gland Locations

Prescapular Lymph Node Location

(aka Superficial Cervical LN)

Popliteal Lymph Node Location

Integument (Skin)

Run hands over entire surface of the skin

Describe coat quality

Conscious Proprioception

Evaluates patient’s awareness of their limbs in space

AND their ability to correct any abnormal positioning.

Spine

Palpate along each dorsal spinous process/transverse process

• Cervical (neck) caudally to  Coccygeal (tail)

• Pain, crepitus, asymmetry?

Cardiovascular Evaluation

1. Collect heart rate if not already performed

2. Auscultate Left AND Right sides of the heart

3. Assess Femoral Pulse

Cardiac Auscultation

Left side of heart

• Mitral valve (5th Intercostal Space (ICS)), Aortic valve (4th ICS), Pulmonic (3rd ICS)

Right side of heart

• Tricuspid valve (4-5th ICS)

Describing a healthy cardiac auscultation: Strong, no murmurs, no arrhythmias auscultated

Femoral Pulse

Is the pulse strong and immediately follows heartbeat (aka synchronous)?

Yes= normal

Respiratory System Evaluation

1. Assess respiratory effort

2. Auscultate trachea to appreciate referred upper airway sounds

3. Auscultate 3 locations on Left and Right Hemithoraxes

Cranioventral, Central, Dorsal

Listen for 1-2 breaths per location

ormal lung sounds = normal bronchovesicular sounds

Abdominal Palpation

Direction: Slide Cranial → Caudal & Slide Dorsal → Ventral.

Hand position

• Fingertips/palms pointing dorsally (sensitive nerves in fingertips)

• Small cat or dog: 1 hand

• Med-large dog: 2 hands in “prayer” position, recommend 1 hand in between

pelvic limbs, and other hand placed laterally

• Palpate urinary bladder with 1 hand

Describing Abdominal Palpation Findings:

• Soft/compliant vs these/hard (non-diagnostic)

• Non-painful vs painful

• Abdominal masses

• Organomegaly

• Urinary bladder: Describe how full

ie)Turgid/distended, mildly, moderately, non-

palpable (empty)

Otoscope

Cone sizes:

• Small - this size works well for cats or dogs under 20lbs

• Medium - this size works well for dogs 20-80lbs.

• Large - this size works well for dogs > 80 lbs or for dogs under anesthesia.

Canine BCS Score

1-9 scale

4-5 is ideal - ribs easily palpable, minimal fat covering, waste easily noted/ viewed from above. Abdominal tuck