EQST301 - Topic 4: Physical Examination & Vitals Assessment

1) physical exam

2) history

3) basic bloodwork

3 basic things an equine vet will depend on to diagnose a condition

1) air quality

2) bedding/footing

3) manure

4) urine

5) water

6) grass/hay

7) concentrates

7 general observations that should be made

1) look

2) listen

3) feel

4) smell

5) taste?

5 senses to use during a physical exam

1) age

2) sex

3) breed

4) function/job

5) area of country

6) time of year

6 signalments of the horse

1) mentation

2) stance

3) demeanor

4) respiration

4 parts of general observation

BAR (Bright, Alert, Relaxed)

Normal mentation

Weight-bearing on all 4 limbs

Normal stance

1-9

Body condition scale range

5

Ideal body condition score

99°F to 101°F

Normal temperature range

1) Petroleum jelly

2) Spit

2 possible lubricants

arrhythmias

abnormal rhythms

murmurs

turbulent blood flow

auscultate heart for 1 minute

How to take a pulse?

28-44 beats/minute

Normal pulse range

Facial artery

Artery that can be used to assess pulse

8-24 breaths/minute

Normal respiration range

heave line

Indent often seen in horses with asthma

re-breathing bag

tool used in respiration assessment to assess cough

1) oral

2) ocular

2 mucous membranes

light pink to pink

normal mucous membrane color

less than 2 seconds

Normal capillary refill time

Difficult to feel in healthy horses

Normal digital pulse

1) Abscess

2) Laminitis/Founder

3) Coffin bone structure

3 causes of a “bounding” digital pulse

paralumbar fossa to ventral abdomen

Area to auscultate GI sounds

3rd, 4th, or 5th intercostal space on the left side

Area to auscultate the heart

valve flush

What is the most important thing to hear at the right paralumbar fossa?

1) large colon

2) cecum

What 2 organs of the GI tract can be auscultated on the right side?

1) small intestine

2) large colon

What 2 organs of the GI tract can be auscultated on the left side?

1) swelling

2) wounds

3) dermatitis

3 things to look for on the limb exam

stiffness/soreness

What should you look for on the axial/trunk area exam?

lameness vs. neurological

What are you looking for on a movement exam?

1) Structures of head

2) Front limb musculature

2 things to look at from directly in front of the horse

1) Gluteal muscles

2) Shoulder symmetry

2 things to look at from directly behind the horse

atrophy

shrinkage in muscle mass

hypertrophy

increase in muscle mass

submandibular lymph nodes

Most easily palpable lymph nodes

1) Squinting

2) Swelling

3) Discharge

4) Clarity

5) Pupillary Light Response (PLR)

6) Menace Response

6 things to evaluate in the basic physical exam of the eye

canthus

Area where the upper and lower eyelid meet

Corpora nigra

dark body of the horse’s eye

direct pupillary light response

constriction of the pupil in response to light entering the same eye

consensual pupillary light response

response where both pupils constrict when light is shone into one eye

fluorescein stain

Used to stain to check for eye ulcers

teeth

Can be a great indicator of age

caps

general term for deciduous teeth shedding off