Clinical Examinations (Cats+ Dogs, Horses, and Bovine)

Clinical Examination of the Common Domestic Species 1 Lecture

Clinical Examination of the Common Domestic Species 1 Lecture

What does SOAP stand for?

subjective, objective, assessment, plan

What does signalment mean?

Age, sex, breed, physiological status

Reference range - dog temperature

37.8 - 39.2 °C

Reference range - cat temperature

37.8 - 39.2 °C

Reference range- dog pulse

70-160

Reference range- cat pulse

120-180

Reference range- dog respiration

10-30

Reference range- cat respiration

20-40

Which typically has a higher temperature: small or large breeds?

Small breeds

Where do exams begin and end in domestic species?

Nose to tail

what BCS is ideal?

5/9 or 3/5

When examining the head of any species, what are you looking at?

• facial symmetry

• nose/nostrils

• eyes (third eyelid, PLR)

• ears

• teeth/gums + CRT

What should capillary refill time be?

Less than 2 seconds

what does a prolonged skin tent suggest?

dehydration

Which lymph nodes are palpable in domestic species?

Mandibular, popliteal, pre scapular

Which lymph nodes are not palpable in domestic species?

Axillary, iliac, inguinal

How do you report pulses?

Rate, quality, rhythm

What is sinus arrhythmia?

HR increases with inspiration and decreases with expiration

Where do you listen to the HR in domestic species?

Apex of heart, left side cranial/ventral, under armpit

What grade murmur is it as loud as the heartbeat?

Grade 3

What grade murmur can be palpated outside the body?

Grade 5

What can be checked before a physical exam on a horse? (Besides the horse itself)

Bedding, feed, feces, sign of pain, signs of stereotypes

Clinical Exam: EQUINE

Clinical Exam: EQUINE

Reference range- horse temperature

37.5-38.5°C

Reference range- horse pulse

28-40 bpm

Reference range- horse respiration

8-16 breaths per minute

Reference range- donkey temperature

36.2-37.8 °C

Reference range- donkey pulse

44-60

Reference range- donkey respiration

20-28

What is the sequence of the equine examination?

-Head (if tolerant)

-neck

-thorax

-abdomen

-limbs

-skin

-temperature

Which arteries is pulse taken on for horses?

Facial artery and transverse facial artery

Which lymph nodes should be palpated in horses?

Submandibular and retropharyngeal

How many fields should be used when auscultating lungs in horses?

3-4

What should be palpated on equine abdomen exams?

Edema, linea alba, umbilicus, prepuce, scrotum

What does borborygmi mean?

rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines

When auscultating a horse abdomen, how many quadrants will it be divided into?

Four quadrants

What are the borborygmi scores for abdomen auscultation?

- absent

+ reduced

++ normal

+++ increased

How often does cecal flush occur?

Every 90-180 seconds

What quadrant does cecal flush occur?

Upper right quadrant

Clinical Exam: BOVINE

Clinical Exam: BOVINE

Reference range- bovine temperature

38.0-39.1 °C

Reference range- bovine respiration

15-35

Reference range- bovine pulse

60-80

Reference range- rumen turnover

3 cycles per 2 minutes

What is the sequence of the cattle examination?

Tail to Head:

Rear end

Left side

Right side

Head and neck

Rectum and vagina

Where is pulse typically taken in bovine?

Bottom side of tail

Where is membrane color and CRT commonly assessed in bovine?

Vulva

what lymph nodes are palpated on cattle?

prescapular and prefemoral

What is the withers pinch test?

Checking for discomfort

What does a score 1 in AHDB indicate in ruminants?

Not eaten in 24 hours

When palpating the rumen, what layers is one looking for?

Gassy dorsal layer

Doughy fibrous mid-layer

Liquid ventral layer

What does LDA stand for?

left displaced abomasum

When assessing LDA, what would one expect from history of the animal?

Freshly calved, retained placenta, drop in milk yield, ketosis, milk fever, wont eat concentrates