Strand 2 Animal Science — Animal Health: Assessment, Prevention, Pharmacology, and Surgical Care

What are vitals in veterinary settings?

Basic physiological measurements including temperature, pulse, and respiration rate that provide a snapshot of how the body is functioning.

What does TPR stand for?

Temperature, Pulse, Respiration.

How is body temperature typically measured in animals?

Rectally, using a digital thermometer.

What does pyrexia indicate?

Fever, often suggesting infection or inflammation.

What does hypothermia suggest when assessing an animal's vitals?

It can occur with shock, exposure, anesthesia, neonatal illness, or severe disease.

What is an essential part of evaluating pulse?

Assessing rate, rhythm, and quality.

What does a weak, fast pulse indicate?

Possible poor circulating volume such as dehydration, hemorrhage, or shock.

What is the normal heart rate range for a dog?

60 to 120 beats per minute.

What is the normal respiration rate for a horse?

8 to 16 breaths per minute.

What does CRT stand for and what does it assess?

Capillary refill time; it assesses perfusion by measuring how quickly blood returns to the capillaries.

What indicates poor perfusion in an animal?

High heart rate combined with weak pulses and prolonged capillary refill time.

What does Body Condition Scoring (BCS) assess?

An animal's body fat stores by palpating and observing key landmarks.

Which scale is commonly used for dogs and cats in BCS?

A 1–9 scale, where higher values indicate more fat.

What does a low BCS indicate?

Potential issues like parasites, dental disease, malnutrition, or chronic pain.

What does a high BCS signal?

Risks like overfeeding, endocrine disease, and complications during anesthesia.

What is the main goal of preventative health in animal care?

To reduce disease risks before an animal becomes ill.

What are key components of a preventative health program?

Nutrition, vaccination, parasite control, biosecurity, and routine monitoring.

What does the primary survey in first-aid check?

It checks Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABCs) for immediate threats.

What indicates shock in an animal?

Signs like tachycardia, weak pulses, pale gums, and altered mentation.

What must you do to control external bleeding?

Apply direct pressure with clean gauze or cloth.

What is important to monitor in post-operative care?

Trends in temperature, pulse, respiration, pain, and incision appearance.

What is the process of ADME in drug pharmacology?

Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.

What does withdrawal time refer to in food animals?

The time required after drug administration before animal products are safe for human consumption.

What is crucial to ensure before performing a surgical procedure?

Creating and maintaining a sterile surgical environment.

What is a key part of instrument sterilization?

Thorough cleaning before sterilization is essential to ensure effectiveness.

What should be documented after administering a medication?

Drug name, dose, route, site, time, and lot number, especially for vaccines.

What is a common mistake regarding vitals assessment?

Focusing solely on the numbers without considering species, stress, and context.