PE Canine

PE of canines

• nose to tail approach

• systems approach (behavior, eyes, ears, mouth/nose, neurologic, heart, lungs, abdomen, musculoskeletal, integument, reproductive/urinary tract, rectal)

• do it same every time

Temperature

100-102.5

Pulse Rate

70-160 BPM

Respiratory rate

10-24 BPM

Life expectancy

10-12 years

Distance exam

behavior (happy, nervous, reactive)

musculoskeletal (limping, head, tail, tail carriage)

skin changes

neurologic (head tilt, circling, ataxia)

Green

can approach

• wiggly body

• willing to greet you

• ears neutral position

• want wiggly butt, not wiggly tail

Yellow

use caution

• hiding

• whale eye

• ears back

• tail tucked

• lip licking

Red

do not approach

• growling, barking

• lip curling

• lunging

Ears

examine vertical and horizontal canal

tympanic membrane (ear drum)

debris/discharge (sample)

Common ears problem

otitis externa (ear infection)

aural hematoma

Eyes

pupillary light reflect (PLRs) → pupil constriction with light

cornea

lens

conjunctiva

Eye problems

superficial corneal ulcers

cataracts (especially with diabetic dogs)

allergic, infectious conjunctivitis

Mouth

tartar/calculus

fractures

gingivitis

masses

gum color

Nose

discharge

stenotic nares

airflow

Stenotic nares

narrow nasal canals

Neurologic

• mentation (bright, alert, quiet, obtunded)

• cranial nerves and reflexes

• palpate spine

• assess for:

  • head tilt

  • nystagmus (rapid, repetitive eye movement)

  • circling

  • ataxia

Common Neurologic Problems

• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) → long backed dogs

• Idiopathic vestibular disease → like vertigo; in older dogs

Heart

auscultate heart on both sides of the chest

• point of maximum intensity: 4-6 rib space

• normal sound: lub dub

• heart murmurs = abnormal blood flow create whoosh sounds

• asses rate and rhythm

Lungs

listen to all quadrants

• wheezes

• crackles

• absent lung sounds → possible fluid in chest

  • referred airway nose → noise made in head but you can hear it louder in chest (frenchies)

Common lung and heart problems

• mitral valve degeneration

• bronchitis, pneumonia

• congestive heart failure

Abdominal palpation

• gently place hands on either side of the abdomen and compress inwards and upwards

• work from cranial abdomen to caudal abdomen

• organs to palpate

  • spleen - enlarged? mass?

  • intestines

  • liver - cannot feel unless it is enlarged

  • +/- stomach, kidneys, bladder - cannot feel kidneys in dogs

Common abdominal problems

• gastrointestinal foreign body

• splenic mass

• mass

Musculoskeletal

gain exam

• limping

• front limbs = down on sound

palpate each joint both extension and flexion

• full range of motion

• crepitus/crunching of joint = arthritis

Common musculoskeletal problems

arthritis

soft tissue injury, fractures

cranial cruciate ligament rupture (ACL tear)

Integumentary

feel masses

external parasites

• fleas

• demodectic mange

palpate lymph nodes

Common integument problems

lipomas, sebaceous adenomas

fleas, flea allergy dermatitis

lymphoma

Reproductive/Urinary tract

asses for vulvar discharge (intact females)

monitor for color changes to the urine

• females: infection vs bladder stones

• males: bladder stones vs prostate

Common reproductive/urinary tract problems

pyometra (pus filled uterus)

urinary tract infection

bladder stones

SOAP

subjective

objective

assessment

plan

Subjective

• influenced based on feeling or opinion, NOT facts

• complete history

  • presenting complaint - why is patient being brought in

  • ask open ended questions

Objective

• not influenced by opinion or personal feelings, FACTS

• physical exam

  • be thorough as it may help identify the problem or problems going on with patient

• Diagnostics

  • BW

  • UA

  • X-ray, ultrasound

Assessment

• evaluation/interpretation of your patient

• putting together the problems mentioned in the history, your PE findings, and diagnostic results

• diagnosing the un

Plan

• how to treat disease or problems

• diagnostic plan

• Therapeutic plan

• Client/owner education

  • having the owner understand underlying disease/problem will help with treatment compliance

Diagnostic plan

• formulated for each problem

• help to rule in or rule out cause

Therapeutic plan

• treat the specific disease

• treat the underlying problems