Veterinary Assistant Hospital Care

Wire brush

Tool for cleaning clipper blades (see Figure 38-75)

WD-40

Avoid using on clippers as it can damage them

Blade wash

Solution to soak clipper blades for cleaning

Tooth damage

Prevent by storing blades face down

Skin tears

Caused by broken teeth on clipper blades

Corrosion

Caused by wet areas on clippers or blades

Blade sharpening

Process done by professionals or using sharpeners

Clipper head

Should be removed periodically for maintenance

Ear canal

May need shaving for cleanliness in some breeds

Forceps

Tool used to remove hair from the ear canal

Otitis

Ear infection common in floppy-eared pets

Pinna

External part of the ear flap

Tympanic membrane

Eardrum located at the end of the ear canal

Ear-cleaning solution

Used to clean internal structures of the ear

Nail trimming

Process to prevent overgrowth and discomfort

Hoofs

Require trimming and protection from overgrowth

Keratin

Protein composing the outer nail covering

Quick

Blood and nerve supply to the nail

Nail bed

Area where nail growth occurs

Nail clipping

Cut just distal to the quick to avoid injury

Dewclaws

Extra toes and digits that some animals, like cats, may have and need to be trimmed.

Quicks

Faint pink triangular areas within the end of the nail; cutting into or near the quick can cause bleeding and pain.

Styptic Powder

Loose yellow powder applied to bleeding nail beds to clot the blood during nail trimming.

Silver Nitrate Stick

Long wooden applicators with silver nitrate on the end used to burn the nail bed, induce clotting, and stop bleeding during nail trimming.

Nail Trimmers

Tools of various shapes and sizes used for trimming overgrown nails in animals, including White clippers, professional trimmers, and Rescoe or guillotine nail clippers.

Dremel Tool

A grinding tool with a sandpaper surface used to round and smooth the end of the nail in animals during nail trimming.

Anal Glands

Scent glands located on either side of the rectum in dogs and cats, which can become impacted and require expression to prevent abscesses.

External Expression of Anal Glands

A technique where the anal glands are manually expressed externally by palpating the ventral and lateral sides of the anus to release built-up secretions.

Anogenital Distance

Space between the area of the vulva or penis and the rectum by which gender can be determined.

Aspiration

Process used with a syringe when the plunger is drawn back slightly to make certain no blood vessel has been accidentally penetrated prior to administering an injection; also refers to swallowing food that enters the lung field.

Agonal

Refers to gasps of breaths while the respiratory system shuts down at the time of death.