Physical Exam Physical Exam

Family

Friends

Pets

We Want All Our Loved Ones To Be Healthy

ObjectivesObjectives

• Explain why physical exams are important to the health of the pet.

• Identify the “vital signs.”

• Be able to perform a physical exam and monitor their own animal.

Do any of you have pets?

Have you ever gone to the veterinary clinic?

What does a veterinarian do when you take your pet in for its yearly appointment?

Why Is a Physical Exam Why Is a Physical Exam Important?Important?

• Allows you to find signs of sickness that are not obvious

• Helps you to determine the extent of the injury or illness

Physical examPhysical examDuring a physical you look at all the body

systems and how they are working– All body systems are related in function

– If one doesn’t work properly it may limit what you can do medically

– A veterinarian may pick up on something that the owners didn’t see or know was significant

• Heart murmur

• Growth problem

• Skin problem

• Parasites

First Thing: Check the History

• Check the records of past visits

• Get information from the owner

• Listen carefully, ask questions

* See slide note

What is your over-all first impression? … of skin, muscle tone, movements, behavior,

attitude?

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What about these animals?

Or these?

Physical ExamPhysical ExamThings a Veterinarian

will need– Stethoscope

– Otoscope

– Thermometer

– Pen light

– Neuro hammer

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The first thing a vet may do is listen to your animal’s heart and lungs.

Next, the veterinarian

may take the

animal’s temperature.

*

After the heart, respiratory rates, and temperature are measured, the animal is

examined from head to toe.

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Physical ExamPhysical ExamIf the animal is sick, the veterinarian

may take samples of blood, urine, or feces

*

The last thing the veterinarian may do is give the vaccinations.

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So what are the normal values for animals?

• Horse– Resp: 10-14 bpm– Temp: 99-100°F

• males lower

– HR: 28-40 bpm

• Cow– Resp: 26-50 bpm– Temp: 101-101.5°F– HR: 48-84 bpm

• Sheep/goat– Resp: 16-34 bpm– Temp: 102.3°F– HR: 70-80 bpm

NormalsNormals• Cat

– Resp: 16-40 bpm– Temp: 101.5°F– HR: 120-140 bpm

• Dog– Resp: 18-34 bpm– Temp: 102°F– HR:70-120 bpm

• Pig– Resp: 32-58 bpm– Temp: 102.5°F– HR: 70-120 bpm

*

See data file, “Normal Reference Values.doc”

So does a……?

=

Or a……?

=

You and your Veterinarians must know normal behavior

Partnerships in Health: Partnerships in Health: Monitoring your petMonitoring your pet

• Monitoring your pet can be helpful to your veterinarian when something happens at home.

• What to look for:– Is respiration increased?

– Has the heart rate gone up?

– Is there swelling?

– Does the animal have a fever?

– Has the behavior changed?

– Does the animal lack energy or seem depressed?

Questions?