Physical Exam

We Want All Our Loved Ones to Be and Stay Healthy Family Friends Pets

Objectives After this lessons, students should be able to: 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

Questions for Students Do any of you have pets? Have you gone with your parents to the vet clinic? What does a vet do when you take your pet in for their yearly appointment?

Why Is a Physical Exam Important? Allows you to find signs of sickness that are not obvious. Helps you to determine the extent of the injury or illness

Physical Exam On 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 info. from the owner Listen carefully, ask questions.

What is Your Overall First Impression? … of skin, muscle tone, movements, behavior, attitude?

Physical Exam Things a Vet will need –Stethoscope –Otoscope –Thermometer –Pen light –Neuro hammer

Listen to Heart & Lungs The first thing a vet may do is listen to your animal’s heart and lungs. Normal Heart Sound

Measure Temperature Next, the veterinarian may take the animal’s temperature.

Head to Toe Examination After the heart & respiratory rates and temperature are measured, the animal is examined from head to toe.

Take Samples If the animal is sick, the veterinarian may take samples of blood, urine, or feces

Give Vaccinations The last thing the vet may do is give the vaccinations.

Normal Rates Normal Rates Cat –Resp: bpm –Temp: 101.5°F –HR: bpm Dog –Resp: bpm –Temp: 102°F –HR: bpm Pig –Resp: bpm –Temp: 102.5°F –HR: bpm Horse –Resp: bpm –Temp: °F males lower –HR: bpm Cow –Resp: bpm –Temp: °F –HR: bpm Sheep/goat –Resp: bpm –Temp: 102.3°F –HR: bpm

Monitoring Your Pet Monitoring your pet can be helpful to your veterinarian when something happens at home. –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?