Physical Exam

We Want All Our Loved Ones To Be Healthy

Family Friends Pets

Objectives • 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 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 During 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 See slide note • Check the records of past visits • Get information from the owner • Listen carefully, ask questions

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

What about these animals?

Or these?

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

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

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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 Exam * If 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?

Normals • 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 • 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 See data file, “Normal Reference Values.doc” *

So does a……? =

Or a……? =

You and your Veterinarians must know normal behavior

Partnerships in Health: Monitoring 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?