Clinical Examinations

1
Clinical Examinations
2
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource Standards
Addressed

• AS.07.01. Design programs to prevent animal
  diseases, parasites and other disorders and
  ensure animal welfare.
• AS.07.01.02.b. Perform simple health-check
  evaluations on animals and practice basic
  emergency response procedures related to animals.
• AS.07.01.02.c. Determine when an animal health
  concern needs to be referred to an animal health
  professional.

3
A Healthy Animal has...

• Clear bright eyes with pink membranes around the
  eyes.

• An appearance of contentment.

• An alert attitude and interest in surroundings.

• A good appetite.

• A sleek, shiny coat with hair that is
  pliable, not dry and brittle.

• Feces and urine that are easily passed and normal
  in appearance.

• Temperature, pulse, and respiration in normal
  range.

4
Average TPRs
Snake room temp 12
1-2
5
Temperature

• Variations in temperature occur due to
• Infection/disease
• Excitement/stress
• Environment
• Procedure
• Wipe the thermometer with alcohol and shake it
  down until the mercury is below 98 degrees.
• Lubricate the tip with petroleum jelly.
• Gently insert the thermometer into the rectum and
  hold it securely in place for three minutes.
• Remove the thermometer and wipe with a paper
  towel.
• Slowly rotate the thermometer until the mercury
  is visible, and take a reading.

6
Dog/Cat Pulse
7
Horse/Cow Pulse
8
Pulse

• Variations may occur due to
• Anxiety
• Exercise
• Pain
• Disease
• Shock
• species
• Procedure
• Using your index and middle fingers, gently roll
  them over the artery feeling for the pulse.
• Count the number of pulses in 15 seconds.
• Multiple the number of pulses in 15 seconds by 4
  to get beats/minute.

9
Respiration

• Respiration is evaluated by looking at three
  parameters.
• Rate of respiration
• Depth degree of chest effort needed to take a
  breath (deep, shallow)
• Character (slow, rapid, normal)
• Procedure
• Observe the rise and fall of the chest,
• Count the number of breaths for 15 seconds.
• Multiple the number of respiration in 15 seconds
  by 4 to get breaths/minute.

10
12 Areas to Examine

• General Appearance - Healthy overall, eyes
  bright, coat shiny, too fat or too thin?
• Integumentary (skin)- Coat shiny/full, or
  dull/brittle? Bald patches, rashes, or flaking
  skin?
• Muscoskeletal - History of lameness or visible
  lameness? Broken bones?
• Circulatory - Coughing, fainting, dyspnea, or
  heart murmurs?
• Respiratory - Coughing, sneezing, nasal
  discharge, exercise intolerance, or cyanosis?
• Digestive - Eating normally? Diet changes? Toxin
  (rat poison, antifreeze) ingested? Vomiting or
  diarrhea?

• Genitourinary - Abnormal discharge, smell, or
  color ? Swelling, inability or difficulty in
  urinating and defecating?
• Nervous system - Seizures, behavior changes, head
  tilt, difficulty walking?
• Lymph nodes Swollen?
• Ears - Discharge, unusual odor, or head shaking?
• Eyes - Excessive tearing or discharge? Visual
  difficulties?
• Mouth - Gums and teeth healthy, moist, pink
  mucous membranes? Very red, cyanotic, or pale
  membranes are abnormal.