The physical exam/lab work and your pet: Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of the labwork/physical exam blog. Today this blog will focus on the veterinary physical exam. Your veterinary staff performs pet health exams every day..in all types of situations: exams are performed on the healthy pet,sick pet, pets undergoing a surgical procedure, and emergency cases. After the history is taken by the veterinary technician, the exam is completed by the veterinarian, he or she will obtain additional information about the pet’s current health state from the owner. Additional items regarding diet, elimination habits/behavior, along with other parameters and concerns will be reviewed and discussed. Physical exams are also performed by Veterinary Technicians as well.

Pets are weighed before any history recording is done, so the weight can be compared to the last veterinary examination. A general review of the overall health of a patient starts with a collection of vital signs that you are most likely familiar with. Temperature, pulse, and respiration values are collected and recorded in the patient health chart. Pets definitely can be anxious at times, your veterinary staff will always try to proceed in a stress -free way. Each pet is an individual and plans of approach and care will be adjusted to how the pet is responding to the procedure. The true goal is to collect our information, keep the pet comfortable, and work through our exams in a stress-free way for our patients. At times calming medications may be used to alleviate anxiety.

The following parameters are evaluated and recorded.

General appearance: Is the animal at a healthy weight, obese, or thin?
Integumentary (Skin): Is the coat healthy? Is there hair loss, patches of hair, external parasites present, rashes, or flaking skin?
Musculoskeletal (muscles/skeletal structure) Is there any evidence of lameness, injury or broken bones? Is the animal getting up and around normally? Is there any evidence of muscle wasting? Observation of gait.*
Circulatory: Is there any coughing, fainting, or murmurs?
Respiratory: Coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, exercise intolerance, and cyanosis (blue gums)?
Digestive: Have there been any diet changes? Any toxin exposure (rat poison or antifreeze), vomiting or diarrhea? These are signs of digestive upset. Straining to pass a bowel movement?
Genitourinary (genitals and urinary system): Abnormal discharges or smell, increase or decrease in urine production? Is there any straining present?
Nervous system: Seizures? Behavior changes, hard time walking, head tilt. Evidence of any neurological deficits?
Lymph nodes: enlarged? May indicate infection or neoplasia (cancers).
Ears: Is there any discharge, head shaking, or odor? Is the pet rubbing their ears on the ground or scratching at them?
Eyes: Excessive tearing or discharge? Are there any visual issues? Can the pet see?
Mouth: Are teeth and gums healthy? Are the color of the gums normal? Cyanotic? (blue -tinged) Brick red? Pale? Muddy? (greyish blue) The color of a pet’s gums can give us an indication of a potential health issue.

The physical exam is used every day in practice…..

To evaluate and monitor sick patients in the hospital.-

Identifies animals that are unhealthy and unable to go through a medical procedure and anesthesia. Plans may need to be changed until the animal is in a healthy state.

Annual exams and vaccinations/routine surgery.
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians use this skill every day when we work with our patients within the clinic, or even outside the clinic when released from the hospital ( that is where the benefit of a traveling veterinary nurse comes in!) The physical exam combined with diagnostics aids your pet’s veterinarian in seeking out the cause of illness. With this vital information, a detailed individualized treatment plan can be started. A yearly exam may have labwork parameters performed based on age, this also provides clinicians with a baseline for future comparisons

I definitely can say that performing physicals on presurgical, hospitalized, emergency, and healthy patients is a large part of being a trained veterinary nurse. This was and still is a very important part of my job, especially when a pet is recovering from an illness/surgery or encountering a new medical diagnosis. Using this skill with pets at home aids in the continued circle of care outside a hospital setting.

Be sure to take a look at the link below regarding monitoring your pet’s weight and muscle condition score.

This can be helpful in between veterinary visits for home monitoring!