WILD- Topic 24: Physical Examination

The physical examination is a series of observations that are made to determine the severity of a victim’s medical condition and what approach for first aid should be made. During triage, this is often referred to as a physical assessment. This animal does not have much time so finding out what first aid it needs is imperative. Before starting a hands-on exam, stand back and look at the animal. Look at the animal’s posture, breathing, activity level, and general appearance. Four different observations are used to conduct a physical exam. These include visual inspection, palpation (sense of touch), percussion(tapping on areas of the body), and auscultation(listening to) The use of these senses helps us determine any abnormalities.

The following are the parts of a general physical exam:

• Listening to an animal’s lungs and heart
• Checking the cat or dog’s stance, gait, and weight
• Examining the pet’s eyes for signs of excessive tearing, discharge, redness, cloudiness, or eyelid issues
• Checking the pet’s coat for overall condition, abnormal hair loss, or dandruff
• Examining the pet’s nails and feet for damage or signs of a more serious health condition
• Looking at the pet’s ears for signs of bacterial infection, ear mites, or wax
• Examining the condition of the pet’s teeth for any indications of periodontal disease, damage, or decay
• Checking a pet’s skin for a handful of problems such as parasites, dryness, lumps, and bumps (specifically in skin folds)
• Feeling the pet’s abdomen to access the internal organs to see if they appear normal and to check for signs of discomfort
• Feeling along a cat or dog’s body (palpating) for hints of illness including swelling, evidence of lameness ( such as limited range of motion), and signs of pain

It’s important for every pet owner and animal professional to know the basics when it comes to performing an emergency physical exam. In addition to the factors covered in the pervious lesson such as vital signs and triage, other parameters should be evaluate as listed below:

PAIN: Any pain is considered abnormal. Pain has also been shown to case an injury to take longer to heal,  increases the stress response and causes a faster heart rate. This increased workload on the heart puts more pressure on the cardiovascular system. If an animal is painful, judge whether the level of pain is more intense than expected. The pain may be an indication of a new issue and should be brought to the attention of a veterinarian.

ABDOMINAL DISTENTION: Distention refers to the abdomen being enlarged and usually hard to the touch and very painful. Often it is due to a severe life-threatening condition.  One of the most common abdominal abnormalities you may see is bloat. Bloat will be discussed later in this course.

NEUROLOGIC or DISABILITY/DYSFUNCTION – Most levels of consciousness should be bright, alert and responsive. Abnormal signs could be staggering or having trouble moving, being lethargic, or even comatose.

Neurological considerations:

• Levels of consciousness:
• Alert: Normal awake and responsive
• Obtunded/depressed/dull: State of decreased Drowsy, but rousable.
• Stuporous/semi-comatose: in a sleep state, can be aroused only with painful stimuli.
• Coma: Cannot be aroused, even if painful

EYES: Normal = equally sized responsive pupils, centrally positioned eyes. Normal pupils should be midrange, of equal size, and constrict when exposed to light.