Clinical Exams
What is a clinical examination?
What is a evaluation of an animal's health?
Name one characteristic of a healthy dog.
What is a shiny coat, normal gait and posture, clean eyes, ears and nose, or normal appetite and behavior?
What does TPR stand for?
What is temperature, pulse, and respiration?
What does CRT stand for?
What is capillary refill time?
Which instrument is used to take an animal's temperature? BE SPECIFIC
What is a rectal thermometer?
Name two things combined during a clinical examination
What are observation, hands-on assessment, and vital signs?
Name one warning sign that a dog may be unhealthy.
What is lethargy, aggression, limping, stiffness, discharge, dull coat, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite?
What is the normal temperature range for dogs?
What is 101–102.5°F?
Where is the skin tent test performed?
Where is the skin over the shoulders/Neck?
What should be applied to the thermometer before gently inserting it?
What is lubricant?
Which two veterinary professionals commonly perform clinical examinations?
Who are veterinarians and veterinary technicians?
A cat is hiding, grooming less, and using its litter box differently. What might these changes indicate?
What are possible signs of illness or an unhealthy feline?
What is the normal pulse rate for cats?
What is 140–220 beats per minute?
What does it mean when an animal's skin returns quickly to its normal position during a skin tent test?
The animal is hydrated.
During an examination, a dog is limping and has a dull coat. Name two other unhealthy signs the technician should look for.
What are lethargy, stiffness, discharge, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite? (Any two.)
What are three reasons vital signs are monitored during an animal's care?
What are to data, identify illness early, and monitor treatment and recovery?
Name three characteristics of a healthy cat.
What are alertness, curiosity, a smooth coat, normal grooming, clear eyes and nose, normal eating and litter box habits, or relaxed posture? (Any three.)
What is the normal respiratory rate for dogs, and how is it measured?
What is 10–35 breaths per minute, measured by counting breaths per minute?
What is the normal capillary refill time?
What is 1–2 seconds?
A cat has labored breathing. Should this sign be ignored if the cat otherwise appears calm? Explain.
No. Labored breathing is a warning sign of an unhealthy feline.
What does the abbreviation BAR mean when describing a healthy dog?
What is bright, alert, responsive?
A dog has a shiny coat but is vomiting and refusing food. Can you assume the dog is healthy based on its coat? Explain.
No. Vomiting and loss of appetite are warning signs even if the coat appears healthy.
A cat has a temperature of 101.5°F, a pulse of 180 bpm, and a respiratory rate of 25 breaths per minute. Are all three measurements within the normal ranges?
Yes. All three are within the listed normal ranges for cats.
An animal's gum color takes four seconds to return after pressure is released. What could this indicate?
What are possible dehydration or shock?
A veterinary technician needs to take a dog's temperature safely. Describe three important steps?
Use a digital rectal thermometer, apply lubricant, insert gently, and restrain the animal properly.