General knowledge
Which factors are essential to consider before starting a physical examination of a cat?
Environment & observation
Normal response during the tactile placing test
Cat immediately places its paw on the table when the carpus feels the edge
Objective
Goniometry
Limb circumference
Accelerometers
3 Behavioral changes associated with acute pain
Change in facial expressions
Quietness, Hiding
Stop grooming or increased grooming
Hissing, growling or fear-related aggressiveness
3 modalities for analgesia
Laser, EAP, PEMF, Exercises
Common degenerative condition
IVDD, OA
Normal response in the visual placing test?
Cat reaches for the surface before the carpus touches the table
Unreliable
Stance analysis
Gait analysis
3 Behavioral assesments in chronic pain
Ability to perform daily activities
Eating, drinking
Grooming
3 exercises for flexibility
Paws up, feather toy, Crawl
Obesity
During wheel-barrowing test, what abnormal finding may indicate weakness?
Cat holds head low, rolls forward, or collapses
Subjective
Clinical metrology instruments (CMIs)
Options pain management
Opioids, NSAIDs, local anesthetics, Adjunctive drugs
3 exercises for core
Balance walk, Weaves, transitions on unstable surface
Degenerative joint disease with a prevalence of ~90% in cats ≥12 years, most commonly affecting the elbows and hips?
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Normal reaction during the extensor postural thrust test
Hind legs move in a backward walking motion until weight-bearing
Acute pain
Glasgow Feline Composite Measure Pain Scale
3 exercises for FL strength
Crawl, feather toy, paws up and reach
% Goal weight loss
1–2% of body weight per week
Chronic pain
Feline MSK pain index (FMPI)
3 exercises for HL strength
sit to stands, stairs, dancing, paws up
Improvement in OA signs in cats is seen after weight loss of:
≥6%
Which rehabilitation method is considered most effective for promoting recovery and neuroplasticity in cats with spinal cord injury?
Treadmill or Underwater treadmill
In cats, arterial thromboembolism (ATE) most often presents with which clinical signs?
Acute severe pain, paraparesis/plegia, cold hind limbs, reduced femoral pulse
3 exercises for proprioception
Balance walks, Obstacle walks/ cavalettis/ Fig-8's/weaves
Condition characterized by extreme sensitivity over the lower back/tail base, skin twitching, vocalization, and self-mutilation?
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS)
Condition frequently cause by a car traction, with LMN signs in the forelimb with dragging and muscle atrophy?
Brachial Plexus Injury
In cats cranial cruciate ligament injury is usually:
Traumatic, with ~67% concurrent meniscal injury
3 exercises for neuroplasticity
UWTM, assisted walks (sling, cart), cav's