Exercise for first Prof. D. V. M. students

1. Clinical Examination Dog
By
Dr. Allah Bux Kachiwal
Professor
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry
https://www.facebook.com/ABKachiwal/
https://www.youtube.com/user/kachiwal2003
Email: kachiwal2003@gmail.com
abkachiwal@sau.edu.com
Watsup# 03003058466

2. Physical examination
• Signalment / History
• Complete description of the animal, Species, Breed, Age, Sex,
• Reproductive status, other distinguishing characteristics,
• double-check client reported information (sex, age, etc), Keep
• this information in mind for clinical judgments.
• Environment, diet, medical history, reproductive history,
• vaccination status and medications, history of presenting
• complaint
• • General Appearance / Initial Observations
• • Vital Signs ( Body weight, temperature, Heart rate , RR)
• • Physical Exam (Systems Approach or Head to Toe)

4. System wise examination
• Cardiovascular System
• • Respiratory System
• • Gastrointestinal System
• • Uro - Genital System
• • Lymphatic system
• • Musculoskeltal system
• • Nervous system
• –Skin
• –Head and Neck

5. GENERAL PRINCIPLE
• Like any other learned skill (eg playing the piano).
Practice, practice, practice!
• Always do it the same way - Eg: from the nose to
the tip of the tail
• The order doesn’t matter, but the consistency
does!
• You wont forget the things if you always do it the
same way!
• The right and left sides are more or less mirror
images. If you aren’t sure if a finding is abnormal,
check the other side.

6. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF DOG
• Ensure the animal is safe to handle and you
have control of the situation Is a muzzle or
restrain required?
• Asses locomotion Can the animal walk
normally? –
• Is it lame?

7. • Asses mentation –
• Is the animal alert or depressed?
• Is it responding normally? (looking at the
owner.etc)
• Is the animal aggressive, fearful, or outgoing?
• Asses respiration
• Comfortable?
• Respiration rate?

8. EQUIPEMENT USED IN PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF PET ANIMAL
• THERMOMETERS
• STETHOSCOPE
• WEIGHING SCALE
• EXAMINATION GLOVES
• OTOSCOPE
• OPHTHALMOSCOPE/ HAND LENS AND
• PENLIGHT

9. HEAD:EYE
• Symmetry of pupils, nystagmus, strabismus
• Blepharospasm (squinting in pain)
• Menace reflex
• Pupillary light reflex (direct and consensual)
• Chemosis
• Scleral discoloration( injected(red); icteric(yellow)
• Aqueous flare
• Cataracts
• HEAD: Nose Nasal discharge -Unilateral or bilateral
Asses airflow if suspicious - Cotton ball fluff

10. HEAD-EAR
• Look for- erythema, discharge,
anatomic abnormalities
• Smell for- evidence of infection
• Palpate for-calcification of the
canals with chronic infections
• Listen for- liquid in the ear canal
suggestive of infection

11. MOUTH
• Teeth Malocclusion, missing teeth, retained
deciduous teeth, fractured teeth
• Gingiva
• Mucous membrane -Colour -Capillary refill
time(>2 sec= poor perfusion) - Tacky/Dry
• Ulcers
• Masses
• Foreign bodies -Stick or bone between the
teeth of the maxillary arcade
• Stick your finger in the back of the throat -
Asses gag reflex - Look for the exudate

12. CERVICAL REGION
• Lymph nodes: Submandibular, prescapular
• Masses
• Trachea Squeeze to elicit cough
• Jugular furrows: Jugular pulses present?
• Skin tent: - Prolonged skin tent suggests
dehydration -Other place to check: forehead
or over ribcage Older animals have less skin
elasticity, therefore prolonged skin tent
• Put neck through range of motion Asses for
neck pain
• Meningitis
• Spinal cord compressed (prolapsed
intervertebral disc, tumor, infection etc)

13. FORE LIMB
• Palpate entire limb for masses or areas of
pain
• Range of motion of each joint -Pain -Crepitus(
grinding crunching)
• Palpate for axillary lymph node in armpit Only
palpable if enlarged
• Repeat on the other side
• PAWS
• Painful joints?
• Look between pads for hair mats, foreign
bodies, discoloured fur (licking/pruritis)
• Claws: -Too long? -Scuffing of dorsal dorsal?
• Flex the paw, do not jerk it painfully out to
the side

14. THORACIC REGION
• Palpate for masses - Especially
mammary chains in females
• Palpate ribs for masses or pain
• Asses body condition - Ribs
should be palpable
• Palpate the heart beat -Locate
where it is strongest? -Palpable
thrill?

15. ABDOMEN SUPERFICIAL
EXAMINATION
• Palpate and inspect the skin for masses and dermatologic
lesions
• Base of the tail- fleas and flea dirt
• Palpate mammary chain of females
• Palpate for umbilical hernias
• Palpate for inguinal lymph nodes -Only palpable when
enlarged
• Examine penis, prepuce, os penis
• Palpate back for pain
• ABDOMINAL PALPATION:
• Practice makes perfect
• Use flat surface of fingers( don’t dig fingertips in)
• One vs. Two hands
• Go slowly and gently
• Palpate kidneys and intestines, urinary bladder
• Liver and spleen are usually only identified when enlarged

16. CARDIAC AUSCULTATION
• Normal heart rate:
• Dog 80-120 bpm
• Murmur?
• Arrhythmia?
• Tricks to stop panting
• PULMONARY AUSCULTATION
• Use the diaphragm of the stethoscope
• Listen over all the lung fields
• Listen for 2 breaths minimum at each location
• Normal rate:
• Dog and cat 10-30bpm
• Crackles and wheezes TRACHEAL AUSCULTATION
• Listen for crackles/exudate
• Useful in differentiating referred upper airway
sounds from crackles in the lower airways

17. Hind Limb
Palpate entire limb for masses or areas of pain
Range of motion of each joint
-Pain
-Crepitus
Repeat on the other side
PERINEUM
Examine and palpate the scrotum or vulva( mucous
membrane colour, exudates)
Palpate the tail
Lift tail and examine anus for masses, diarrhoea, etc.
Don’t Forget Your Anus!
Take rectal temperature
-Normal range is 38-39.0C
-Make sue thermometer is against the rectal wall( not
intra-turd!)
-Panting animal with high temp. may not be febrile
-Don’t let go of the thermometer
Anal tone
Digital rectal palpation?

19. Practical