Performing the Small Animal Physical Examination

About the Author Preface Acknowledgments Part One Performing the Feline Physical Examination 1 Setting the Stage: Feline-Friendly Practice 1.1 Challenges Faced in Feline Practice 1.2 The Emergence of Feline-Friendly Practice 1.3 Key Principles of Feline-Friendly Practice 1.4 The Role of Sound 1.5 The Role of Tactile Stimulation 1.6 The Role of Scent 1.7 The Role of Advance Preparation 1.8 Examination Room Etiquette: Accessing the Cat 1.9 Recognizing Body Language 1.10 Feline-Friendly Handling 1.11 Other Feline Handling Tools 2 Assessing the Big Picture: the Body, the Coat, and the Skin of the Cat 2.1 Forms of Identification 2.2 Body Condition Scoring 2.3 Assessing Hydration 2.4 Inspecting the Coat: First Impressions 2.5 Identifying Coat Colors and Coat Patterns 2.6 Assessing Coat Quality 2.7 Inspecting the Skin 3 Examining the Head of the Cat 3.1 Skull Shape and Facial Symmetry 3.2 The Eyes and Accessory Visual Structures 3.3 The Ears 3.4 The Nose 3.5 The Extra-Oral Examination 3.6 The Intra-Oral Examination 4 Examining the Endocrine and Lymphatic Systems of the Cat 4.1 Evaluating the Thyroid Gland 4.2 Assessing the Lymphatic System 5 Examining the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems of the Cat 5.1 The Cardiac Patient 5.2 Assessing the Cardiovascular System Prior to Auscultation 5.3 Cardiothoracic Auscultation 5.4 The Respiratory Patient 5.5 Assessing the Respiratory System Prior to Auscultation 5.6 Understanding Normal Airway Sounds 5.7 Ausculting the Airway 5.8 Understanding Adventitious Airway Sounds 5.9 Using Airway Sounds to Corroborate Percussive Findings 5.10 Purring as an Obstruction to Auscultation 6 Examining the Abdominal Cavity of the Cat 6.1 Overview of the Digestive Tract as It Pertains to Presenting Complaints 6.2 The Esophagus 6.3 Visual Inspection of the Abdomen 6.4 Superficial Palpation of the Abdomen 6.5 Deep Palpation of the Abdomen 6.6 The Upper Urinary Tract 6.7 The Lower Urinary Tract 6.8 The Male Reproductive Tract 6.9 The Female Reproductive Tract 6.10 Being Presented with a Female of Unknown Sexual Status 6.11 Neonates 7 Examining the Musculoskeletal System of the Cat 7.1 Muscle Condition Score (MCS) 7.2 The Skeleton as a Whole 7.3 The Appendicular Skeleton: The Forelimb 7.4 The Appendicular Skeleton: The Hind Limb 8 Evaluating the Nervous System of the Cat 8.1 Assessing Behavior and Mental Status 8.2 Assessing Posture 8.3 Assessing Coordination and Gait 8.4 Assessing Postural Reactions 8.5 Assessing for Other Abnormal Movements 8.6 Evaluating the Spinal Reflexes 8.7 Assessing the Cranial Nerves 8.8 Assessing Nociception Part Two Performing the Canine Physical Examination 9 Setting the Stage: Canine-Friendly Practice and Low-Stress Handling 9.1 Challenges Faced in Canine Practice 9.2 The Concept of Low-Stress Handling 9.3 White Coat Syndrome 9.4 The Role of Scent 9.5 The Role of Advance Preparation 9.6 Examination Room Etiquette: Setting the Tone for Initial Veterinary Interactions with the Dog 9.7 Recognizing Body Language 9.8 Creative Approaches to Challenging Interactions with Canine Patients 9.9 Other Canine Handling Tools 10 Assessing the Big Picture: the Body, the Coat, and the Skin of the Dog 10.1 Forms of Identification 10.2 Body Condition Scoring 10.3 Assessing Hydration 10.4 Breed Designation 10.5 Inspecting the Coat: First Impressions 10.6 Identifying Coat Colors and Coat Patterns 10.7 Assessing Coat Quality 10.8 Inspecting the Skin 10.9 Primary Skin Lesions 10.10 Secondary Skin Lesions 10.11 Miscellaneous Skin Lesions 10.12 Hyperkeratosis 10.13 Skin Folds 10.14 Nails and Paw Pads 10.15 Skin Incisions 10.16 Mammary Glands 11 Examining the Head of the Dog 11.1 Skull Shape: Function Versus Cosmesis 11.2 Facial symmetry 11.3 The Eyes and Accessory Visual Structures 11.4 The Ears 11.5 The Nose 11.6 The Extra-Oral Examination 11.7 The Intra-Oral Examination 12 Examining the Endocrine and Lymphatic Systems of the Dog 12.1 Thyroid Gland Neoplasia in the Dog 12.2 The Typical Presentation of Thyroid Gland Neoplasia in the Dog 12.3 The Pathophysiology of Hypothyroidism 12.4 The Typical Presentation of a Hypothyroid Dog 12.5 The Atypical Presentation of a Hypothyroid Dog 12.6 Assessing the Lymphatic System 12.7 Examining the Submandibular Lymph Nodes 12.8 Examining the Superficial Cervical or Pre-Scapular Lymph Nodes 12.9 Examining the Popliteal Lymph Nodes 12.10 Feeling for Lymph Nodes That Should Not Be Present 13 Examining the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems of the Dog 13.1 Congenital Heart Disease in the Dog 13.2 Acquired Heart Disease in the Dog 13.3 Assessing the Cardiovascular System Prior to Auscultation 13.4 Cardiothoracic Auscultation 13.5 The Respiratory Patient 13.6 Assessing the Respiratory System Prior to Auscultation 13.7 Understanding Normal Airway Sounds 13.8 Ausculting the Airway 13.9 Understanding Adventitious Airway Sounds 13.10 Panting as an Obstruction to Auscultation 14 Examining the Abdominal Cavity of the Dog 14.1 Overview of the Digestive Tract 14.2 The Esophagus 14.3 Visual Inspection of the Abdomen 14.4 Auscultion and Superficial Palpation of the Abdomen 14.5 Deep Palpation of the Abdomen 14.6 The Upper Urinary Tract 14.7 The Lower Urinary Tract 14.8 The Male Reproductive Tract 14.9 The Female Reproductive Tract 14.10 Being Presented with a Female of Unknown Sexual Status 14.11 Neonates 15 Examining the Musculoskeletal System of the Dog 15.1 Muscle Condition Score (MCS) 15.2 The Skeleton as a Whole 15.3 The Appendicular Skeleton: The Forelimb 15.4 The Appendicular Skeleton: The Hind Limb 16 Evaluating the Nervous System of the Dog 16.1 Assessing Behavior and Mental Status 16.2 Assessing Posture 16.3 Assessing Coordination and Gait 16.4 Assessing Postural Reactions 16.5 Assessing for Other Abnormal Movements 16.6 Evaluating the Spinal Reflexes 16.7 Assessing the Cranial Nerves 16.8 Assessing Nociception Index