Performing the Small Animal Physical Examination offers an easy-to-follow guide to successfully executing a thorough physical exam in cats and dogs, with nearly 1,000 clinical photographs depicting step-by-step details.  

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Part One: Performing the Feline Physical Examination

 1Setting the Stage: Feline-Friendly Practice

   1.1 Challenges Faced in Feline Practice

   1.2 The Emergency 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 Physiology 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 Auscultation 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

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