Principles of basic animal nursing Flashcards
First aid goals?
First aid goals?
- Maintain the animal’s life until proper medical care can be given = Preserve Life
Look at unit 1 for more info
- Prevent suffering and harm to the animal = Prevent suffering
- Preventing the animal’s condition from worsening = Prevent deterioration
- Prevent harm to human helpers whilst carrying out the actions
5 first aid steps?
5 first aid steps
.Keep calm
.Airway - clear of objects, blood, vomit?
.Breathing - respiratory noises, laboured breathing?
.Circulation - pulse rate, heart rate, CRT, temperature
.Consciousness - alert, responsive to noise, able to stand?
.Contact vet
Look at unit 1 for more info
Vet surgeons act 1966?
Veterinary surgeons act?
As an unqualified person veterinary surgeon can give first aid to an animal. This means you can perform first aid by checking the animal’s airways, breathing and circulation to prevent suffering. You can prevent the animal’s condition from getting worse until a veterinary surgeon can arrive to treat the animal fully.
.Any owner can give minor treatment üto their animal or anyone in their household for example spot on flea and wormer treatments. Another example is medication prescribed by a veterinary surgeon that is administered orally with a syringe not by needle injectionü Some owners etc can obtain permission depending on the circumstances e.g. diabetes and insulin injections.
.A person who cares for animals used in agriculture can perform medical treatments and minor surgery which does not involve entering the body cavity.
Restraint methods?
Restraint methods?
.Muzzles – usually for dogs that are not affected by breathing problems.
.Dog catchers – a pole with a loop at the end that encloses the neck and throat. When the pole is pulled, the loop tightens around the dog’s neck.
.Halti – this device fastens around the back of the neck and over the top of the muzzle. The Halti restricts mouth movement and can chafe the nose and muzzle.
.Collar & leads - a simple pair of devices that can be used if a dog is not seriously injured and can be led away for treatment.
.Cat bags – a cloth bag with one end open to slip over a cat and the other end closed.
.Crush cages – the animal is pushed inside a container and the sides of the container immobilise the animal.
.Cat graspers – like the dog catchers.
Towels – need no description.
.Chemical restraint – a sedative substance that is injected. An injection can be administered once the animal has been restrained physically e.g. in a crush cage.
A simple, effective method for restraining and then handling an animal?
A simple, effective method for restraining and then handling an animal?
Is to cover the animal with a blanket, towel of an appropriate size for the animal or, if a blanket etc., is not available, an adult-sized jacket or coat. Some of the ways of restraint are not kind.
Distress after injury?
Distress after injury?
An animal that is clearly in distress after an injury requires careful, sensitive and intelligent restraint and handling.
Even if the animal appears not to be in distress, the motion of trying to handle them may very well cause distress and at the least, anxiety.
Sometimes an animal needs to be left alone for a while so that they can come to terms with the event they have experienced.
What restraint methods are not kind?
What restraint methods are not kind?
Dog catcher - because it will cause stress and scare a frightened dog even more and threaten choking and strangulation.
Close fit muzzle - because the dog will not be able to pant or drink and will cause stress.
The halti - because if it’s too tight the strap will dig into the dog and cause irritation.
The crush cage - because this will to push against the animal , so it can hardly move and will cause discomfort and scare the animal.
The cat bag - because this will enclose on the cat and make the cat panic as it has no way of escaping.
Why might you need to use unkind restraints?
Why might you need to use unkind restraints?
.You might need to use a catcher if the dog or cat is scared because they might become aggressive and a catcher gives a safe distance from you and the animal. It is also a good way to catch the animal, so they have no way of escaping. This is important if the animal needs emergency medical treatment.
.You might need to use a crush cage if the animal is very aggressive to make sure they can not harm anyone trying to treat them and to make sure they get all the treatment they need. Particularly wild animals
.You might need to use a muzzle if the dog becomes aggressive when handled by a stranger or when they are scared so the dog does not attack anyone treating it.
Mucus membranes?
Mucus membranes?
Pale gums indicate a state of shock may be present; nice pink gums indicate no shock and that the circulation is as required.
CRT?
CRT?
The time it takes for the smallest blood vessels to refill after compression (the flat of a finger pressed against the mucus membranes)
Haemorrhage?
Haemorrhage?
Uncontrolled blood loss; blood can be dark red or bright red. Can be external (easily seen) or internal (not visible).
State of consciousness?
State of consciousness?
Awake, unconscious, vague, not responsive to the voice or other stimulus.
Signs of shock?
Signs of shock?
Signs that body processes are shutting down. Irregular heart beat, pale gums, shallow breathing, convulsions; cold extremities.
Assess temperature?
Assess temperature?
To compare to normal values of body core temperature for the animal species. Could be too high (hyperthermia) or too low (hypothermia).
Weight bearing/movement?
Weight bearing/movement?
Difficulty in moving or unwilling to put a limb on the ground.
Inflammation?
Inflammation?
Swellings, reddened areas, soreness on the body’s surface or, internally.
Visible injuries?
Visible injuries?
Lacerations, fractures, abrasions.
Describe how you would assess the dog as a first aid patient?
Describe how you would assess the dog as a first aid patient?
Look at LO1 for paragraph on the last page at the bottom
Wound?
Wound?
.Is a break in the skin and the surrounding soft tissues.
.A break in the skin must be treated because the skin is the body’s first line of defence against harmful organisms (bacteria etc.).
Avulsed wound?
Avulsed wound?
A part of the body that has become separated from the rest of the body.
An example is a tooth that has been torn from the socket in the jaw; a flap of skin.
Flap of skin, at least one edge still attached.
First aid treatment
• assess & control haemorrhage, remove foreign bodies if safe, clip away hair, clean wound, apply sterile dressing/bandage
Laceration wound?
Laceration wound?
A cut that has irregular edges. For example from broken glass, barbed wire and dog bites.
First aid treatment
• assess & control haemorrhage, remove foreign bodies if safe, clip away hair, clean wound, apply sterile dressing/bandage
An open wound. The skin is torn and the whole injury appears as an uneven, irregular shape.
Dressing - padding dressing as this does not stick to the skin and cause pain or slow down the process of healing when removed. Cohesive dressing to hold the padding in place and conforming dressing bandage to cover the area and keep all the dressings below in place.
Puncture wound?
Puncture wound?
A bite wound. causes a small entrance site but extends into underlying soft tissues.
The underlying tissues become inflamed and swollen.
Small skin wound, deep underlying tract.
First aid treatment
• assess & control haemorrhage, remove foreign bodies if safe, clip away hair, clean wound, apply sterile dressing/bandage
Incised wound?
Incised wound?
A clean-edged cut. for example, a knife, glass or sharp stone.
The edges of the wound are straight and obvious (i.e. they are well defined and are not jagged).
Clean edges, close edges, moderate haemorrhage, heals quickly.
First aid treatment
• incised assess & control haemorrhage, remove foreign bodies if safe, clip away hair, clean wound, apply sterile dressing/bandage.
Contusion wound?
Contusion wound?
A bruise. Epidermis removed, painful due to nerve exposure. Graze wound Blood capillaries have ruptured.
Blood loss occurs over the injured area however, the area is under the skin (under the epidermis).
Discoloration under the skin, swelling and the area affected becomes warmer than surrounding tissues.
Haemorrhage under the skin, warm skin, discolouration.
First aid treatment
• contusion apply a cold compress
Abrasion wound?
Abrasion wound?
A graze. caused by friction of the skin against a rough surface.
An open wound although the extent of the injury does not extend deep into the skin (usually the epidermis is grazed away but not the dermis).
Removal of epidermis, dermal layer exposed, graze wound, painful due to exposure of nerves.
First aid treatment
• abrasion clip away hair, clean wound, apply a sterile dressing
Burn?
Burn?
An injury caused by excessive heat or chemicals, alopecia (hair loss), swelling, pain, skin appears to be “oozing” and is red in appearance.
Reddened damaged skin, moist skin, heat, swelling, pain, alopecia (hair loss).
• burns cool with sterile running water/saline, maintain & monitor body temperature, apply lint free non adhesive dressing.
How a puncture wound occurs?
How a puncture wound occurs?
A cat’s canine penetrates the upper skin (the epidermis). It makes a puncture through the outermost protective layer of the body (epidermis) and penetrates the underlying dermis. Blood vessels and nerve endings exist in skin layer.
A dressing?
A dressing?
Is the item placed directly onto the wound whilst a bandage could be said to be the item that secures the dressing place.
However, “a bandage” should be seen as the complete structure that covers and protects a wound.
From understanding the term ‘bandage’ comes a deeper understanding of bandaging techniques because different wounds require different techniques. For now though, we shall focus upon the bandage as being a complete structure: the dressing plus a padding layer plus a layer that holds all in place over and around the wound. The dressing, being the item that is placed directly onto the wound, must be sterile. To meet the need for sterility, dressings are packaged in a cover or bag that says “Sterile” on the packaging.
A bandage?
A bandage?
The item that secures the dressing place. The complete structure that covers and protects a wound.
Bandaging items?
Bandage items?
The dressing plus a padding layer plus a layer that holds all in place over and around the wound.
The dressing, being the item that is placed directly onto the wound, must be sterile. To meet the need for sterility, dressings are packaged in a cover or bag that says “Sterile” on the packaging.
Sterile bandage?
Sterile bandage?
An item that is sterile is one that has been treated to kill all organisms and particles of living matter. They may have been super-heat treated or exposed to radiation to achieve sterility. The packaging too, is sterile (there is no point in sterilising a dressing and then putting into a non-sterile wrapper).
To maintain the sterility of the dressing, you would wear sterile, protective gloves. These prevent organisms from your hands and fingers from contaminating the dressing and the wound.
All bandaging materials are sterile.
Dressing for incised wound?
Dressing for incised wound?
Dry dressing - Can adhere to the wound causing pain & disruption of healing when removed, even when advertised as “non-adherent”. Less adherent (to the wound) than dry dressings but do not promote wound healing well.
Impregnated gauze adhesive - a dressing with an adhesive surface around its edges to adhere (stick) to the skin. Advantages: quick to apply but disadvantages are many in veterinary use.
Non-adhesive Padding - A dressing without an adhesive layer to attach to the surrounding skin. This describes most other dressings.
Conforming & cohesive - These dressings refer to the secondary layer of a bandage – they hold the first dressing in place.
Dressing for Laceration & Abrasion?
Dressing for Laceration & Abrasion?
Haemostatic dressings - a dressing that slows the rate of bleeding (haemorrhage). These are packed with an absorbent substance (e.g. kaolin – fine clay) Lacerations are prone to haemorrhage.
Occlusive dressings
- air & water-tight dressing that keeps the wound moist for cell growth (repair) but with less chance of infection.
Interactive dressings / Hydrogel dressing - moist dressing that encourages cell regeneration. Does not cause wound trauma when removed or pain. Hydrogels tend not to have high absorption abilities (but they are changed frequently). Hydrogel dressings consist of the hydrogel itself &/or a sheet of hydrogel.
Occlusive, interactive & hydrogel dressings work in a similar manner & are composed of similar substances e.g. a hydrogel. All are useful for covering uneven parts of the body.
Plus, all as for Incised
Dressing for burns (& scalds)?
Dressing for burns (& scalds)?
Non-adherent dressing - an emergency treatment method is to cover a non-adherent dressing with warm, saline-soaked swabs (sterile saline solution).
Occlusive & Hydrogel dressings - occlusive, interactive, hydrogel dressings prevent fluid loss from the burn site. They have the advantage that they do not stick to the burn.
Padding dressing?
Padding dressing?
This would be placed over the initial dressing that covers the wound itself. This dressing consists of a padded layer plus wide a fixing bandage.
A conforming dressing/bandage?
A conforming dressing/bandage?
Conforming bandage fits around awkward wounds e.g. the knee, or hoof. It conforms to the shape.
Cohesive secondary dressings?
Cohesive secondary dressings?
.Keeps the bandage in place, last layer e.g. vet wrap.
Cold compress?
Cold compress?
A cold compress is something that has been frozen or chilled, like an ice pack.
The idea of a cold compress is to cause vasoconstriction i.e., constriction of capillaries at the wound site. This reduces any blood loss, eases pain and reduces bruising.
