Animal care, pharmacology and surgery Flashcards
(96 cards)
importance of patient history and client interaction
foundations on which sound medical and nursing interventions are based. Pay attention to the observations and concerns of the client, vet and staff.
communication
best clinical interview focuses on the patient.
5 vowels of a good interview
A- audition- listening carefully to the client’s story. E-evaluation- sorting data to determine which is important and which is irrelevant. I-inquiry- probing into the significant areas requiring more clarification. O-observation-observing nonverbal communication, body language, and facial expressions regardless of what is said. U-understanding- the clients concerns and apprehensions; enables interviewer to play more emphatic role
obtaining a history
info gathered while obtaining a history should alert the vet team to potential problems
introductory statement
introduce and explaining what he or she will be doing
patient characteristics
VAA obtains certain preliminary info such as patient characteristics
age
congenital diseases are predominant in young animals, and degenerative diseases can prevail in adults or older animal
breed
certain ones are predisposed to particular problems
gender
certain conditions are gender specific
reproductive status
dogs spayed at an early age are less likely to develop mammary tumours than intact dogs
questions for origin, prior ownership, and current env’t
where patient originated, where traveled, recently boarded, indoor, outdoor, free roaming or confined to house or yard, other animals, pets appetite, weight gains/losses, dry or wet food, brand name of food, amount of food consumed
past medical history
provides info about patients health before current illness, or anything else ie meds
vaccine schedule
some clients are not familiar with this, questions related to exposure to viruses or heartworm
presenting complaint
history of present complaint helps determine when animal was last normal, if condition is acute or chronic, previous meds and dosages, response to previous therapy, duration of progression of clinical signs
open ended questions
when did you first notice the problem, can you describe in detail the signs you observed, was there any change in routine
physical exam importance
all observations must be recorded accurately, including visual inspection, palpation, auscultation, and percussion.
systematic method of physical exam
- record temp, pulse and respirations. 2.evaluate disposition, activity level and overall body condition. 3. record each body system, integumentary, cardiac, genitourinary, nervous, ears, lymphatic, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, eyes, mucosa
vital signs
body temp, respiratory rate and effort, heart rate and rhythm and indications of perfusion
auscultation
listening to sounds produced by the body done with a stethoscope
weight
animal must be still to record an accurate weight and done at every visit regardless of reason
normothermia
maintenance of normal body temperature
hypothermia
abnormally low body temperature
hyperthermia
abnormally high body temperature
pulse
normal heart ranges: dogs 17-160 beats/ min, cats 150-210 beats/ min.