Temperature, Pulse, Respiration and Blood Pressure

Question 1

List the types of thermometers that can be used in practice

Answer 1

Digital- rectal, aural and oesophageal
Mercury
Biotherm

Question 2

What are the advantages of digital thermometers?

Answer 2

Quicker to use

Smaller so more comfortable

Question 3

Why aren’t mercury thermometers commonly used?

Answer 3

Toxic within glass so easy to break

Need to be shaken down before use

Question 4

Explain the biotherm thermometer

Answer 4

Tiny chip under scruff and when scanned shows temperature

Question 5

Describe how to care for and store thermometers

Answer 5

Don’t share between infectious patients
Store in original casing- digital
Store in cotton wool filled with disinfectant solution, dont use hot water as glass breaks- mercury

Question 6

Where is the most reliable place to take temperature readings from?

Answer 6

Rectal

Question 7

Describe how to take a rectal temperature

Answer 7

Lubricate thermometer and slowly insert in twisting motion
Hold thermometer flat and push dorsally so is touching top membranes to avoid faeces
Hold for 30-60 seconds, gently remove and clean
Record temperature and disinfect

Question 8

Define hypothermia

Answer 8

Low body temperature

Question 9

Define hyperthermia

Answer 9

High body temperature due to environment

Question 10

Define pyrexia

Answer 10

Increase in body temperature due to infection

Question 11

Define diphasic

Answer 11

Fluctuating temperature

Question 12

What is the purpose of measuring blood pressure?

Answer 12

Provide information about cardiovascular function, cardiac output and blood flow

Question 13

How to calculate blood pressure

Answer 13

Cardiac output x total peripheral resistance

Question 14

What does systolic blood pressure measure?

Answer 14

Force heart exerts on artery walls each heart beat

Question 15

What does diastolic blood pressure measure?

Answer 15

Force heart exerts on artery walls between heart beats

Question 16

What does mean arterial pressure measure?

Answer 16

Average pressure in arteries in cardiac cycle

Question 17

Dogs blood pressure range

Answer 17

131-154/75

Question 18

Cats blood pressure

Answer 18

115-162/83

Question 19

List the methods of recording blood pressure

Answer 19

Arterial catheter
Oscillometric measurement
Dopler technique

Question 20

Describe how to measure blood pressure using arterial catheter

Answer 20

Place catheter in dorsal pedal, coccygeal or medial auricular artery and connect to DABP monitor
Connect fluid administration set to give 0.9% sodium chloride and pressurise fluid bag above systolic pressure to prevent backflow of blood
Pressure transducer is connected to monitor at level of the heart and to fluid system
Zero monitor to level of right atrium to pick put pressure changes as electrical signals to present a pressure wave

Question 21

List advantages and disadvantages of arterial catheter to monitor blood pressure

Answer 21

Advantages- most accurate method, real time readings

Disadvantages- only used on critical patients due to invasiveness, costly, risk of haemorrhage and infection

Question 22

Describe the oscillometric technique of blood pressure monitoring

Answer 22

Place blood pressure cuff on pulse site and ensure line of cuff matches artery. Cuff should be 1/3 width of limbs circumference
Inflate cuff and readings are automatically taken

Question 23

List advantages and disadvantages of oscillometric blood pressure technique

Answer 23

Advantages- automated so less skill needed, can measure at timed intervals, less handling so lowers stress
Disadvantages- Less accurate when under 5kg, moving or has cardiac issues

Question 24

Explain the process for the dopler technique of measuring blood pressure

Answer 24

Place cuff proximal to probe
Clip fur around pulse site and clean with surgical spirit then apply ultrasound gel
Place dopler probe on clipped area and move until pulse is found and heard
Inflate cuff with sphygmomanometer until no sound is heard then slowly deflate and record the measurement of when sound returns which is the systolic pressure
Repeat and take average, completely deflating cuff between readings

Question 25

List advantages of dopler technique

Answer 25

Advantages- easy, affordable, can be used on all animals

Question 26

Where are palpable pulse sites found

Answer 26

Femoral- medial aspect of femur Digital- palmer aspect of carpus/inside of wrist Tarsal- medial aspect of tarsus/middle of ankle Lingual- ventral aspect of tongue

Question 27

Define sinus arrhythmia

Answer 27

Increased pulse on inspiration and decreased pulse on expiration

Question 28

Define dysrhythmia

Answer 28

Pulse rate lower than heart rate

Question 29

Define hyperdynamic pulse

Answer 29

Strong bounding pulse

Question 30

Define trachycardia

Answer 30

Increased pulse rate

Question 31

Define bradycardia

Answer 31

Decreased pulse rate

Question 32

What are the methods of recording heart rate

Answer 32

Stethoscope Pulse oximeter Oesophageal stethoscope

Question 33

Where is the site to take heart rate from on chest?

Answer 33

On left lower chest between 3rd and 6th ribs/ at point of elbow when standing

Question 34

Explain the process of using a pulse oximeter

Answer 34

Sensors placed on skin/MM usually on tongue in anaesthetised patients Light emitted passes through blood in tissue and measures light absorption

Question 35

When cant pulse oximetry be used?

Answer 35

When there is no peripheral circulation or there is severe circulatory failure

Question 36

Explain how to use oesophageal stethescope

Answer 36

Only on anaesthetised patients Tube measured to length from canines to elbow bone Place with the earpieces in down oesophagus and stop advancing when heartbeat is heard Tape in place

Question 37

How do you measure capillary refill time?

Answer 37

Press gums and measure the time it takes to return to normal colour

Question 38

How do you assess respiration?

Answer 38

Best at rest, watch chest move up and down or place hands on chest or listen Note respiratory effort

Question 39

Define dyspnoea

Answer 39

Difficulty breathing

Question 40

What is the term for when a patient adjusts its position to aid breathing?

Answer 40

Orthopnoea

Question 41

Define stridor

Answer 41

Shrill harsh inspiratory noise

Question 42

Define stretor

Answer 42

Snoring

Question 43

What is meant by paradoxical breathing?

Answer 43

Abnormal respiratory pattern | Diaphragm moves up on inspiration and down on expiration

Question 44

Define cyanotic

Answer 44

Blue MM

Question 45

Define rhoncus

Answer 45

Coarse rattling breathing signs

Question 46

What is meant by abdominal breathing?

Answer 46

Abdomen moves with respiration

Question 47

Define flail chest

Answer 47

Segment of ribcage separated from main body moves with respiration

Question 48

Define trachypnoea

Answer 48

Increased respiratory rate

Question 49

Define bradypnoea

Answer 49

Decreased respiratory rate

Question 50

What is the name for alternating deep and shallow breathing associated with time before death?

Answer 50

Cheyne stokes

Question 51

Define apnoea

Answer 51

Cessation of breathing

Question 52

Normal dog temperature

Answer 52

38.3-39.2

Question 53

Normal cat temperature

Answer 53

38.2-38.6

Question 54

Normal horse temperature

Answer 54

37.3-38.2

Question 55

Normal rabbit temperature

Answer 55

38.5-40

Question 56

Normal dog pulse rate

Answer 56

70-140

Question 57

Normal cat pulse rate

Answer 57

140-200

Question 58

Normal horse pulse rate

Answer 58

30-40

Question 59

Normal rabbit pulse rate

Answer 59

130-325

Question 60

Normal dog respiratory rate

Answer 60

10-30

Question 61

Normal cat respiratory rate

Answer 61

20-30

Question 62

Normal horse respiratory rate

Answer 62

12-20

Question 63

Normal rabbit respiratory rate

Answer 63

30-60