Week 4: Vet med, patient care, anaesthesia and first aid

Question 1

What is the main goal of clinical reasoning in vet medicine?

Answer 1

To process patient data, form hypotheses, guide diagnostics, and create treatment plans.

Question 2

What key elements contribute to making a diagnosis?

Answer 2

Signalment, history, physical exam, diagnostic tests, clinical experience, literature, and intuition.

Question 3

What is ‘signalment’?

Answer 3

A concise patient profile: species, breed, age, sex, desexing status.

Question 4

What is a problem list?

Answer 4

A summary of clinical issues derived from history, signalment, and physical exam findings.

Question 5

What is a differential diagnosis (DDx)?

Answer 5

A list of potential causes for the patient’s clinical signs, ranked by likelihood.

Question 6

What is the purpose of a diagnostic plan?

Answer 6

To select tests that can confirm or rule out DDx and guide treatment.

Question 7

What is the difference between in vivo and in vitro diagnostics?

Answer 7

In vivo = imaging and observation; in vitro = lab analysis of samples.

Question 8

What are some examples of in-house tests?

Answer 8

CBC, biochemistry, faecal flotation, urinalysis, cytology.

Question 9

What is the SOAP format in record keeping?

Answer 9

Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan.

Question 10

What is prognosis?

Answer 10

A forecast of disease outcome, based on clinical evidence and experience.

Question 11

What are the two types of clinical reasoning?

Answer 11

Type 1 (intuitive) and Type 2 (analytical).

Question 12

What model is used to guide small animal patient care?

Answer 12

The 5 Domains Model: Nutrition, Environment, Health, Behaviour, Mental State.

Question 13

Why is water access critical in hospitalised animals?

Answer 13

It supports all cellular functions; only withheld if contraindicated (e.g. vomiting, airway compromise).

Question 14

How do you assess nutrition needs?

Answer 14

Consider species, body condition, disease, and usual diet. Calculate resting energy needs.

Question 15

How can you reduce patient stress in hospital?

Answer 15

Use comfort bedding, reduce noise, hide prey species from predators, provide enrichment.

Question 16

What’s essential in a treatment chart?

Answer 16

Patient info, TPRs, medication times, dosages, initials of staff, and clear notes.

Question 17

What are common abbreviations to get right in patient charts?

Answer 17

TPR (Temp, Pulse, Resp), PROM (Passive Range of Motion), BID (twice daily), etc.

Question 18

What is the ‘Ins and Outs’ concept?

Answer 18

Monitoring all intake (food, fluids) and output (urine, faeces, vomit) to assess hydration and GI status.

Question 19

How do you care for an IV catheter?

Answer 19

Check daily for swelling, exudate, or discomfort. Keep clean, dry, and secure.

Question 20

What’s the red vs green bandage code?

Answer 20

Red = IV present (do not discharge), Green = no IV (safe for discharge).

Question 21

What factors influence cage setup?

Answer 21

Species, size, behaviour, health status, and special needs like vision or aggression.

Question 22

What species are covered in production animal medicine?

Answer 22

Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, alpacas, camels.

Question 23

What procedures might you assist with on farm?

Answer 23

Disbudding, surgery, calving, emergencies, diagnostics, blood collection, and cleaning.

Question 24

What’s in a production vet truck?

Answer 24

Surgery kits, drenching gear, obstetrics tools, PPE, disinfectants, medications, exam tools.

Question 25

What is triage during a callout?

Answer 25

Assess urgency, patient stability, and plan actions accordingly.

Question 26

What are signs a patient should be admitted?

Answer 26

Requires monitoring, treatment, or surgical recovery with owner consent.

Question 27

What’s involved in catheter and fluid therapy?

Answer 27

Vein selection, catheter placement, securing, fluid administration.

Question 28

How are oral fluids administered to livestock?

Answer 28

Frick speculum, oral tubing, fluid pump – ensure correct tube placement before administering.

Question 29

What are common surgical procedures in livestock?

Answer 29

C-sections, dehorning, hernia repairs, enucleation, urinary obstruction surgery.

Question 30

What is biosecurity protocol on farm?

Answer 30

Disinfection, PPE, changing gear between farms, waste disposal, personal hygiene.

Question 31

What are the steps of disbudding?

Answer 31

Weigh, sedate, local block, clip, cauterise with hot iron, medicate, monitor.

Question 32

Why should all vet staff learn about avian and exotic pets?

Answer 32

All clinics may see them, and proper knowledge ensures safety and better care.

Question 33

What species are commonly seen?

Answer 33

Birds, reptiles, small mammals, fish, amphibians, wildlife.

Question 34

What is the priority when caring for exotics?

Answer 34

Minimise stress — prey species are easily stressed and may deteriorate rapidly.

Question 35

What are key areas of knowledge for exotics care?

Answer 35

Husbandry, nutrition, anatomy, behaviour, common diseases, handling.

Question 36

What does gold standard exotic care include?

Answer 36

Daily weighing, pain recognition, enrichment, and stress reduction.

Question 37

What is the masking phenomenon?

Answer 37

Prey species often hide signs of illness, so they may appear 'fine' until very sick.

Question 38

What’s the ideal cage setup for exotics?

Answer 38

Warm, dark, quiet, enriched, safe to clean, away from predators.

Question 39

What is special about neonate care in exotics?

Answer 39

Strict hygiene, warm feeding, brooder use, assisted feeding techniques.

Question 40

How are emergencies handled in exotics?

Answer 40

Similar triage to small animals: fractures, haemorrhage, obstruction, repro issues.

Question 41

What is your role in wildlife care?

Answer 41

Triage, stabilisation, minimal stress, prepare for rehab or humane euthanasia.

Question 42

Why is anaesthesia important in veterinary care?

Answer 42

It prevents pain, fear, stress, and allows safe, sterile surgical procedures.

Question 43

What is 'balanced anaesthesia'?

Answer 43

Using low doses of multiple drugs for sedation, analgesia, unconsciousness, and muscle relaxation.

Question 44

What are risks of anaesthesia?

Answer 44

Hypotension, hypoventilation, bradycardia, hypoxemia — particularly in horses.

Question 45

What makes horses higher risk?

Answer 45

Size, anatomy, ventilation challenges, risk of injury during recovery.

Question 46

What is pre-anaesthetic assessment?

Answer 46

Review history, vitals, and ensure fasting and hydration status.

Question 47

What must be part of an anaesthesia plan?

Answer 47

Drug protocol, monitoring, anticipated complications, emergency meds.

Question 48

What is multimodal analgesia?

Answer 48

Using multiple drug types (opioids, NSAIDs, blocks) to target pain pathways.

Question 49

Why is monitoring during anaesthesia critical?

Answer 49

To detect early signs of distress, circulatory or respiratory failure.

Question 50

What’s the role of techs in anaesthesia?

Answer 50

Monitor vitals, manage equipment, communicate, document, respond to changes.

Question 51

What monitoring philosophies are key?

Answer 51

Monitor the patient, not the monitor; trends matter more than one reading.

Question 52

Why is record keeping vital in anaesthesia?

Answer 52

Legal document, continuity of care, tracks trends, helps identify issues.

Question 53

What is first aid in large animals?

Answer 53

Basic care until advanced treatment is available; goal may not be full recovery.

Question 54

What must be considered before giving first aid?

Answer 54

Safety, legal rights, consent from owner, your skills, location, urgency.

Question 55

What if the animal is feral or ownerless?

Answer 55

Assess, contact authorities (e.g., council, RSPCA), and only act with consent.

Question 56

What should be in a large animal first aid kit?

Answer 56

Bandages, antiseptics, gloves, pain relief, basic meds, vet contacts.

Question 57

How should you manage a wound?

Answer 57

Distant exam, assess safety, clean, dress, control bleeding, call vet if needed.

Question 58

How should bloat be handled?

Answer 58

Assess severity; may need tubing or trocar. Never medicate without a vet’s instruction.

Question 59

What’s the emergency response for a prolapse?

Answer 59

Keep clean/moist, reduce trauma, assess type (uterine = EMERGENCY), and call vet.

Question 60

When is dystocia an emergency?

Answer 60

Always in equine; call vet. In ruminants, evaluate before acting.

Question 61

What must you do for downer cows?

Answer 61

Provide food, water, shelter, repositioning, and vet assessment.

Question 62

When is euthanasia appropriate?

Answer 62

Severe injury, no response to treatment, poor prognosis — always requires consent.

Question 63

What is TLAER?

Answer 63

Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue — works with emergency services for animal extrication.