Preparing for an Exam Overview

Introduction

A young African American female veterinarian holding a dog in the clinic while speaking to the owner When a person takes their pet to the veterinary clinic, there are a few things they expect to happen. They expect the animal's vital signs to be taken, medical records to be examined, and general diagnostic tests to be run. This lesson focuses on the knowledge needed to prepare for a physical examination. Specifically, this lesson will focus on basic pieces of equipment, observing animal behavior, and maintaining accurate patient records.

Objectives

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

Determine the function of tools used in a basic physical examination.
Recognize the importance of observing animal behavior.
Discuss the importance of client communication.

Key Terms

stethoscope: an instrument used to listen to the sounds of the body

otoscope: an instrument used to examine the inner ear

ophthalmoscope: an instrument used to view the interior structures of the eye, such as the retina

tonometer: an instrument used to test the pressure in the eyes

Citations

Citations

Unless otherwise indicated, all images are from the NCVPS Shutterstock Subscription. Unless stated otherwise, all materials are adapted from the Virtual Arkansas Vet Science course.

Notes:

Stethoscope image by ArkasasFFA.org is used with permission.
Otoscope image by ArkansasFFA.org is used with permission.
Ophthalmoscope image by ArkansasFFA.org is used with permission.
Tonometer image by ArkansasFFA.org is used with permission.
Scared dog image by Ellen Levy Finch via Wikimedia Commons is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Happy dog image by andrescarlofotografia via Pixabay.com is in the public domain.
"Body Language (dogs)" video by Jacksonville Humane Society via YouTube.com is licensed under CC BY 4.0.