Health and Husbandry - Health Checks
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- Created by: Becky_Berry
- Created on: 28-07-20 15:48
What senses do you use when health checking?
- sight
- smell
- feel
- hear
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Health Checking at Different Life Stages - Young
- biting as a result of teething
- spaying/neutering
- hip dysplasia/elbow dysplasia
- free from parasites
- no lumps (hernias)
- crying
- gaining the right amount of weight
- vaccinations
- any defects
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Different Life Stages - Breeding
- visual Health Check
- nesting behaviour
- weight gain
- fertility
- normal appetite until a later stage
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Different Life Stages - Lactating
- weaning
- all young suckling
- check reproductive organs
- need to give mym a break from young
- careful about calcium deficiency
- mum has a larger appetite
- mastitis
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Different Life Stages - Geriatric
- regular check-up
- weight
- teeth
- movement fluid (arthritis)
- weaker immune system
- appetite and thirst (diabetes and excessive drinking)
- visual problems
- stiff
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Signs of Ill Health - Discharges
- clear, blood-stained or purulent
- unilateral or bilateral
- profuse and/or sudden
- odour
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Signs of Ill Health - Inflammation
- redness
- lesions and flakiness
- swelling
- heat
- pain
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Signs of Ill Health - Swelling
- hard/soft
- pain
- fluid/fleshy
- discharge present
- sudden appearance and severe (acute)
- slow development and minor (chronic)
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Pain Assessment
Pain and Injury occur under a variety of circumstances:
- following accidental injury
- following surgical procedures
- as a result of disease
- as a result of organ malfunction
- as a result of poor husbandry and management
The early recognition of pain is essential to:
- provide comfort for the animal
- seek appropriate help
- administer pain relief
- maintain good welfare
The existence of pain is shown by
- obvious anatomical dysfunction
- distress/discomfort
- actions of the animal
- vocalisation
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Signs of Pain: Head and Eye Pain
Remember that many animals will not show abnormal physical or behavioural signs relating to pain until the pain level is at its greatest.
Head Ache:
- half-closed eyes
- pressing head into furniture
- gently shaking of the head
- vacant staring into space
Eye Pain:
- pawing at eyes
- constant preening/grooming
- rubbing head on body/furniture
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Signs of Pain: Ear, Mouth and Throat Pain
Ear and Mouth Pain
Difficult to distinguish as nerve pathways are very close
- head inclined to the affected side
- ear held low
- excessive salivation
- reluctance or inability to eat
- frequent yawning
- head shaking
Throat Pain
- retching
- drooling
- stretching neck forward and upward
- gulping
- dysphagia
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Signs of Pain: Abdominal and Limb/Joint Pain
Abdominal Pain:
- looking at the site of pain
- biting/excessive licking of the area
- reluctance to move
- hunched over
- persistent straining
Limb/Joint Pain
- carrying limb
- nodding head or rump when sound leg on the ground
- foot-dragging
- difficulty raising
- stiffened gait
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Signs of Pain: Spinal, Anal/Anal Gland and General
Spinal Pain:
- resentment to touching the area of the spine
- trembling when standing
- 'lumping' in centre of the back
- difficulty in defecating/urinating
- the collapse of hind limbs
- incontinence
Anal/Anal Gland Pain
- dragging anus (scooting) along the floor
- sudden or frequent inspection of the rear
- excessive licking/grooming
General Internal Pain
- similar to symptoms to abdominal pain
- restlessness
- pacing
- inability to settle in one position
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Signs of Pain: other signs of pain
- vocalisations including yelping, crying, hissing, spitting
- aggression which is normally radical change to normal temperament
- fear of being touched, facial expression and of being moved
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What does a healthy animal look like? - Behaviour
- makes sure it's eating and drinking the correct amount
- Polydipsia - excessive drinking
- changes in behaviour can indicate an issue
- Bright, Alert, Responsive
- keen to exercise
- not unusually aggressive
- a change in behaviour can be caused by:
- age
- breed
- temperament
- pregnancy/lactation
- to notice a change in behaviour, keepers must be familiar with the 'normal' behaviour of an animal
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What does a healthy animal look like? - Overall Ap
Overall Appearance
- head to tail (including toes/feet/hooves/nails)
Body Condition Scoring
- used on animals that are hard to weigh
- works on a variety of species
- generally on a scale of 1 to 5
- 1 = underweight
- 3 = ideal
- ribs felt with little pressure
- tucked in waist
- 5 = obese
- weight change can show disease, but can also occur because of reproductive status or seasonal patterns of fat deposition
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What does a healthy animal look like? - Fur and Sk
Fur
- glossy
- dense
- no parasites
- no matting
- even
- no signs of flaky skin
Skin
- no flaking
- no sign of parasites
- swollen areas indicate inflammation
- areas of hair loss symptomatic of ringworm or mange
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What does a healthy animal look like? - Respiratio
Respiration
- regular, non-strained breathing
- relaxed
- no panting (without suitable cause)
Heart Rate
- regular heartbeat with a suitable rate
Temperature
- correct temperature for species
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What does a healthy animal look like? - Vomit, Mou
Vomit
- not all animals are capable of vomiting (e.g. equids)
Mouth
- no food remaining (may suggest a dental issue)
- the tongue should be clean apart from just after eating
Gums
- colour comes back quickly after pressure applied
- not too pale but at the same time not inflamed
- in dogs should be salmon pink in colour (depending on breed, if the dog has pigmented gums look at the eyes instead for issues)
Teeth
- no trouble eating
- no sign of decay
- teeth are clean
- no bad breath (could suggest tooth decay or underlying infection)
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What does a healthy animal look like? - Nose, Eyes
Nose
- no discharge
- no inflammation
Eyes
- clear and bright pupils
- clean
- no discharge
- no red or yellow tinge to the white of the eye
Ears
- clean
- no excessive ear wax
- response to sound
- no pain
- no inflammation
- no infection
- no hairs blocking the ear canal
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What does a healthy animal look like? - Ribs, Limb
Ribs
- ribs can be felt but not seen
Limbs
- even weight distribution on all limbs
Pads
- no cracks
- no trapped seeds
- no cuts
Claws
- not cracked/overgrown
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What does a healthy animal look like? - Genitals,
Genitals
- (females) check for discharge from opening to reproductive organs
Anal Area
- diarrhoea, cloudy urine etc. can result from a change in diet
- (faeces) no diarrhoea, 1-2 times per day, firm and brown, passed without straining
Urinary Tract
- urine is clear yellow in colour
- (male) urinate frequently to mark territory
- (female) urinate 2-3 times per day
- urine is passed without difficulty
- Polyuria - excessive urination
Tail
- free movement
- no bends in the tail
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Health Routines - Daily
- coat
- faeces
- urine
- appetite
- thirst
- exercise levels
- temperament
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Health Routines - Weekly
- coat/skin condition
- check genitals for discharge
- ear canals for smell/wax
- gums and teeth
- colour of mucous membranes
- check for 'lumps and bumps'
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Health Routines - Monthly
- nails
- beak
- teeth length
- weight
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Problem Indicators
e.g. daily
- Not eating/drinking
- may indicate stomach problems, blockages, organ issues
- Faeces
- diarrhoea
- parasites
- constipation
- Too much/little urine
- bladder problem/infection
- Exercise levels
- lethargy
- hyperactivity
- Temperament
- sudden aggression can indicate pain or brain disease
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