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Detecting Animal Diseases Early
Before an animal receives treatment for a disease, an attempt is made to diagnose the disease. This involves considering clinical findings, such as symptoms noticeable to a non-specialist, and clinical signs that a veterinarian can identify. Laboratory test results may also be necessary to determine the cause of the disease.
How is an animal examined for disease?
A clinical examination can indicate whether the animal is in good physical condition, eating adequately, is alert, and functioning normally. Disease processes can be inflammatory or result from tumors. If a specific diagnosis isn’t possible, the animal’s symptoms are treated.
The veterinarian diagnoses a disease based on examinations and tests, including:
- Inspection A visual examination of the animal.
- Palpation Applying firm pressure with the fingers to tissues to check for abnormalities like unusual shapes and potential tumors, pain, and tissue consistency.
- Percussion Applying a short, sharp blow to a tissue to provoke an audible response from underlying body parts.
- Auscultation Listening to sounds produced by the body during functions like breathing and intestinal movements.
- Smells Recognizing characteristic odors associated with certain diseases.
- Miscellaneous diagnostic procedures Eye examinations, urine collection, and heart, esophageal, and stomach studies.
What does a thorough clinical examination include?
A clinical examination includes studying various features of the animal, such as visible mucous membranes (conjunctiva of the eye, nasal mucosa, inside surface of the mouth, and tongue), the eye itself, and body surfaces like the ears, horns (if present), and limbs. The pulse rate and temperature are also measured.
The veterinarian examines the mucous membranes of the eye, nose, and mouth to check for jaundice, hemorrhages, or anemia. The conjunctiva, or lining of the eye, may show pus in pinkeye infections, appear yellow in jaundice, or exhibit small hemorrhages in certain systemic diseases. Examination of the nose may reveal ulcers and vesicles (small sacs containing liquid), as in foot-and-mouth disease, a viral disease of cattle, or vesicular exanthema, a viral disease of swine. Ulceration of the tongue may be apparent in animals suffering from actinobacillosis, a disease of bacterial origin.
A detailed eye examination may reveal corneal abnormalities resulting from diseases like infectious hepatitis in dogs, bovine catarrhal fever, and equine influenza. Cataract, which obstructs light passage through the lens, may result from diabetes mellitus, infections, or hereditary defects.
An elevated temperature, or fever, resulting from the multiplication of disease-causing organisms may be the earliest sign of disease. The increase in temperature activates the body mechanisms that are necessary to fight off foreign substances. Measuring the pulse rate helps determine the character of the heartbeat and the circulatory system.
People Also Ask (PAA) Section
How is information about an animal’s health recorded?
A case record includes the animal’s description (age, species, sex, breed), the owner’s report, the animal’s history, a description of the preliminary examination, clinical findings from examining body systems, lab test results, a diagnosis of the disease’s cause, the prognosis, treatment, case progress, termination, autopsy (if performed), and scientific references.
What role do tumors play in animal diseases?
Many disease processes are either inflammatory or result from tumors. Malignant tumors, such as melanomas in horses and squamous cell carcinomas in small animals, tend to spread rapidly and usually cause death. Other diseases can cause circulatory disturbances or degenerative and infiltrative changes.
Why is measuring an animal’s temperature important?
An elevated temperature, or fever, can be the earliest sign of disease, indicating the body’s attempt to fight off foreign substances. Monitoring the temperature helps in understanding the animal’s response to potential infections or diseases.
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