Physical Examination of Individual
Animals
Methods used in the Detection of
Clinical Signs
• Clinical examination is performed by means of
• senses
• sight,
• touch,
• hearing, and
• smell.
It includes:
• The general and particular examination, and
• The physical examination.
The techniques of physical examination
• Inspection
• Palpation
• Auscultation
• Percussion
The techniques of physical examination
1. Inspection
• This is carried out some distance away from the
animal.
• Examination of the outer surface of the body and
external orifices with unaided eye.
• Examination of hollow viscera with endoscopes.
• Examination of internal structures with radiological
apparatuses.
Cont,,,
• Attention should be paid to the following items:
• Behaviour,
• Appetite,
• Defecation,
• Urination,
• Pasture,
• Gait,
• Body condition,
• Body conformation
Cont,,,
• Lesions on outer surface of the body can be observed:-
• Skin and coat,
• Nose,
• Mouth,
• Eyes,
• Legs and hoofs,
• Anus
Cont,,,
Palpation:
Objective:- To detect the presence of pain in a tissue by
noting increased sensitivity.
• This includes handling the tissues by means of the
fingers of one or both hands and/or indirectly with a
probe.
• Changes in shape, size, consistency, position,
temperature and sensitivity to touch (pain response)
can be assessed by palpation.
• E.g., the superficial lymph nodes.
Cont,,,
• The terms, which can be used to describe the consistency
of parts during palpation, are:
• Resilient:- when a structure quickly resumes its normal
shape after the application of pressure has ceased.
• E.g., Normal rumen
• Doughy:- when pressure causes pitting as in oedema.
• Firm:- when the resistance to pressure is similar to that
of the normal liver.
• E.g., neoplasia/tumor
Cont,,,
• Hard:- when the structure possesses bone-like
consistency.
• (E.g., Actinomycotic lesion)
• Fluctuating:- when a wave-like movement is produced
in a structure by the application of alternate pressure .
• (E.g., hernia, hemorrhage/hematoma
• Emphysematous:- when the structure is swollen and yields on
pressure with the production of a crepitating or crackling sound.
• E.g., Black leg
Cont,,,
• Percussion
• Objective:
• To obtain information about the condition of the
surrounding tissues.
• More particularly, the deeper lying parts.
• It is used mainly for the examination of
– Thorax (lungs, heart)
– Abdominal cavity (rumen)
– Paranasal sinuses
– Subcutaneous emphysema.
Cont,,,
• Method: By means of striking a part of the body to be
percussed.
• Percussion is applied by using:-
Pleximeter and plexor
Fingers
Cont,,,
• Immediate percussion:-
• Using fingers or hammer directly strike the parts
being examined.
• Mediate percussion:- Finger-finger percussion;
Pleximeter-hammer percussion.
Cont,,,
• The quality of the sounds produced by percussion is
classified as:
• Resonant:- Which is characteristic of the sound
emitted by air containing organs, such as the lungs.
Tympanic:- The sound produced by striking a hollow
organ containing gas under pressure.
• E.g., tympanitic rumen or caecum.
• Dull:- Sound emitted by a solid organ like the liver or
heart
Cont,,,
• Modified forms of percussion
• Ballottement (rebound):- This is performed by pushing
the body wall sharply and forcefully so that internal
structures are first propelled against the body wall then on
recoil rebound against the operator’s fingers.
• This enables the presence or character of an internal
structure to be assessed.
• Fluid percussion:- percussing the body surface on one
side and detecting the fluid wave by palpation of the
opposite side.
cont,,,
• Auscultation:-
• Objective:- To listen the sounds produced by the
functional activity of an organ located within a part of
the body.
• This method used to examine the
• Lung,
• Trachea,
• Heart and
• Certain parts of the alimentary tract
cont,,,
• Two methods of auscultation
1. Indirect method: is performed by employing a suitable
stethoscope.
2. Direct method: is performed by placing the ear in contact
with the body surface over the organ to be examined.
• Any question about
physical examination?
• quize two
1. write all terms that used to describe the
consistency of parts during palpation(3%)
2. compare and contrast immediate and
mediate percussion (2%)
3. write all types of examination (2%)
Time allowed 10 minute
