Healthy Pet, Healthy You

1
Healthy Pet, Healthy You

• In cooperation with
• The Emma Barnsley Foundation
• John Deere
• The PEER Program at Texas AM College of
  Veterinary Medicine Biomedical Sciences

peer.tamu.edu
2
We Want All Our Loved Ones To Be
Healthy

• Family

Friends
Pets
3
The Purpose of a Physical Exam

• Assesses the overall health and condition of the
  animal
• Detects minor abnormalities before they become
  serious problems
• Determines the extent of an injury or illness

4
Characteristics of a Healthy Animal

• Clear bright eyes
• Pink mucous membranes
• Good appetite
• An appearance of contentment
• An alert and interested attitude
• A sleek, shiny coat with pliable hair
• Feces urine are normal in appearance easily
  passed
• Temperature, pulse, respiration are in the
  normal range

5
Vital Signs

• Temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate
• These base-line measurements indicate how an
  animal is functioning at the time of the exam and
  may be a first indication that something is
  wrong.

6
Temperature

• The result of the balance between basal
  metabolism and muscular heat heat lost
• Taken rectally with a thermometer
• Varies due to illness, physical activity, stage
  of pregnancy, time of day, /or environmental
  surroundings

7
Average Temperature of Different Species

Species Temperature (F)
Horse 99.5 101.3
Cattle 100.4 103.1
Sheep Goats 102.2 104.9
Swine 100.4 104.0
Dog 99.5 102.5
Cat 100.5 102.5
Human 98.6
8
Pulse

• The rhythmic, periodic thrust felt over an artery
  in time with the heartbeat.
• Palpate (touch with fingers) at the lower jaw in
  horses cattle, the femoral artery in dogs
  cats, radial (wrist)or carotid (neck) artery in
  humans
• Varies due to illness, age, size, sex, breed,
  exercise, atmospheric conditions, time of day,
  eating, /or excitement

9
Average Pulse of Different Species

Species Pulse (bpm)
Horse 28 - 40
Cattle 40 - 70
Sheep Goats 60 - 90
Swine 60 - 100
Dog 60 - 100
Cat 150 - 200
Human 60-100
10
Respiration

• The acts of taking in oxygen, using it in the
  body tissues, and giving off carbon dioxide.
• Evaluated visually or by auscultation with a
  stethoscope
• Variations due to illness or body size, age,
  exercise, excitement, environmental temperature,
  atmospheric conditions, pregnancy, fullness of
  the digestive tract.

11
Average Respiration Rates of Different Species

Species respiration (bpm)
Horse 8 - 16
Cattle 10 - 30
Sheep Goats 12 - 20
Swine 8 - 18
Dog 10 - 30
Cat 20 - 30
Humans 15-20
12
Vaccinations

• A biological product that improves immunity to a
  particular disease.
• Typically contains an antigen that resembles a
  disease-causing microorganism
• Stimulates the immune system to recognize the
  disease agent as "foreign", destroy the agent,
  and then remember the agent if it is encountered
  in the future.

13
Vaccinations

• Prevents or lessens the severity of disease
• Prevents spread of disease between animals and
  humans (zoonotic diseases)
• Core vaccines

14
Parasite Control

• Parasite - an organism that lives on or in a
  host and gets its food from or at the expense of
  its host
• Host an organism that harbors a parasite
• External Parasites fleas, ticks, and mites
• Internal Parasites heartworms, tapeworms,
  roundworms, and whipworms

15
Dental Health

• Prevent periodontal disease
• Infection between the tooth and gum that can
  result in tooth loss and spread infection to the
  rest of the body
• Brush at least 3-4 times a week
• Provide chew toys for dogs
• Proper diet
• Schedule regular cleanings with your veterinarian
  

16
Spay and neuter

• Reduce the homeless population
• 6 8 million pets in shelters each year
• Improve health and behavior
• Reduce or eliminate some types of cancer,
  roaming, marking, aggression

17
Spay/Neuter Video
18
Nutrition

• Pet food should be complete (contains all
  necessary nutrients), balanced (nutrients are in
  proper proportions), tasty (palatable) enough to
  be eaten, digestible (nutrients can get into the
  body to be used), and safe
• Feed according to age, size, activity level, and
  overall health

19
Exercise

• Consider pets physical state and needs before
  beginning an exercise routine
• Strengthens the bond between you and your pet
• Maintains healthy heart, lungs, and muscles
• Controls weight

20
Emergency!

• Protect yourself!
• Call the emergency care facility before bringing
  pet
• Bleeding elevate and apply pressure to the wound
• Choking place fingers in pets mouth and try to
  remove blockage
• Modified Heimlich maneuver
• CPR

21
Questions?