Page 191 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

Chapter 10 Management of Hospitalized and Boarding Pets 175

with antibiotics, antiparasitics, steroids, chemotherapies, with initials and time of completion. Results of tests,
and other pharmaceuticals are used to combat the path- notes for completed therapies, procedures, and sur-
ogen or boost the body’s immune system to fight it off. geries are placed in the patient’s record either by the
Wellness programs are used to prevent diseases, these person that accomplished them or by you if directed.
usually include vaccinations and deworming programs.
These are usually administered to young animals to help Collecting Vital Signs
them start to build the immunity against these often
contagious diseases. However, for rescued patients, All hospitalized patients should be “hands on” evaluated
where the history is unknown, they may be instituted for at least twice a day. The veterinary assistant may be asked
these patients as well. There are guidelines for vaccina- to help the technician do the preliminary evaluations or
tions for all animals through the various veterinary spe- they may be asked to have these completed before the
cialty associations. Every clinic will have their own veterinarian or technicians arrive for the day. Preliminary
protocols for when and how often a vaccination program evaluations are vital signs, weight, body conditioning
is initiated. Be proactive in learning what your clinic’s score, and pain score.
protocol is for each species of animal it sees. Establish a routine for gathering these evaluations.
This reduces time and effort, creating efficiency and pre-
venting oversights. You will need a notebook or the
Reflection patient’s file to mark the readings, you will also need a
watch with a second hand, stethoscope, thermometer,
Now that you know the skin is the first barrier to and lubricant. Place the baby scale on a level area or
ward off pathogens, what steps will you take to cleared area on your cart for your smaller patients. Have
protect your own skin to prevent the possible your leash ready to move your larger patients to the walk‐
transmission of diseases? on scale.
Vital signs are temperature (T), pulse (P), respiration
(R), and capillary refill time (CRT). It is suggested that
these be done while the patient is resting in the kennel
Treatment Plan Protocols or run. Taking them out of their kennel and moving
them to a treatment table can elevate the respiration and
Treatment plans for all patients begin with the veteri- heart rates. If the patient is naughty or you think they
narian diagnosing the disease, condition, or injury. The may bite, a cage muzzle for dogs and a cone muzzle for
veterinarian then decides upon the treatments, ther- cats are easy to put on to protect yourself. See Chapter 8
apies, medications, and diagnostic tests required. This is for a refresher on muzzles.
placed in the Plans area of the SOAP record format or, if Start with the pulse and heart rate, which are not the
chronologic, written on the next available line. The same thing! Pulse is a palpable measurement created by
assistant is a key player in the delivery of the treatment the combination of cardiac output and systemic vascular
plan and monitoring the patient’s response to the treat- resistance. It is defined as the difference between peak
ments. The assistant will use not only her powers of systolic and minimal diastolic pressures. The heart rate
observation, but will also rely on touch, hearing, and is defined as the number of beats per minute (BPM). It is
smell when monitoring the patient. possible to have a heart beat that does not create a pulse.
Observation of patients occurs throughout the day, This is called a pulse deficit. For this reason, it is impor-
however brief, as the assistant works with all hospitalized tant to compare the two by palpating the pulse while aus-
patients in each ward. If a downward trend is noted, the cultating the heart.
veterinarian must be promptly notified. Any changes For dogs and cats, offer up some treats and proceed
from prior observations are recorded with the time of with finding the femoral artery to evaluate the pulse.
the observance. Because of the possibility of these Place your fingers up high on the medial side of the back
changes, the treatment plan should be reviewed several leg and press in deep but lightly. Figure 10.4 shows the
times during the day in the event more tests are ordered general location of the femoral artery; the fingers in the
or new therapies are introduced. It is also to catch newly photo should be flatter against the thigh. Or use the
admitted patients throughout the day. Many clinics will pedal artery, location indicated by the red oval on
use a whiteboard, either on the computer or on the wall, Figure 10.4.
to keep tract of each patient’s treatment plan. Name, The normal characteristic of the pulse is described as
location, and description of the patient is the basic a rhythmic thump, against your fingers as the heart con-
information required. This is followed by what the veter- tracts. Abnormal characteristics of pulse are faint, thready,
inarian has in mind for diagnostic tests, therapies, treat- bounding, strong, weak, or irregular. Alert the veterinary
ments, procedures, surgeries, or medications. as soon as possible as this can indicate several serious
Completion of each item on the whiteboard is noted health conditions. Note the pulse characteristic in the