SMALL ANIMAL MEDICAL NURSINGGROOMING/BATHING

Grooming and medicated bathing are recommended for the treatment and prevention of many dermatologic problems. Control and

treatment of ectoparasites.

Cleanliness of the patient at the time of discharge is an indication to the owner of the overall quality of health care provided.

Grooming and Bathing

Every animal hospital should have adequate collection of grooming and bathing equipment and supplies.

Supplies include: Combs Brushes Scissors Towels for drying Electrical dryers Selection of shampoos

Dryers

Grooming Considerations

Care must be taken to prevent the spread of infections from one animal to another via grooming instruments.

Instruments should be thoroughly cleaned in an appropriate disinfectant solution after each use.

Things to Remember

When clipping or removing hair from an animal for medical reasons, it is important to obtain the owner’s permission, whenever possible. Certain breeds , regrowth is slow.

Bathing

Basic technique for bathing dogs and cats is to thoroughly wet the coat and then apply small amounts of shampoo starting at the head and working back to the tail.

Rub shampoo into a lather, starting at head and working back to tail.

Bathing Considerations

Eyes should be protected by mineral oil, or ophthalmic ointment.

Care should be taken to prevent water from entering the ears by placing a small amount cotton in each ear. (Remember to remove once bath is complete).

Bathing Continued

Thermal injury can be caused by excessively hot water.

Constantly monitor water temperature.

Thoroughly rinse shampoo residue to prevent skin irritation. Axillary and scrotal

regions of long-haired dogs are particularly vulnerable to residual shampoo irritation.

Bathing continued

Shampoos containing insecticides should be used only with approval of the attending veterinarian because of possible cumulative toxicity or drug interactions with medications or other topically applied insecticides.

Insecticidal dips should be used with correct dilutions to avoid toxic reactions.

If complete immersion bath is contraindicated, can sponge bath dirty areas.

Orthopedic and neurological patients may not be able to stand steady in the bath tub, so may need to use rubber mat to help reduce injury.

Ringworm Treatment

Lime Sulfur Dip Needs to be diluted Always wear gloves! READ the directions Do not dry Do not ingest Do not rinse

CAUTION!!!!

Close your mouth!!!! Do not peer in “line of fire” Very unpleasant odor, can be messy, be

sure to clean up afterwards.

FYI: Fatty acid supplements have been shown to help reduce the inflammation associated with Anal Sac disease.

Anal Sac Tumors

Sometimes present in pets

Generally require surgery

Anal Sac Abscess

Occur when sac ruptures out to the skin.

Usually provide relief to patient.

Must be kept clean and use appropriate meds.

Impacted Anal Sacs

Exercise

Moderate exercise is beneficial for the general care of the animal patient.

Exercise should take place in a secure, controlled, and safe environment so that injury or loss of the animal does not occur.

Decision to restrict exercise should be made after consultation with the attending veterinarian.

Moderate exercise consists of taking the patient for a walk and can be considered the simplest and most basic form of physical therapy.

Moderate exercise may be useful means of reducing peripheral edema and improving muscle tone and strength.

Contraindications to exercise Respiratory issues Cardiovascular issues Musculoskeletal issues

Exercise

Feeding Technician plays important role in ensuring that each

patient remains in a positive energy balance. Technician will notice subtle changes in appetite or eating

behaviors. Familiarity with the home feeding regimen will aid in

selection of palatable alternative diets. Owner may need to bring home diet to clinic in order to get

patient to eat in the hospital setting.

Feeding Continued

Personal attention at feeding time such as talking to the patient or hand feeding may be needed to stimulate eating.

Cats must smell food in order to eat. Force feeding may be necessary in some

cases. Feeding tubes may be needed in some

cases. May use caloric pastes if needed. May need to stimulate appetite.

Bedding

Keeping a dog clean is to appropriately use bedding and exercise runs.

Several types of bedding are routinely used and may include: Newpaper Paper products Blankets Towels Lamb’s wool products “cots”

Bedding Continued

Bedding material used should be disposable or readily and effectively cleaned between uses.

Dogs will eat their bedding so should be digestible and non-toxic.

Dogs do not like to urinate and defecate where they sleep so regular exercise is recommended.

Cat Bedding

Generally easier to keep clean. Usually will use litter pans and groom and

clean themselves unless seriously ill. Litter pans should be changed daily,

preferably when dirty. Pans should be disposable or able to be

completely cleaned between uses. Newspaper may be used in place of gravel

litter to keep from getting into wounds or surgical incisions.

Cat Bedding Continued

“Yesterday’s News” is sometimes used after surgeries and especially some de-claws.

Usually walking cats is not necessary, can have exercise time for the cat.

Decubital Ulcers (Bedsores)

Decubital Sores (Bedsores) and urine scald are extremely important aspects of the care of recumbent patients.

Animals that can be recumbent for long periods of time require special care.

Urine and fecal soiling can cause serious problems that can complicate recovery.

Best treatment is prevention- Cleaning bedding and turning patient. Bedsores can cause sepsis which can lead to death.

Pressure sore from cast

Pressure sore’s from slings

Pressure Sore

Prevention of Bedsores

Adequate padding. Air or water mattresses. Grids, grates and straw. Material needs to be able to be cleaned

or disposed of. Needs to be impermeable to urine or

moisture, or allow microorganisms in. Keep skin as dry as possible.

Prevention of Bedsores Continued

Frequently move or turn the patient. May use slings from time to time as well. If develop, should be cleaned thoroughly

with a surgical scrub. Should be thoroughly dried after cleaning. Soaking with a mild astringent solution

may be made. Afterwards, pad area but allow air in

(donut shaped padding). Surgical debridement may be necessary.

TPR

Vital Signs- include a temperature (T), pulse (P) and respiration (R) count.

Changes with every species of animal an varies due to size, age, environment, stress, activity level, and health.

Signs of a Healthy Animal

Clear, bright eyes with pink mucous membranes (mm).

Appearance of contentment. Alert attitude and interest in surroundings. Good appetite. Sleek, shiny coat with fur that is pliable;

not dry and brittle. Feces and urine that are easily passed and

have normal appearance. TPR is in normal range. The normal Temp

for dogs: 101.0 to 102.5 Cats normal Temp 100.5 to 102.5

Temperature (T)

The range of body heat in an animal. Can predict:

Infection Overheating Hypothermia Stress Excitement Environment etc.

Ways to take Temperatures

Thermometer- gauge used to measure body temperature.

Various types of thermometers available for animal use.

Can use human thermometers on animals.

If measuring in Celsius degrees, can convert to Fahrenheit by using formula: C= (degrees F – 32) x 5/9

Types of thermometers

Regular human mercury thermometer. Veterinary mercury thermometer (storage

reservoir is short and spherical rather than elongated).

Digital thermometers. Infrared thermometers-infrared beam is

focused on the tympanic membrane. External ear thermometers.

Mercury Thermometer

We have these at VTI..

Digital Thermometer

Where temperatures are taken

Generally will take a rectal temperature.

In some cases may use an ear thermometer or axillary reading but these instances are very rare.

If temperature is taken from alternate location, then 1 degree F should be added to the reading.

How to take a Temperature

1. Clean the thermometer (not just with alcohol, make sure is disinfected).

2. If using a mercury thermometer, make sure the thermometer has been shaken so that the mercury is below the constriction in the glass tube.

3. Lubricate the tip of the thermometer with petroleum jelly.

Taking Temperature Continued 4. Restrain the animal so that the

thermometer will stay in place. 5. Hold mercury thermometer in place for

3 minutes, digital thermometers should be held in place until an auditory beep is heard.

6. Remove thermometer, observe reading and record.

7. Clean off thermometer appropriately. 8. Store thermometer appropriately.

Normal temperatures

Cat- 100.5-102.5 Dog-101-102.5 Cattle- 101.0 Chicken- 107.0 Goat- 102.5 Horse- 100.0 Rabbit- 103.0 Sheep-102.0 Snake- room temperature

Special Considerations Smaller animals and puppies tend to

have/require higher body temperatures.

Certain diseases may show fluctuations in body temperatures so any animal that is sick should have temperature taken throughout day. This can be referred to diurnal fluctuations.

Pulse (P)

The heartbeat of an animal. Rate and character of the pulse are

valuable means of assessing the cardiovascular status of the patient.

Range and rate can also indicate: Anxiety Exercise Pain Disease Shock

Areas to locate pulse

Can be palpated in any artery located close to the body surface.

Index finger is best to use for sensitivity to pulse, while thumb is least sensitive.

Locations include: Femoral artery (inside rear leg). Palmar aspect of the carpus Ventral aspect of base of tail Pedal artery Through auscultation of the heart itself.

Listen with stethoscope at PMI (point of maximum intensity) which is located at the costochondral junction between the fourth and sixth intercostal spaces.

Femoral Pulse

Procedure for taking a pulse

1. Gently roll your index finger and middle fingers over the artery.

2. Count number of pulses for 15 or 30 seconds and then multiply by 4 or 2 respectively.

Notes of Consideration

If you are listening to heart rate and feeling pulse at the same time and the pulse rate is less than the heart rate, then this is a Pulse deficit.

Dogs can have regularly irregular pulse rates.

Sinus arrhythmia- heart and pulse rates increase with inspiration and decrease with expiration.

Pulse Characteristics

Pulse Pressure- how hard or strong the pulse is.

May hear terms such as thready, weak, etc.

Decreased pulse pressure can indicate systemic hypotension or drops in the blood pressure.

Normal Pulse Parameters

Dog- 60-160 beats per minute (bpm) Cat- 110-240 bpm Cattle- 60-70 bpm Chicken- 200-400 bpm Goat- 40-60 bpm Horse- 30-60 bpm Rabbit- 123- 304 bpm Sheep- 60-90 bpm Snake- 12 bpm

Special Considerations

Puppies and small breed dogs will have higher pulse rates. 220 bpm

Cats will have higher heart rates than dogs. 240 bpm

Cold blooded animals will have lower heart rates. Example: Snake – 26 bpm

Respiration (R) The breathing rate of

an animal. Should be counted

when animal is at rest but not sleeping.

Respiration includes both inspiratory and expiratory pause.

Can count inspirations or expirations but not both.

Respiration continued Respiration is evaluated by

the depth and character of breathing. Depth- degree of chest effort

that is needed to take a breath. The volume of air inspired in each breath. Increased depth indicates a greater demand for oxygen.

Character- whether or not animal is breathing slow, normal, or rapid.

Procedure for counting Respirations

1. Observe the rise and fall of the chest. 2. Count the number of breaths for 15

or 30 seconds. 3. Multiply by 4 or 2 respectively to get

number of breaths per minute. 4. Record in patient record.

Normal Respiration Rates

Dogs- 15-30 breaths per minute Cats- 20-30 Cattle- 10-30 Chicken- 15-30 Goat- 12-20 Horse- 8-16 Rabbit- 30-45 Sheep- 12-20 Snake- 1-2

TPR’s continued

TPR exams should be conducted on every animal that enters the hospital or clinic.

Should also be done on a daily basis and after surgery.

TPR’s are a very good indicator of sickness if the animal is not in the normal range for their species.