How to perform an "at home" physical exam on your pet:

To identify an illness or abnormal situation, you must first be able to recognize what is normal for your pet.  You know your pet better than anyone else and will have to decide when an abnormal situation warrants professional help. Sometimes the condition is so serious it leaves no doubt. Frequently, however, the changes are subtle, or happen over a longer period of time, making noticing a problem more difficult.  

The following information teaches you how to examine your pet and determine what is normal. It is recommended that you occasionally give your pet an “at home” physical exam, when there is nothing wrong, so that you begin to get used to what is normal, allowing for the detection of early changes in your pets health.  

First, before you start your hands-on exam, stand back and look at your pet for a few minutes.  The posture, breathing, activity level, and general appearance can tell you a lot.  Get a good mental picture of your pets “normal” in your mind and then begin your exam using a “body systems” approach.

NOSE: 

Normal:  

• Moist and clean

Abnormal: 

• Excessively dry and cracked; it is a misconception that a dry, warm nose always means illness; sometimes a normal nose can appear slightly dry and warm to the touch; a healthy nose should feel like soft, supple leather
• Colored nasal discharge (green, yellow, white)
• Bleeding

SKIN:

The skin is an important indicator of overall health. Feel your pet’s skin and haircoat, noting any masses or sores. Many older pets can develop accumulations of fatty tissue known as lipomas. In order to differentiate these benign masses from cancerous ones, it is important to have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian, having an aspirate performed (collection of cells with a small needle). This simple and quick procedure can help your veterinarian determine the nature of the lump and help you decide if further tests or treatment are needed.

Normal

• Shiny and smooth haircoat
• Soft and unbroken skin
• Minimal odor

Abnormal

• Sparse or patchy haircoat
• Open sores or wounds
• Foul or rancid odor

SKIN TURGOR TEST:

The skin turgor test may be the most helpful one to determine whether an animal is well hydrated; this test can be affected by several factors other than hydration status, such as weight loss, age and general skin condition, but it can help you make a rough determination of your pet’s hydration status. To perform this test, pull the skin over the chest or back into a tent and release it quickly; avoid the skin of the neck, as it’s often too thick for this test. Observe the skin as it returns to its resting position.

Normal

• The skin snaps back into position quickly.

Abnormal

• The skin returns slowly or remains slightly tented; this is a sign of possible dehydration

EYES:

Normal

• Bright, moist, and clear
• Centered between the eyelid
• Pupils equal in size
• Whites of the eye should not appear colored (such as red or yellow) and should have only a few visible blood vessels
• Pupils shrink equally when bright light is shined into either eye and enlarge equally when the eyes are held closed or the room darkened

Abnormal

• Dull, sunken eyes; eyes that appear dry; thick discharge from eyes
• One or both eyes not centered
• Pupils unequal in size
• Abnormal colors that indicate problems are yellow (jaundice), or red (bloodshot); pay close attention to the color of the whites of your pet’s eyes
• Pupils fail to respond or respond differently when bright light is shined into either eye or fail to respond or respond differently to the dark

EARS:

Chronic ear problems are common in pets, and are often a result of allergies to inhaled pollen (like hay fever in people) that are then complicated by secondary infections with bacteria or yeast. Ear infections can be painful and head shaking can lead to an accumulation of blood in the floppy part of the ear, known as an aural hematoma.

Normal

• Skin smooth and without wounds
• Clean and dry
• Almost odor-free
• Typical carriage for breed
• Pain-free

Abnormal

• Wounds, scabs, or any sign of rash
• Crust, moisture, or other discharge in ear canal
• Any strong odor
• Atypical carriage for breed; for example, a droopy ear in a breed with normally erect ears
• Painful or swollen ears

MOUTH:

Normal

• Teeth are clean and white
• Gums are uniformly pink and moist to the touch (should not feel dry or sticky)

Abnormal

• Tartar accumulation around the base of the teeth
• The gums are red, bluish or purple, pale, inflamed, or sore in appearance
• Press on the gum tissue with your finger or thumb and release quickly and watch the color return to the gums; this checks the capillary refill time (CRT) and is a crude assessment of how well the heart and circulatory system are working; a normal CRT is 1 to 1.5 seconds for color to return; this can be a difficult test to interpret sometimes (for example, if your pet has dark or pigmented gums), and should not be relied upon as definitive evidence that your pet is sick or healthy

NECK, CHEST AND BREATHING:

Normal

• It is difficult to hear the pet breathe at all except when panting
• The chest wall moves easily to and fro during respiration
• Most of the act of breathing is performed by the chest wall
• Normal resting rate is 15 to 60 breaths per minute; a sleeping or resting cat would be near the low end, while an active cat would be higher

Abnormal

• Any unusual noise heard while the pet is breathing could indicate a problem, especially if the noise is new for the pet
• Your pet has had “a change” in its bark or meow
• There is noticeable effort by the pet to move the chest wall
• The belly is actively involved in the act of inhaling and exhaling
• Your pet stands with elbows held out further than normal, its neck extended out further than normal or, is unable to rest or lie down
• An increased resting respiratory rate may be a sign that a disease is progressing; if you know your cat’s normal resting rate is 15 breaths a minute, and after living with heart disease the resting rate goes up to 30 while the cat is asleep, the doubled rate means it’s time to see the veterinarian again

PULSE AND HEART RATE:

Learn to locate the pulse on your pet before a crisis. The best place on a cat or dog is the femoral artery in the groin area (pictured). Place your fingers around the front of the hind leg and move upward until the back of your hand meets the abdominal wall. Move your fingertips back and forth on the inside of the thigh until you feel the pulsing sensation as the blood rushes through the artery. Count the number of pulses in 15 seconds and multiply by 4. This will give you the pulse rate in beats per minute. Pulse rate is a highly variable finding and can be affected by recent exercise, excitement or stress. Do not use the heart rate at the sole evidence that your pet is sick or healthy.

The resting heart rates that are listed are for healthy animals at rest at home, not for animals evaluated in a veterinary clinic where higher heart rates than those listed might be detected due to excitement, stress of a visit to the clinic, or disease.

Normal

• Cats: 140 to 180 beats per minute (bpm); a relaxed cat may have a slower pulse
• Dogs: 60 to 160 bpm; relaxed, large breed, or athletic dogs tend to have slower heart rates; small breed dogs and puppies tend to have higher heart rates
• Pulse is easily palpated, strong, and regular

Abnormal

• Too rapid or too slow
• Pulse is weak, irregular, or hard to locate

ABDOMEN:

Touch and feel the stomach, starting just behind the ribs and gently press your hands into the belly, feeling for abnormalities; if your pet has just eaten, you may be able to feel an enlargement in the left part of the belly just under the ribs (where the stomach “lives); proceed toward the rear of the body, passing your hands gently over the entire belly.

Normal

• No lumps, bumps, or masses
• No discomfort on palpation
• No distension of the belly

Abnormal

• Any lump, bump, or mass may be abnormal
• Palpation causes groaning or difficulty breathing; any evidence or indication of pain is a serious finding; use caution to avoid being bitten
• The abdomen feels hard or tense and it appears distended

TEMPERATURE:

Taking your pet’s temperature is an easy and important procedure. Use a digital rectal thermometer (the ear type is less reliable). Lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly and gently and slowly insert the thermometer into the rectum about 1 or 2 inches. If it does not slide in easily, do not force it.  It may be easier to take your cat’s temperature if you have someone to help you. Do not risk taking your pet’s temperature if you feel there is a risk of being bitten.

Normal

• Temperature is between 100 F and 102.5F
• The thermometer is almost clean when removed

Abnormal

• Temperature is below 99 F or above 102.5 F
• There is evidence of blood, diarrhea, or black, tarry stool on the thermometer

I realize this is a bit of lengthy blog, and if you are reading this now, I'd like to say that I am glad you stuck with me.  I hope this systems approach to an “at-home physical exam” helps you to become familiar and stay in tune with what is normal for your pet.   You can record the results of your home examination using the outline below.  Performing this exam in the comfort of your own home is the best way to learn what is normal and helps you to recognize any changes in your pets behavior. Consult your veterinarian if an abnormal condition exists or you are concerned about any exam finding.  Early recognition of a serious problem can save the life of your pet.

This information is intended as a general reference, and is not intended to replace professional advice or an examination by a veterinarian.