Tips for Skill 43

This skill will require you to apply equine leg wraps and a full tail wraps, you will need to know the normal values of temperature, pulse, and respiration for equine patients and determine values for individual patients. You will also auscultate the heart, lungs and abdomen of equine patients. Upon completion of this skill, you will be able to apply leg and tail wraps to equine patients, obtain the temperature, pulse and respiration rates on equine patients and compare your findings to normal values. You will also be able to discern normal and abnormal sounds upon auscultation of the heart, lungs, and abdomen.

Tips for materials that need to be submitted:

• Logbook containing patient information and results of examination for three patients

  • You need to have a full patient signalment

  • You need to have the date

  • In your physical exam results you need to include

    • Temperature

    • Pulse: You should be noting

      • The location you took it

      • The character

      • If it was synchronous with the heart beat; you should be auscultating the heart and palpating the pulse simultaneously

      • Note the pulse rate

    • Respiration

      • You need to note respiration rate (breaths per min)

      • You need to auscultate the lungs

        • You need to auscultate both sides of the chest

        • When noting your results, do not just note normal or abnormal. Instead say things like: Lung sounds were not present or clear on the left/ right cranial/ caudal aspect of the thorax. If you hear an abnormal sound note it

    • Heart

      • Heart rate, GET IT! I know the skill sheet does not ask for it, but be thorough and take it. You need to auscultate the heart anyway

      • You need to auscultate the heart

        • Again listen to both sides of the chest, even though the heart is heard best on the left; you still need to listen to the right side of the chest

        • When noting your results, do not just write normal or abnormal. Instead say thing like: Heart was absent of murmurs or arrhythmias or if there was an abnormality note it

    • Gut sounds

      • Don't just note normal or abnormal. Note what you hear.

• Video of student applying a full leg wrap

  • Your bandage should have at least 2 layers (cotton and tension bandage)

• Video of student applying a full tail wrap (a reproductive bandage is required)

  • Make sure to include all hairs in the bandage

  • The bandage should start at the base of the tail and move distally

• Helpful resources in addition to your textbooks and study materials:

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGzgGaEgPZ4

  • http://www.thehorse.com/videos/30306/how-to-wrap-a-horses-legs

  • http://animals.mom.me/use-equine-tail-wrap-2700.html