Patient Assessment and Evaluation Flashcards
7 cards from real CCAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment and Evaluation flashcards as text
When performing a postural assessment on a dog with suspected intervertebral disc disease, which observation is most clinically significant?
Answer: Kyphosis of the thoracolumbar spine
Kyphosis (dorsal rounding) of the thoracolumbar spine is a classic postural compensation indicating pain or muscle guarding in dogs with IVDD.
Which gait analysis tool provides the most objective, quantitative measurement of weight-bearing symmetry in a rehabilitation patient?
Answer: Force plate or pressure walkway
Force plates and pressure walkways measure peak vertical force and impulse data, providing objective, reproducible weight-bearing symmetry values.
A 9-year-old Labrador presents with muscle wasting of the left pelvic limb after 6 weeks of non-weight-bearing. Which measurement best quantifies this atrophy?
Answer: Limb circumference with a flexible tape measure
Serial limb circumference measurements at consistent anatomical landmarks (e.g., mid-thigh) objectively track muscle atrophy or hypertrophy over time.
During a neurological examination, you test a dog's conscious proprioception by knuckling the paw. A 3-second delay in correction is most consistent with:
Answer: Upper motor neuron dysfunction
Delayed paw replacement (proprioceptive deficit) indicates disruption of the ascending sensory or descending motor pathways, consistent with upper motor neuron dysfunction.
Which pain scale is specifically validated for use in dogs and assesses acute pain through behavioral and physiological indicators?
Answer: Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale – Short Form (CMPS-SF)
The CMPS-SF is a validated, species-specific tool for assessing acute pain in dogs using behavioral descriptors with assigned numeric scores.
When evaluating a cat post-femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO), the MOST important functional outcome to assess is:
Answer: Weight-bearing symmetry and range of motion of the operated limb
Post-FHO success depends on muscle development and return of functional weight-bearing, assessed through limb use symmetry and hip range of motion.
A rehabilitation therapist notices a patient compensates by hitching the ipsilateral hip upward during the swing phase of gait. This pattern most commonly indicates:
Answer: Reduced flexion of the affected limb's stifle or hock
Hip hiking during swing phase is a compensatory strategy to advance a limb with inadequate stifle or hock flexion (circumduction gait).