The physical exam. The veterinarian, with the assistance help with restraint as needed. We'll perform a physical exam of the patient, starting from the nose and working down to the tail. The vet will listen to the patient's lungs and heart to check for irregular sounds. They will begin with an ophthalmic exam, checking the patient's eyes, nose and inside the ears. Next is a quick dental exam to assess any dental disease present and open the discussion of having a dental cleaning done in the future.

As they run their hands over the pet. The doctor will comb through the pet spur checking for fleas, ticks and skin irritations as well as feeling for lumps and bumps over the fur. They will palpate or massage the abdomen of the pet to feel for any abnormalities lumps, etc. Or to see if the patient elicits any sounds of pain or signs of discomfort. The veterinarian will check the anus and genitals for abnormal As well as extend the hips and knees of the patient to check for signs of pain or discomfort. As a veterinary assistant your job here is to properly restrain the animal for your veterinarian to be able to complete their exam.

In this case, it is your responsibility for the veterinarian, the pet owner and the pet to all remain safe and unharmed. If the pet becomes fractious, the absolute last thing you should do is allow the doctor, the owner or the pet to get hurt. Do not hesitate to communicate with your doctor by telling them to wait, hold on or back off until you have a better grip on the pet and the situation. Do not hesitate to politely ask the owner to put a muzzle on their fractious dog or not to try to pet their angry cat while the doctor examines it. It is important for you to be able to read the animal's level of fear at every moment and keep all parties involved. Safe from harm