Identification should include
- criteria to determine whether a situation or condition requires first aid and/or immediate veterinary intervention
- common situations and conditions that typically require first aid
- wounds
- breathing difficulty
- hyperthermia
- bleeding
- burns
- poisoning
- reaction to insect bite or sting
- seizures
- common situations and conditions that typically require immediate veterinary intervention
- arterial bleeding
- seizures
- respiratory distress
- injury from an accident
- attack by another animal
- prolonged diarrhea and/or vomiting
- collapse or loss of consciousness
- swollen or painful abdomen
- disorientation
- foaming at the mouth
- swallowing a foreign object
- ingesting a toxic substance
- the importance of discussing any abnormality with a veterinarian
- the importance of documenting history and essential information.
Process/Skill Questions:
- What should be the first thing a veterinary assistant does when assessing an animal's condition?
- What signs might be seen in a pet that has been stung by an insect?
- How would an animal with heat exhaustion look?
- What safety precautions should be taken when an animal is having a seizure? After?