Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

ABDOMINAL EVALUATION 

• This is one of the most important parts of the physical examination and has to be a thorough exploration of each organ system. Visual inspection of the abdomen may tend to localize signs of trauma or of distension which can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Abdominal distension may be caused by the six F's (fat, food, fluid, flatus, feces, fetus) or by a tumor.
• Depending upon the quantity of gas, percussion may yield signs of tympany indicating mechanical obstruction or acute gastric dilatation. Free peritoneal fluid may be identified by ballottement. Palpation may be difficult because of protective spasm of the abdominal muscles in response to pain. Spinal cord trauma and other, nonsurgical, conditions also result in a rigid abdomen.
• Foreign bodies, intussusception, calculi, enlarged organs and abdominal masses may be palpated in the cooperative patient. Other important findings include identifying fluid or gas filled bowel loops, a plicated or thickened intestinal segment, or a mass (tumor, intussusception or foreign body).