Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

PHYSICAL TESTS FOR ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL PAIN

Wither Pinch Test

• This can be done by grasping a fold of skin over the withers. This causes the animal to dip the point in normal situations. If there is penetrating foreign body which causes irritation or inflammation in peritoneum, the animal will be reluctant to make a movement and grunt.

Bar Test

• One operator stands on either side of the animal. A metal pad or wooden bar is placed beneath the animal, just behind the xiphistunum. Both the operators has to raise the bar slowly and then lower it quickly. During this procedure, auscultation over the trachea at ventral midline --to hear the grunt. In animal with acute traumatic reticulo peritonilis, sudden movement elicits discomfort and grunt.

Knee Test

• A sudden force is applied with the examiner's knee at the xiphisternum of the animal. A grunt with movement is expected if the animal has anterior abdominal pain. Localisation of pain can be achieved by regional palpation or percussion of anterior abdomen.

Eric. William test

• This test is most suitable for early detection of reticulitis. A stethoscope is placed over trachea and another hand is placed over the left para lumbar fossa. Simultaneous auscultation of trachea is done to detect the grunt.