Title: Identify the characteristics of healthy vs. unhealthy animals.
Course: Veterinary Science I (18105-I) > Section: Performing Clinical Exams

Identification should include

- common visible, physical signs of healthy and unhealthy animals (e.g., condition of coat, teeth, eyes, feces, urine)
- common observable behaviors of healthy and unhealthy animals, including ways that different species show they are in pain
- other health indicators achieved through lab tests.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What are the distinguishing characteristics of healthy animals? What might the absence of these characteristics indicate?
- Why should a combination of physical signs, observable behaviors, and lab tests be used to determine the health of an animal? What might be the consequences when using only one of these three indicators?
- Why is a veterinarian at a great disadvantage in diagnosing illnesses in a patient compared to a human doctor?
- What type of lab tests would be conducted on a healthy animal during a physical examination?
- What type of lab tests would be indicated on an unhealthy animal?