BY. DR. S. A.

MEHTA
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DEFINITION

 Auscultation is the process by which various

functional sounds produced by thoracic and
abdominal organs can be heard through an
instrument.

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DEFINITION

 Animal used for circus

 Animal used for sports

 Animal used for fight show “ Jallikattu”

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METHODS OF AUSCULTATION

 Direct (Immediate) auscultation: Ear is put directly to

the body surface to listen the sounds.

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METHODS OF AUSCULTATION

Disadvantages of direct methods:

Difficult to keep ear in contact with animal’s body surface

when it is restless and vicious.

Skin coat of animal may be soiled with faeces, secretions

and various discharges.

Infections may be transmitted to the clinician.

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METHODS OF AUSCULTATION

Indirect (Mediate) auscultation:

It is performed by means of stethoscope. The open bell

shaped chest piece for detection of low pitched sounds and
diaphragm for high pitched sounds is an ideal stethoscope.

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METHODS OF AUSCULTATION IN VET. MEDICINE

 In veterinary practice very often phonendoscope is used.

This is a special form of stethoscope with a chest piece of 5
cm diameter surrounded by a hard plastic diaphragm.

 This helps to identify the functional sounds emerging from

the restricted areas like sounds of valves of heart. This
device is meant for intensification of the sounds to be heard
and is especially used for minute auscultation.

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METHODS OF AUSCULTATION IN VET MEDICINE

 Phonendoscope was invented by Bazzy, a physicist, and

Bianchi, a physician in 1810 in Italy. It is a stethoscopic
device that intensifies auscultatory sounds. It consists of
flat chamber closed at its contact with the skin by thin
plastic diaphragm. It is most useful in picking up low
pitched sound from respiratory tract whereas the classical
bell stethoscope is more suited to picking up the higher
pitched heart sound.

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POSITION IN DOG & CAT
 Dogs and cats are best auscultated standing (or
sitting)
 However, sitting superimposes the forelimbs over the
point of maximal intensity (PMI) of cranially situated
sounds
 The point of maximal impulse, known as PMI, is the
location at which the cardiac impulse can be best
palpated on the chest wall.
 It may alter the heart position due to diaphragmatic
pressure. 10
POSITION IN DOG & CAT
 Lateral recumbency allows the heart to fall to the
dependent side, altering its position and that of the
heart sounds.

 Palpating the femoral pulse during auscultation may

aid differentiation of heart sounds and lung sounds
from other noise, and recognition of pulse deficits.

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NORMAL SOUND
 Normal small animal heart sounds consist of two
sounds; S1 ‘lub’ and S2 ‘dub’.

 S1 is due to atrioventricular (AV) (mitral and

tricuspid) valve closure early in systole

 S2 is due to semilunar (aortic and pulmonic) valve

closure and occurs late in systole.

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NORMAL SOUND
 S1 is louder at the left apex, S2 at the left heart base.
S3 and S4 sounds may be heard although these are
rare in healthy small animals.

 Normal lung sounds are usually audible dorsal to the

heart base but may be inaudible in healthy small
animals.

 Puppies and kittens may have considerable lung noise

which may mimic disease. Normal inspiratory sounds
are soft and low-pitched. Expiratory sounds may be 13

even softer and lower in pitch.

LOCATION TO LISTEN

(A, aortic valve; M, mitral valve; P, pulmonary valve; T, tricuspid valve;

IC4, fourth intercostal space).
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ABNORMAL SOUND
 An S3 sound occurs because of ventricular dilation
and myocardial failure. It can sometimes be heard in
dilated cardiomyopathy, or advanced valvular heart
disease.

 An S4 sound is associated with atrial contraction in

dogs and cats that have abnormal ventricular
relaxation and stiffness.

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ABNORMAL SOUND - MURMER
 A murmur can be best described as an abnormal
heart sound of prolonged duration.]

 Blood flow normally passes through blood vessels and

the heart with minimal turbulence, which does not
cause a murmur.

 A murmur arises from a vibration of structures

within the heart, created by high velocity, abnormal
blood flow, turbulence or reduced blood viscosity.
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AUSCULTATION OF HEART IN LARGE
ANIMAL

 Heart sounds are best heard under the triceps/elbow

between the 3rd and 5th intercostal spaces on the left side
but can be heard on the right side.

 The heart sounds are difficult to hear but if the stethoscope

is pushed far cranially, under the elbow, the heart sounds
are audible

 Usually heart sounds are loudest on the left side when the
stethoscope head is completely hidden by the triceps mass

 The normal heart rate is 50 to 80 beats/minute.

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POSITION IN DOG & CAT

 Standing position is ideal for ausculting lungs.

 Both the side within rib cage area.

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NORMAL VITAL RATES

*Heart *Respiratory *Temperature

Stage of Life Rate Rate (Degrees
(Beats/Min) (Breaths/Min) Fahrenheit)

Young Dog 110-120 20-22 99.5-102.2

Adult Dog
80-120 14-18 99.5-102.2
(Small Breed)
Adult Dog
60-80 12-16 99.5-102.2
(Large Breed)

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NORMAL SOUND

 Bronchial sound
Bronchial breath sounds consist of a full inspiratory
and expiratory phase with the inspiratory phase
usually being louder. They are normally heard over
the trachea and larynx. Bronchial sounds are not
normally heard over the thorax in resting animals.
They may be heard over the hilar region in normal
animals that are breathing hard (i.e. after exercise).
Otherwise, bronchial sounds heard over the thorax
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suggest lung consolidation and pulmonary disease
NORMAL SOUND

 Bronchovesicular sound

Bronchovesicular breath sounds consist of a full

inspiratory phase with a shortened and softer
expiratory phase. It is more audible during hyper
ventilation.

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NORMAL SOUND

 Vesicular sound

Vesicular breath sounds consist of a quiet, wispy

inspiratory phase followed by a short, almost silent
expiratory phase. They are heard over the periphery
of the lung field.

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ABNORMAL SOUND

 Crackles

Crackles are discontinuous, explosive, "popping"

sounds that originate within the airways. The
dynamic airway obstruction can be caused by either
accumulation of secretions within the airway lumen
or by airway collapse caused by pressure from
inflammation or edema in surrounding pulmonary
tissue. Crackles can be heard during inspiration.
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ABNORMAL SOUND

 Wheezes

Wheezes are continuous musical tones that are most

commonly heard at end inspiration or early
expiration. They result as a collapsed airway lumen
gradually opens during inspiration or gradually closes
during expiration. As the airway lumen becomes
smaller, the air flow velocity increases resulting in
harmonic vibration of the airway wall and thus the
musical tonal quality heard. 25
ABNORMAL SOUND
 Stridor

Stridor are intense continuous monophonic wheezes

heard loudest over extrathoracic airways. They can
often be heard without the aid of a stethoscope.
Careful auscultation with a stethoscope can usually
identify an area of maximum intensity that is
associated with the airway obstruction. This is
typically either at the larynx or at the thoracic inlet.
Stridor is significant and indicates upper airway 26

obstruction.
LOCATION IN RUMINANT

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