Test your ability to spot the signs of anxiety in a patient with this video quiz. It is a timely review topic as animal health pros re-open after the first phase of Covid-19. Fear and anxiety are under-recognized and pervasive problems in veterinary medicine, says Leslie Sinn, CPDT-KA, DVM, DACVB.
Common signs of distress include panting, lip licking, dilated pupils, avoiding eye contact, refusing to take treats, crouching, freezing, darting, hiding, and, in some situations, fear-based aggression.
Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2019. Link. Many dogs show signs of fear and anxiety on presentation to the clinic, with ≈14% needing to be carried into the practice. Almost 80% show behavioral signs of fear and anxiety when placed on the examination table.
INSIGHTS: This quiz is also an excellent tool to train retail associates and grooming parlor personnel. Consider it as a group exercise for the next group lunch. Two short videos form the content for three multiple choice questions.
A perfect score may be difficult to achieve.