Step 3: Physical Examination

Perform a detailed examination of all body systems and record the findings. Here are the basic components of a complete forensic physical examination:

• Signalment
• Microchip scan
• Body weight
• Body condition score (BCS)
• Attitude
• Body temperature
• Mucous membrane (MM) color and capillary refill time (CRT)
• Hydration status
• Heart rate and rhythm
• Respiratory rate and effort
• Systematic examination of all body systems
• Presence of external parasites
• Pain assessment

Pain assessment is ESSENTIAL for forensic exams since unrelieved pain and suffering are core signs of abuse.  Vocalization, restlessness, abnormal posture, panting, licking or biting painful areas, and muscle twitching are common signs of pain. The most commonly used scales for assessing the level of pain based on clinical signs include the Colorado State University Pain Scale for Dogs  and the Colorado State University Pain Scale for Cats.

Review the details of these physical examination components in this presentation. You can also download this for future reference.