• Hero Banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Buying or Selling a Practice
Hospital Design
Leadership & Personal Growth
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Technology
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Live Conferences
Conference News
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Is the veterinary physical exam toast?

April 4, 2017
David Robbins, DVM

In our 24/7 world of technologies fighting for your attention, here's one colleague's thoughts on slowing down to take in the unparalleled perspective this hands-on art provides for your veterinary patients.

Hey, look at me! (Shutterstock)

Editor's note: In 2008, Dr. Robbins wrote an article for Veterinary Medicine on the dying art of the physical examination in veterinary practice-new technology making the actual contact time with the patient cursory at best, its de-emphasis in veterinary school, and more. It's been nine years, and technology only continues to make the physical exam more diminished in importance compared with other forms of testing, let alone general assessment during a wellness exam. We thought it was time to revisit this vital touchpoint and asked Dr. Robbins for his continued thoughts.

As veterinary medicine continues to evolve, we are faced today with technologic advances that not only challenge the traditional ways we diagnose disease but also how we interact with our patients. In an era of rapid technological growth, it is easy for clinicians to become more reliant on laboratory tests and advanced diagnostic modalities that are widely available and promise greater insight into disease processes.

However, with the overreliance on technology comes the possibility of devaluing the physical exam. An example of this is in the area of telemedicine. Although telemedicine affords the clinician the opportunity of remote consultation, it has the potential for eliminating the performance of a physical exam all together. By neglecting the physical exam completely in the diagnostic workup of a patient, clinicians risk misdiagnosing and mismanaging cases.

Although new technologies allow veterinarians to explore parts of the body that they can't examine any other way-they don't give the whole picture. Technology can't feel where an abdomen is tender or discern clues about how a patient feels from the look on its face. Technology should be viewed as an extension of the physical exam rather than a replacement.

Advertisement

We still must remember that beyond its historical and ritualistic significance, the physical exam is still a diagnostic modality that requires only the hands, eyes, ears and mind of a veterinarian. It allows us the opportunity of seeing patients and helps to develop and strengthen the veterinarian-client-patient bond. The physical exam can help to guide patient therapy and be vital for assessing prognosis. It is also a vehicle for teaching clinical reasoning and bedside manner. It gives students the opportunity to not only practice their practical skills but also to interpret them and make clinical decisions.

As a profession we must not abandon the physical exam for the sake of technology. Instead we need to embrace both of them and remember that practicing veterinary medicine starts at the bedside with observing, examining and connecting with our patients.

Dr. David Robbins is a small animal practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in the veterinary field. He is the medical director of VCA West Bernardo Animal Hospital in San Diego, California.

Related Content:

Clinical
Morris Animal Foundation funds study on environmental toxins and lymphoma
Morris Animal Foundation funds study on environmental toxins and lymphoma
Study evaluating potential treatment for degenerative myelopathy receives funding
Study evaluating potential treatment for degenerative myelopathy receives funding
Alternate therapies for pain management
Alternate therapies for pain management

Advertisement

Latest News

Can our Pride panel answer these LGBTQ+ trivia questions?

Creating inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in vet med

Happy Pride Month, Hill's launches Prescription Diet ONC Care, and more

CityVet Celina opens in Prosper, Texas

View More Latest News
Advertisement