CCAT Patient Assessment and Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing a postural assessment on a dog with suspected intervertebral disc disease, which observation is most clinically significant?
- Tail carriage elevation
- Kyphosis of the thoracolumbar spine (Correct answer)
- Lateral head tilt
- Bilateral forelimb abduction
Correct answer: Kyphosis of the thoracolumbar spine
Kyphosis (dorsal rounding) of the thoracolumbar spine is a classic postural compensation indicating pain or muscle guarding in dogs with IVDD.
Question 2: Which gait analysis tool provides the most objective, quantitative measurement of weight-bearing symmetry in a rehabilitation patient?
- Visual gait scoring scale
- Force plate or pressure walkway (Correct answer)
- Stance phase timing with a stopwatch
- Trot-on-a-leash observation
Correct answer: Force plate or pressure walkway
Force plates and pressure walkways measure peak vertical force and impulse data, providing objective, reproducible weight-bearing symmetry values.
Question 3: A 9-year-old Labrador presents with muscle wasting of the left pelvic limb after 6 weeks of non-weight-bearing. Which measurement best quantifies this atrophy?
- Limb circumference with a flexible tape measure (Correct answer)
- Visual muscle condition score only
- Body weight on a standard scale
- Radiographic bone density
Correct answer: Limb circumference with a flexible tape measure
Serial limb circumference measurements at consistent anatomical landmarks (e.g., mid-thigh) objectively track muscle atrophy or hypertrophy over time.
Question 4: During a neurological examination, you test a dog's conscious proprioception by knuckling the paw. A 3-second delay in correction is most consistent with:
- Grade I neurological deficit
- Normal proprioception for senior dogs
- Upper motor neuron dysfunction (Correct answer)
- Peripheral vestibular disease
Correct answer: Upper motor neuron dysfunction
Delayed paw replacement (proprioceptive deficit) indicates disruption of the ascending sensory or descending motor pathways, consistent with upper motor neuron dysfunction.
Question 5: Which pain scale is specifically validated for use in dogs and assesses acute pain through behavioral and physiological indicators?
- Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale – Short Form (CMPS-SF) (Correct answer)
- Feline Grimace Scale
- Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 1–10
- Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Correct answer: Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale – Short Form (CMPS-SF)
The CMPS-SF is a validated, species-specific tool for assessing acute pain in dogs using behavioral descriptors with assigned numeric scores.
Question 6: When evaluating a cat post-femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO), the MOST important functional outcome to assess is:
- Coat condition and grooming behavior
- Weight-bearing symmetry and range of motion of the operated limb (Correct answer)
- Appetite and body weight only
- Respiratory rate at rest
Correct answer: Weight-bearing symmetry and range of motion of the operated limb
Post-FHO success depends on muscle development and return of functional weight-bearing, assessed through limb use symmetry and hip range of motion.
Question 7: A rehabilitation therapist notices a patient compensates by hitching the ipsilateral hip upward during the swing phase of gait. This pattern most commonly indicates:
- Contralateral pelvic limb weakness
- Reduced flexion of the affected limb's stifle or hock (Correct answer)
- Forelimb pain on the same side
- Lumbosacral nerve root compression
Correct answer: Reduced flexion of the affected limb's stifle or hock
Hip hiking during swing phase is a compensatory strategy to advance a limb with inadequate stifle or hock flexion (circumduction gait).
CCAT Patient Assessment and Evaluation 2
When performing a postural assessment on a dog with suspected intervertebral disc disease, which observation is most clinically significant?