CCAT Patient Assessment and Evaluation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When documenting a rehabilitation assessment using SOAP format, information about the client's report of the pet limping more after walks belongs in which section?
- Objective (O)
- Assessment (A)
- Subjective (S) (Correct answer)
- Plan (P)
Correct answer: Subjective (S)
Subjective data includes owner-reported observations and history, such as reports of increased limping after activity.
Question 2: A rehabilitation therapist performs muscle palpation and identifies a taut band with a local twitch response in the infraspinatus muscle. This finding is consistent with:
- Infraspinatus muscle contracture requiring surgical release
- Active myofascial trigger point (Correct answer)
- Grade III muscle strain
- Peripheral nerve entrapment
Correct answer: Active myofascial trigger point
A taut band with a local twitch response and referred pain upon palpation defines an active myofascial trigger point.
Question 3: Which body condition score (BCS) is associated with optimal body weight in dogs and cats on a 9-point scale?
- 3/9
- 4–5/9 (Correct answer)
- 6–7/9
- 8/9
Correct answer: 4–5/9
A BCS of 4–5/9 represents ideal body condition, with ribs easily palpable, a visible waist, and abdominal tuck present.
Question 4: During a canine hindlimb neurological examination, a paw withdrawal reflex (flexor reflex) is intact but the animal cannot voluntarily move the limb. This pattern indicates:
- Complete lower motor neuron lesion below L4
- Upper motor neuron lesion with preserved spinal reflex arc (Correct answer)
- Severe muscle atrophy without neurological involvement
- Peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve
Correct answer: Upper motor neuron lesion with preserved spinal reflex arc
An intact flexor reflex with absent voluntary motion indicates a UMN lesion disrupting descending motor pathways while the local spinal reflex arc remains functional.
Question 5: When assessing a feline patient for chronic pain associated with degenerative joint disease, which owner questionnaire is validated for this purpose?
- Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI)
- Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) (Correct answer)
- AMDUCA Behavioral Scale
- Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Correct answer: Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI)
The Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) is a validated, owner-completed questionnaire specifically designed to assess chronic musculoskeletal pain and mobility in cats.
Question 6: A therapist notices a dog's thoracic limb circumducts outward during the swing phase. This gait abnormality most commonly results from:
- Elbow flexor contracture preventing normal limb advancement (Correct answer)
- Excessive elbow extension reducing medial clearance during swing
- Bilateral forelimb atrophy
- Cervical myelopathy affecting the C1–C5 spinal segments
Correct answer: Elbow flexor contracture preventing normal limb advancement
Forelimb circumduction during swing phase indicates restricted elbow flexion (contracture or pain), causing the dog to swing the limb laterally to advance it.
Question 7: Which of the following reassessment intervals is most appropriate for a post-operative orthopedic rehabilitation patient in the acute phase (weeks 0–2 post-surgery)?
- Every 4–6 weeks
- Every 6 months
- Every session or at minimum weekly (Correct answer)
- Only at the final discharge visit
Correct answer: Every session or at minimum weekly
Acute post-operative patients require frequent reassessment (every session or weekly) to monitor for complications, adjust pain management, and modify the rehabilitation protocol.
CCAT Patient Assessment and Evaluation 5
When documenting a rehabilitation assessment using SOAP format, information about the client's report of the pet limping more after walks belongs in which section?