VTNE Animal Care and Nursing Practice Questions 2026 - 20 Free Q&As with Explanations
Practice the biggest VTNE domain with 20 free scenario-based questions on vital signs, fluid therapy, wound care, restraint, nursing procedures, and neonatal care.
Animal care and nursing is the single largest VTNE domain, accounting for roughly 20% of the exam (about 30 questions). It spans vital signs by species, fluid therapy math, wound care, restraint, nursing procedures, and neonatal care. Because it carries the most weight, mastering these 20 free scenario-based questions with explanations can meaningfully raise your overall score.
Domain Quick Facts
- Exam weight: 20% of VTNE (~30 questions)
- Key topics: vital signs by species, fluid therapy and deficit calculations, wound care and healing, restraint techniques, urinary catheterization and feeding tubes, oxygen therapy, neonatal care, body condition scoring, blood collection sites
- Difficulty: Medium to Hard - broad content plus fluid math
- Study tip: Memorize species vital sign ranges and practice the fluid deficit and rate formulas.
20 Free VTNE Animal Care and Nursing Practice Questions
Each question below mirrors the real VTNE format: four-option multiple choice with a detailed explanation. Work through them in order, then check your answers.
Question 1 of 20 - Vital Signs
A healthy adult dog is examined. Which rectal temperature falls within the normal canine range?
Correct Answer: B) 101.5°F
The normal canine rectal temperature is about 100.5 to 102.5°F, so 101.5°F is normal. 99.0°F and 97.5°F are hypothermic, and 104.0°F is febrile.
Question 2 of 20 - Vital Signs
You are taking a resting heart rate on a calm adult cat. Which value falls within the normal feline range?
Correct Answer: C) 180 bpm
Normal feline heart rate is roughly 120 to 240 bpm, so 180 is within range. 40 and 90 are bradycardic for a cat, and 300 exceeds the normal range.
Question 3 of 20 - Fluid Therapy
A 10 kg dog requires maintenance fluids at 60 mL/kg/day. What is the approximate hourly rate?
Correct Answer: B) 25 mL/hr
60 mL/kg/day times 10 kg equals 600 mL/day, divided by 24 hours equals 25 mL/hr. The other answers come from skipping the weight or the time conversion.
Question 4 of 20 - Fluid Therapy
A 20 kg dog in hypovolemic shock needs an initial crystalloid bolus. Which dose range is appropriate as a starting shock bolus before reassessment?
Correct Answer: B) 20 to 30 mL/kg
A typical canine shock bolus is about 20 to 30 mL/kg given rapidly and then reassessed. 2 to 5 mL/kg is too low, while 60 to 100 mL/kg risks volume overload and is not a starting bolus.
Question 5 of 20 - Dehydration
A 15 kg dog is assessed as 8% dehydrated. What is the approximate fluid deficit?
Correct Answer: B) 1,200 mL
Deficit equals percent dehydration as a decimal times body weight in kg times 1,000, so 0.08 times 15 times 1,000 equals 1,200 mL. The other answers reflect decimal or unit errors.
Question 6 of 20 - Wound Care
A surgeon closes a clean incision and the edges are apposed with sutures. Which type of wound healing is this?
Correct Answer: A) First intention
Primary closure of a clean wound with apposed edges heals by first intention. Second intention heals by granulation when left open, and third intention is delayed primary closure after a period open.
Question 7 of 20 - Restraint
A fractious cat must be examined briefly. Which restraint technique is commonly used to provide control with minimal stress?
Correct Answer: B) Gentle scruffing with body support
Gentle scruffing combined with body support can provide brief control for many cats, though low-stress handling is always preferred when possible. Forced stretching, chest pressure, and tail suspension are inappropriate and unsafe.
Question 8 of 20 - Blood Collection
You need a large volume blood sample from a dog. Which vein is commonly used for larger volume collection?
Correct Answer: B) Jugular vein
The jugular vein allows larger volume collection due to its size. The cephalic and saphenous veins are used for smaller samples and catheters, and the dorsal pedal is used mainly for blood pressure or arterial sampling.
Question 9 of 20 - Nursing Procedures
You are placing a urinary catheter in a male dog. Which principle is essential?
Correct Answer: B) Use sterile technique and sterile lubricant
Urinary catheterization should be performed with sterile technique and sterile lubricant to prevent urinary tract infection. Tap water is not sterile, forcing against resistance can cause trauma, and lubrication should never be skipped.
Question 10 of 20 - Feeding Tubes
A patient needs short-term nutritional support and a tube that passes through the nose into the esophagus. Which feeding tube is this?
Correct Answer: C) Nasoesophageal tube
A nasoesophageal tube passes through the nostril into the distal esophagus and is suited to short-term support with liquid diets. Gastrostomy and esophagostomy tubes are placed surgically for longer-term feeding, and jejunostomy tubes enter the jejunum.
Question 11 of 20 - Oxygen Therapy
A dyspneic cat is highly stressed by handling. Which initial oxygen delivery method causes the least restraint stress?
Correct Answer: A) Flow-by oxygen
Flow-by oxygen delivers supplemental oxygen near the face with minimal handling, which is ideal for a stressed dyspneic patient. A tight mask, immediate nasal catheter, or intubation involve more restraint or invasiveness as a first step.
Question 12 of 20 - Neonatal Care
Orphaned neonatal puppies are presented. How often should they typically be fed in the first weeks of life?
Correct Answer: C) Every 2 to 4 hours
Neonatal orphans need feeding approximately every 2 to 4 hours because of small stomach capacity and high energy needs. Once daily or every 8 hours is far too infrequent, and waiting for loud crying delays needed nutrition.
Question 13 of 20 - Neonatal Care
What environmental temperature is appropriate for neonatal puppies during the first week of life?
Correct Answer: C) 85 to 90°F
Neonates cannot thermoregulate well, so an environmental temperature of about 85 to 90°F is needed in the first week. Cooler temperatures risk chilling and 100 to 105°F risks overheating.
Question 14 of 20 - Body Condition Score
On the 1 to 9 body condition scale, which score range represents ideal body condition?
Correct Answer: B) 4 to 5
On the 9-point scale, a score of 4 to 5 is ideal. Scores of 1 to 2 indicate emaciation or being underweight, while 7 to 9 indicate overweight to obese.
Question 15 of 20 - Vital Signs
A pet rabbit is examined. Which resting respiratory rate falls within the normal rabbit range?
Correct Answer: B) 40 breaths per minute
A normal rabbit respiratory rate is roughly 30 to 60 breaths per minute, so 40 is normal. 8 and 5 are too low, and 80 exceeds the typical range.
Question 16 of 20 - IV Catheter
After placing a peripheral IV catheter, the area becomes swollen and fluids stop running freely. What has most likely happened?
Correct Answer: B) Perivascular extravasation (the catheter is out of the vein)
Swelling at the site with poor flow indicates the catheter has dislodged and fluid is going into tissue, so it should be replaced. A functioning catheter would not cause swelling, and bag height or vein size are not the cause.
Question 17 of 20 - Wound Care
A contaminated wound is managed with a bandage that adheres to debris and is removed to mechanically debride the wound. Which bandage type is this?
Correct Answer: A) Wet-to-dry bandage
A wet-to-dry bandage adheres to debris and necrotic tissue and provides mechanical debridement on removal. A pressure bandage controls hemorrhage, a Robert Jones immobilizes limbs, and an occlusive sealant does not debride.
Question 18 of 20 - Restraint
A rabbit needs a brief calming hold for a minor procedure. Which positioning can induce a trance-like immobility?
Correct Answer: A) Dorsal recumbency to induce tonic immobility
Placing a rabbit in dorsal recumbency can induce a trance-like tonic immobility for brief, low-stress handling. Suspending by the ears, scruffing in the air, or compressing the chest are unsafe and inappropriate.
Question 19 of 20 - Vital Signs
A calm adult dog has a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute. How is this best interpreted?
Correct Answer: B) Within the normal range
A normal canine respiratory rate is roughly 10 to 30 breaths per minute, so 22 is normal. It is not tachypnea, bradypnea, or apnea.
Question 20 of 20 - Fluid Therapy
During IV fluid therapy a patient develops nasal discharge, increased respiratory effort, and chemosis. What complication should you suspect?
Correct Answer: B) Fluid overload
Serous nasal discharge, increased respiratory effort, and chemosis are classic signs of fluid overload requiring the rate to be reduced and the patient reassessed. These signs are the opposite of dehydration and are unrelated to glucose or temperature.
How to Score Yourself
- 18-20 correct: Excellent - this domain is a strength
- 14-17 correct: Good - review the questions you missed
- 10-13 correct: Needs work - dedicate extra study time to this domain
- Below 10: Priority domain - start with the study guide below
Key Animal Care and Nursing Topics to Master for the VTNE
Vital sign ranges by species are foundational. Dogs and cats both run about 100.5 to 102.5°F rectally, canine heart rate is roughly 60 to 140 and feline 120 to 240, and respiratory rates are about 10 to 30 in dogs and 20 to 30 in cats. Rabbits have much faster rates, so always match the value to the species.
Fluid therapy math is heavily tested. Maintenance is often estimated at about 60 mL/kg/day, which equals roughly 2.5 mL/kg/hr, a shock bolus is about 20 to 30 mL/kg, and the deficit equals percent dehydration as a decimal times body weight times 1,000. Watch for the signs of fluid overload such as serous nasal discharge and chemosis.
Nursing procedures emphasize safety and technique. Urinary catheterization requires sterile technique and lubricant, feeding tubes range from nasoesophageal for short-term to gastrostomy for long-term support, and flow-by oxygen is the least stressful initial method for a dyspneic patient.
Neonatal care and body condition scoring frequently appear. Orphan neonates need feeding every 2 to 4 hours with an environmental temperature around 85 to 90°F in the first week, and an ideal body condition score is 4 to 5 on the 9-point scale.
VTNE Animal Care and Nursing FAQ
How many animal care and nursing questions are on the VTNE?
It is the largest domain at about 20% of the VTNE, which is roughly 30 of the 150 scored questions.
What is a normal temperature for a dog or cat?
Both dogs and cats have a normal rectal temperature of about 100.5 to 102.5°F.
How do I calculate a fluid deficit?
Multiply the percent dehydration as a decimal by the body weight in kilograms and by 1,000 to get the deficit in milliliters.
How often should orphaned neonates be fed?
Neonatal orphans generally need feeding every 2 to 4 hours in the early weeks of life.
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