Animal Care and Nursing is the largest single VTNE domain at 20% — around 40 scored questions. It encompasses the full scope of daily vet tech nursing care: vital sign assessment, patient restraint, venipuncture, catheter placement, fluid therapy, wound management, bandaging, and nutrition. Mastery here has the biggest impact on your total score.
20% of the VTNE — approximately 40 questions. The single largest domain. Allocate roughly 20% of your total study hours here to mirror the exam's weighting.
Organize this domain into systems: assessment (TPR, PE), access (venipuncture, catheter), support (fluids, nutrition), and wound care (bandaging). Know the normal ranges cold. Then review restraint by species — dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds each have distinct techniques the VTNE tests.
Vital Signs (TPR)
Dog: HR 60–160 bpm (small breeds higher), RR 10–30 bpm, Temp 38–39.2 °C (100.5–102.5 °F). Cat: HR 140–220 bpm, RR 20–30 bpm, Temp 38–39.5 °C. Take rectal temp for accuracy. Auscultate heart rate at left thorax (4th–5th intercostal space). Palpate femoral pulse for quality.
Physical Exam Technique
Head-to-tail examination: eyes (CRT < 2 sec, scleral color, discharge), ears, lymph nodes (submandibular, prescapular, popliteal), skin/coat, thorax (heart and lung sounds), abdomen (palpation for organomegaly, pain), musculoskeletal (gait, muscle mass), neuro (mentation, reflexes). Document BCS (1–9 scale).
Species-Specific Husbandry
Dogs: social, varied diet. Cats: obligate carnivores, prone to stress-related illness in hospital. Rabbits: hindgut fermenters, require constant hay; cannot vomit — GI stasis is an emergency. Birds: prey species, mask illness until critically ill. Document species, breed, age, sex, reproductive status.
Restraint (Physical & Chemical)
Dogs: standing, lateral, dorsal recumbency; muzzle if needed. Cats: scruff (controversial), burrito wrap, towel technique — keep them low-stress. Chemical restraint: acepromazine (sedation, not analgesia), dexmedetomidine (sedation + analgesia), butorphanol. Feline-Friendly Handling Protocol: minimal restraint, quiet environment.
Venipuncture Sites
Dog: cephalic (foreleg, most common), saphenous (hind leg), jugular (large volume, blood gas). Cat: same plus medial saphenous. Rabbit: marginal ear vein, cephalic, jugular. Bird: right jugular (most accessible), brachial (wing), medial metatarsal. Always occlude proximal, insert bevel up at 15–30°.
Catheter Placement & Care
IV catheter sizes: 20–22 g most dogs and cats, 24 g cats and small animals, 18 g large dogs or rapid fluid administration. Flush with heparinized saline or sterile saline after each use. Change catheter site every 72 hours or sooner if phlebitis (pain, swelling, redness). Document insertion date/time.
Injection Techniques
SQ: tent skin, insert 45°, maximum 10–15 mL per site in dogs, 5–10 mL in cats. IM: epaxial muscles, semimembranosus/semitendinosus, quadriceps — avoid sciatic nerve (caudal thigh). Maximum IM volume: 2–5 mL (dog), 0.5–2 mL (cat). Aspirate before injection if IM.
Fluid Therapy & Monitoring
Crystalloids: isotonic (0.9% NaCl, LRS, Plasmalyte) for maintenance and replacement. Shock rate: dogs 90 mL/kg/hr IV, give in aliquots and reassess. Colloids (Hetastarch): 5–20 mL/kg dog, slower. Monitor: HR, BP, respiratory effort, mucous membranes, urine output (goal 1–2 mL/kg/hr), body weight. Signs of overload: pulmonary crackles, chemosis, nasal discharge.
Nutrition & Feeding
Calculate resting energy requirement: RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75. Illness energy requirement = RER × illness factor (1.0–2.0 depending on condition). Enteral nutrition preferred over parenteral when GI tract is functional. Feeding tube types: nasogastric (short-term), esophagostomy and gastrostomy (long-term). Measure and record intake and output.
Bandaging, Splinting & Wound Management
Robert Jones bandage: thick cotton padding, conforms snugly — used for fracture stabilization. Modified Robert Jones: lighter, for wound protection. Stirrups keep distal portion attached. Three-layer bandage: contact layer (non-stick or wet-to-dry), secondary (absorbent cotton), tertiary (cohesive wrap). Change wet bandages daily, dry every 2–3 days.
Pain Recognition
Acute pain signs: vocalization, guarding, altered posture (hunched, praying), tachycardia, hypertension, dilated pupils, reduced appetite. Chronic pain: reluctance to move, changes in grooming, aggression, altered sleep. Pain scales: Glasgow Composite (dogs), Feline Grimace Scale, UNESP-Botucatu. Score before and after analgesia.
Stress & Anxiety Management
Fear Free principles: low-stress handling, pre-visit medication for anxious patients (gabapentin, trazodone), pheromone diffusers (Adaptil/Feliway), synthetic bedding with owner scent. Avoid restraint that triggers struggle. Assess Fear Free score on each visit.
Hospitalization & Records
Treatment sheets: medication name, dose, route, time, initials. TPR records every 4–8 hours minimum. Input/output tracking for critical patients. SOAP format for progress notes: Subjective (owner/tech observation), Objective (measurable findings), Assessment (clinical interpretation), Plan (next steps).
Discharge Planning
Verbal and written instructions: medications (name, dose, frequency, duration), activity restrictions, diet, wound care, return-visit signs. Demonstrate oral medication technique. Confirm owner comprehension. Schedule recheck if needed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the normal TPR values for dogs and cats tested on the VTNE?
Dog: HR 60–160 bpm, RR 10–30 bpm, Temp 38–39.2 °C (100.5–102.5 °F). Cat: HR 140–220 bpm, RR 20–30 bpm, Temp 38–39.5 °C (101.5–103.1 °F). Small dog breeds run at the higher end of HR range.
What is the shock fluid rate for dogs on the VTNE?
The emergency fluid replacement rate for dogs in shock is 90 mL/kg/hr IV (the full blood volume). In practice, administer in 10–20 mL/kg aliquots, reassess response after each bolus, and stop when perfusion parameters improve to avoid fluid overload.
How do you calculate RER for nutritional support?
Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75. For hospitalized patients, multiply by an illness factor (1.0–2.0 depending on severity). This gives the target daily caloric intake in kcal. Divide by the caloric density of the diet to determine volume to feed.
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