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Using a Stethoscope

Lungs An animal’s lungs lie below the rib cage and do not extend beyond the last rib. To listen to the lungs, choose a location that is between the ribs. It is best to listen in many different rib spaces.

Lungs Listen to both sides of the animal. With practice, normal and abnormal lung sounds can be identified. It is not uncommon to hear the normal passage of air in and out of the lungs. It is considered abnormal if fluid movement, crackles, or wheezes are heard.

Trachea Using the stethoscope, listen to sounds in the trachea (windpipe). The trachea is found in the middle of the neck region. Like the lungs, it is not uncommon to hear the normal passage of air in and out of the lungs. It is considered abnormal if fluid movement, crackles, or wheezes are heard.

Heart The heart is best heard on the left side, behind the point of the elbow. Because the heart is sometimes difficult to hear, place some pressure on the stethoscope and move it around to different locations. See page C564 for normal heart and respiratory rates.

Rumen Using the stethoscope, listen for rumen sounds in the left flank area. A normal rumen should contract at least once a minute and an eructation or "burp" should occur every 1-3 minutes. A normal rumen contraction sounds like a dull rumble, and often the flank area moves with each contraction.

Intestines With a stethoscope, listen to sounds in the right flank area. Gas and intestinal sounds are sometimes identified.