Looking for the best stethoscopes for veterinary students? If yes, this article has all the information you need. It is common knowledge that you cannot operate as a vet doctor if you do not have a stethoscope. This is because there are quite a number of activities that you need a stethoscope for as a veterinary. Some of these activities include
Listening to the lungs and hearts of animals, as well as other internal organs. Stethoscopes are also used in measuring the blood pressure of animals. Also, it is safe to assume that every vet doctor knows the right stethoscope for them. Well, the same cannot be said about veterinary students. While veterinary students know that they need a stethoscope to make the right diagnosis, not all of them know how to get the right stethoscope.
If you are a veterinary student and are looking to get the right stethoscope, you are not alone. We’ve got you covered. Contained in this article are some of the best stethoscopes for veterinary students. Read on to find out what they are.
What is a Veterinary Stethoscopes
A vet stethoscope is simply a tool that vets use for diagnosis. The different organs in animals make different sounds and these sounds can be heard with the use of a vet stethoscope.
There are ideal sounds that the organs of animals should make. As a vet student gets used to these sounds, it becomes easy to discover when there is something wrong with an animal’s organs. Getting the best out of a stethoscope is a lot more than just picking it up and using it. You will need a great deal of patience and practice before you can get the most out of the use of a vet stethoscope.
Types of Veterinary Stethoscope
There are several types of Veterinary stethoscopes. Popular among them are;
1. Pediatric Stethoscope
This type of stethoscope was designed to be used for birds or small mammals. Its diaphragm head has a diameter of 1 inch. Additionally, this diaphragm head has a rubber rim. This goes a long way in ensuring that the animal you are checking does not get uncomfortable.
2. Sprague Rappaport Stethoscope
Sprague Rappaport Stethoscope works with different animals without the need to have several stethoscopes.
This type of stethoscope features two different tubes for transporting sound. Additionally, they come with tension springs which make it possible for you to adjust the tips of the ear. Ultimately, providing increased comfort. With a Sprague Rappaport stethoscope, a vet student can work with a broad range of animals without the need to have several stethoscopes.
3. Veterinary Stethoscope
While every stethoscope that is mentioned in this article can be used for animals, there are certain stethoscopes that are known as veterinary stethoscopes. This has been the norm for a while. However, there is really no point having a stethoscope labeled veterinary. The reason for this is whatever stethoscope can be used for humans will do just well for animals. What really matters is finding out if the stethoscope will be used indoors or outdoors and the type of animal that it will be used for.
4. Cardiology Stethoscopes
Stethoscopes are strongly associated with hearing the sounds made by the heart. Nonetheless, there are vet stethoscopes that were produced specifically for listening to the sound of the heart. These stethoscopes are called cardiology stethoscopes. This type of stethoscopes makes it possible to detect very subtle sounds made by the heart. It also comes in handy in helping vet doctors make very precise diagnosis.
It usually comes with different compartments; for full grown animals and for their little ones.
Top 4 Best Stethoscopes for Veterinary Students
Below are some of the best stethoscopes for veterinary students, they include;
1. FriCARE Rose Gold Stethoscope, Classic Lightweight Monitoring Stethoscopes
This stethoscope was gotten by a vet friend. Afer a long time of research, he found this. When he opened the box, it was just SO CUTE and PRETTY! The rose gold was not ‘cheap rose gold’; rather, it was…gorgeous.
He loved it. But, as you know, the quality is more important than the appearance- So he got to use it during his clinical for his physical assessment, and he definitely was able to hear lung sounds, heart sounds, and bowel sounds well while TV was on and family members were not too quite next to the patient! He loved it.
Also, he really liked it that it comes with lifetime warranty- if he don’t lose it before it breaks. It seems and feels sturdy.
He really loves this product and would recommend!!
Features of this Stethoscope
- A Lovely Stethoscope
- Sounds As Good As It Looks
- Comes with dual-head chestpiece, thick tubing, tightly sealed ear pieces, contribute to the outstanding sound performance, meet your essential needs of hearing the heart, lung bowels, etc.
- Versatile Design
- Lightweight Design – The Aluminum binaural makes it 100g (3.5oz) lighter than the stainless steel one, light
- Comfortable
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- High quality
- Value for money
What I love about this Stethoscope
This stethoscope is not only so cute, but works just as well as it Littman. Highly suggest!!
Possible downsides
None! The only reason why I gave 4 stars for light weight was because I was comparing it to the cheap disposable stethoscopes stocked at the hospital (that you can barely hear murmurs, you know).
Where to buy from
The best place to get the get this stethoscope is from Amazon. They’ve got a superb customer care and delivery service.
CLICK HERE TO BUY/VIEW ON AMAZON
2. Primacare DS-9291-BL Pediatric Size 22 Inch Stethoscope for Clinical and Screening Instruments
This stethoscope has a dual head and is very lightweight. This makes it a good product for anyone that is not comfortable moving around with heavy stethoscopes. It is made from very lightweight materials that are latex free. Additionally, it was designed to be used by both nurses and doctors. Beyond being suitable for doctors and nurses, this stethoscope can be used comfortably by vet students.
The use of this stethoscope guarantees absolute accuracy. This is possible because it has a floating diaphragm which goes a long way in ensuring that you enjoy very good acoustic sensitivity. With this, vet students do not have to struggle to listen to sounds of high and low frequencies.
This product might be lightweight. Nonetheless, it is very sturdy. Due to its build, it works just well for sensitive animals. Furthermore, it comes with a lot of quality. However, it is very affordable. You do not have to break bank to enjoy all that it has to offer.
While this product is associated with vet students, it is not limited to just vet students. It can be used by other medical students, medical assistants, internists, nurses, and doctors.
Features
- Features 22” Tubing
- It features an aluminum chest-piece
- It comes with spare mushroom ear-tips.
Pro
- It is lightweight
- It is affordable
- It is sturdy
Cons
- It might not be the best for daily use
Verdict
If you are looking to get a stethoscope that will be used daily, this might not be the best for you.
Where to buy from
The best place to get the get this stethoscope is from Amazon. They’ve got a superb customer care and delivery service.
CLICK HERE TO BUY/VIEW ON AMAZON
3. 3M Littmann Classic III Monitoring Stethoscope, Black Tube, 27 inch, 5620
This stethoscope comes with a 27 inch long black tube and as designed to be used by a broad range of patients. As a vet student, you can trust it to help you in detecting abnormal and normal rhythm and sounds in animals. Beyond being good for checking out the sounds coming from the internal organs of animals, this product is great for non-critical care environments such as ambulatory clinics, OB/GYN, general wards, and medical offices, etc.
When you purchase this stethoscope, you will not need to buy another in a long time as it comes with a warranty of five years. That’s not all. It has a size that makes it ideal for animals of various sizes.
Features
- It measures 6.3 by 12.8 by 1.77 inches
- It is made of rubber and stainless steel.
- It weighs 3.53 ounces
Pros
- It is long-lasting
- It is dual-sided
Cons
- It is quite pricey
Verdict
If the price is not a challenge, you will definitely get a lot of value from the use of this product.
Where to buy from
The best place to get the get this stethoscope is from Amazon. They’ve got a superb customer care and delivery service.
CLICK HERE TO BUY/VIEW ON AMAZON
4. 3M Littmann Lightweight II S.E. Stethoscope, Caribbean Blue Tube, 28 inch, 2452
This product is lightweight. However, beyond merely being lightweight, it is perhaps the least heavy of all stethoscopes produced by Littman. It has a mass of just 118grams.
It comes with a dual-sided chest piece which ensures that you enjoy a good deal of versatility. That’s not all. Its chest piece has the shape of a tear drop. This helps ensure that positioning is easier around bandages and beneath blood pressure cuffs.
Features
- It weighs 118 grams
- It features soft-sealing ear tips.
Pros
- It is light weight
- It is very comfortable.
- It has a great fit
- Its diaphragm is tunable
Cons
- It is quite pricey
Verdict: Although pricey, you are bound to get very good value for whatever amount spent on this product.
Where to buy from
The best place to get the get this stethoscope is from Amazon. They’ve got a superb customer care and delivery service.
CLICK HERE TO BUY/VIEW ON AMAZON
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Stethoscopes for Veterinary Students
In very much the same way as there are several good stethoscopes in the market, there are also a good number of bad stethoscopes. The implication of this is as a vet student that is looking to buy a stethoscope, there are factors you have to consider if you must always make the right choice and get value for your money.
Some factors you need to consider when shopping for a vet stethoscope are;
Look Out for the Presence of Latex Tubing
Not everyone is comfortable with latex. If you have never had a test in that area, you might be unable to tell if you have latex allergy or not. Well, if you will not be going for a test to confirm if you have latex allergy, you just might want to get a stethoscope that comes with a tubing that is latex free
Tube Length
Not every vet student is interested in owning a stethoscope hat has a long tube. However, if you are looking to work with animals from quite a distance, then, you might want to own a stethoscope that has a long tube. Beyond merely getting a vet stethoscope that has a long tube, you can buy a model that gives you the liberty to get an extra tube.
Consider its Weight
Stethoscopes are of different weights and this is something that you have to consider when buying one. If you have no issues with moving around with something heavy, you can get a heavy stethoscope. On the other hand, if you are prone to pain in the neck, you might want to avoid getting a heavy stethoscope.
Reviews
The many stethoscopes in the market are associated with different reviews while you might feel like you need to get one before you can truly find out about all that it has to offer, this is not the case. You do not necessarily have to make use of a stethoscope before finding out what it has to offer. There is a lot you can tell about a stethoscope by simply reading through reviews about it on the internet. After going through reviews, you can tell if it is a stethoscope that you will be interested in buying.
Double-Sided Heads or Single-Sided Heads
All good quality stethoscopes are great when used properly. While it might seem like some types of stethoscopes are better than others, what really matters is how you make use of the stethoscope that you have. Some stethoscopes have double-sided heads, while others have singled-sided heads.
You are free to get a stethoscope with double-sided heads or one with single sided heads. What really matters is what you intend to do with the one you own. If you are working on a small animal, you will do a lot better when you make use of a single-sided head stethoscope. Also, if you are working on an animal that is relatively restless, auscultation could be a little difficult. In this situation, you will need a stethoscope that has a single-sided head.
If you are looking out for breathing abnormalities in an animal, you will need a double-sided had stethoscope.
FAQs
What Do Vets Need Stethoscopes For?
Just like regular doctors, vets also need stethoscopes to carry out their daily duties. They basically make use of stethoscopes in diagnosing normal and abnormal sounds in animals. Vets make use of stethoscopes in listening to animal liver, blood pressure, lungs, and hearts.
Why Don’t Vets Use the Same Stethoscope?
The various stethoscopes available to vets have different heads. This might not men much to the average person. However, it is quite significant to vets as they deal with animals of various sizes. When dealing with smaller animals, vets might need stethoscopes with pediatric heads. On the other hand, when carrying out diagnoses on big animals, vets have to work with stethoscopes that have long tubing.
How Should an Animal Stethoscope be used?
When looking to make use of an animal stethoscope, you will need to put bit of pressure on the head of the stethoscope while moving it to various parts of the animal’s body. This is important as hearing the heart might not be so easy. Furthermore, when looking to listen to an animal’s heart with a stethoscope, you will get better results when you put the stethoscope on the left part of the animal’s heart.
Can Animals Use Human Stethoscopes?
Yes, stethoscopes designed for humans can be used in running diagnoses on animals so long as the animal is not too small.
Conclusion
When shopping for a stethoscope, you do not have to limit your search to the stethoscopes in this article. You can always try out lots of other stethoscopes that are not in this article. To get this done properly, you simply need to pay attention to the guides already listed out.