JCH-NACA Animal Control Officer Practice Test

One possible sign of hyperthermia in animals involves which of the following physical reactions?

1. Panting softly

2. Lips pulling back

3. Quiet and stillness

4. Resting comfortably

The correct answer is: Lips pulling back

Hyperthermia, or overheating, in animals can manifest through various physical signs, one of which includes the pulling back of the lips. This reaction often signifies discomfort or distress in the animal as it attempts to regulate its body temperature. When an animal is experiencing hyperthermia, physiological responses may include changes in the mouth and facial expressions, as the body is under stress from elevated temperatures. The other choices do not indicate hyperthermia effectively. For instance, panting softly can be a natural response to heat but is usually a sign of normal thermoregulation, especially in dogs. Quiet and stillness or resting comfortably may indicate other conditions unrelated to increased body temperature, such as lethargy due to illness or exhaustion, but do not specifically suggest overheating. In summary, the physical sign of lips pulling back directly correlates with the physiological measures animals take when they are overheated, making it a more accurate indicator of hyperthermia.