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VTNE · 20% of the exam

Animal Care and Nursing practice questions

10 free Animal Care and Nursing questions for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question VTNE quiz

What this domain covers

The largest VTNE domain: day-to-day patient care across species, from restraint and physical examination to nutrition, fluid therapy, husbandry and infection control.

Exam weight
20%
On a real exam
≈ 34 questions
In our bank
120 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Restraint and handling across species
  • Physical examination and normal values
  • Nutrition and feeding tubes
  • Catheter placement and fluid therapy
  • Infection control, isolation and zoonoses

How to study it

Build one table of normal temperature, pulse and respiration for dogs, cats, horses, cattle and common exotics. Nursing questions keep coming back to these values.

Sample Animal Care and Nursing questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    How is the Bordetella vaccine often given?

    • AIntranasally or orally
    • BIntravenously
    • CInto the eye
    • DBy rubbing on the skin
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Intranasally or orally

    • ACorrect. Injectable forms also exist.
    • BIncorrect. It isn't given IV.
    • CIncorrect. That isn't a route.
    • DIncorrect. That isn't a route.

  2. Question 2

    Why must a guinea pig's diet contain vitamin C?

    • AThey lack L-gulonolactone oxidase, the enzyme needed to make vitamin C
    • BTheir cecal microbes destroy vitamin C before the small intestine absorbs it
    • CThey make vitamin C only while young and lose this ability at maturity
    • DTheir kidneys can't reabsorb vitamin C, so what they make is lost in urine
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) They lack L-gulonolactone oxidase, the enzyme needed to make vitamin C

    Guinea pigs lack L-gulonolactone oxidase, so they can't make vitamin C and need it in the diet throughout life to prevent scurvy.

    • ACorrect. Guinea pigs, like humans, lack a working GULO enzyme, so they can't make ascorbic acid. Without enough in the diet they develop scurvy.
    • BIncorrect. The problem is that their bodies can't make vitamin C, not that gut microbes destroy it. Vitamin C in the diet is absorbed normally.
    • CIncorrect. Guinea pigs can't make vitamin C at any age. They need it in the diet their whole life.
    • DIncorrect. Guinea pigs don't make vitamin C at all. The deficiency comes from the missing enzyme, not from kidney loss.

  3. Question 3

    When cleaning a dog's ears, avoid:

    • AGentle massage
    • BUsing a vet-approved cleaner
    • CWiping the visible flap
    • DDeep swabbing
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Deep swabbing

    • AIncorrect. That's appropriate.
    • BIncorrect. That's appropriate.
    • CIncorrect. That's appropriate.
    • DCorrect. It can pack debris or damage the eardrum.

  4. Question 4

    Where is the FeLV vaccine commonly given in cats?

    • AIn the tail only
    • BBetween the shoulder blades
    • COn the right front leg
    • DLow on the left hind limb
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Low on the left hind limb

    • AIncorrect. The left hind limb is usual.
    • BIncorrect. That site is avoided.
    • CIncorrect. That isn't the usual site.
    • DCorrect. Distal sites help if a sarcoma develops.

  5. Question 5

    What is the main benefit of passive range-of-motion (PROM) exercises for a recumbent patient that cannot move its limbs on its own?

    • AMaintaining joint range of motion and helping to prevent contracture
    • BPreventing muscle atrophy and rebuilding strength in the affected limbs
    • CImproving cardiovascular fitness through sustained aerobic exertion
    • DReplacing the need for regular turning to prevent decubital ulcers
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Maintaining joint range of motion and helping to prevent contracture

    Passive range of motion maintains joint mobility and helps prevent contracture in patients that cannot move their limbs. Because there is no active muscle work, it does not prevent atrophy or build strength.

    • ACorrect. Moving each joint gently through its normal range protects joints and soft tissues and helps prevent the contractures that develop with immobility.
    • BIncorrect. PROM needs no active muscle contraction from the patient, so it does not prevent atrophy or increase strength. Active exercise is needed for that.
    • CIncorrect. The patient makes no effort during passive movement, so there is no meaningful cardiovascular conditioning.
    • DIncorrect. PROM is an addition to good recumbent care, not a substitute. Regular turning and padding are still needed to prevent pressure sores.

  6. Question 6

    When lifting a horse's front foot, the handler should:

    • AKneel beside the leg
    • BStand directly in front of the horse and pull the leg forward toward you
    • CStand close to the shoulder, facing the tail
    • DStand far away and pull the leg out
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Stand close to the shoulder, facing the tail

    • AIncorrect. That's unsafe.
    • BIncorrect. That's a risky position.
    • CCorrect. This reduces kick and step injuries.
    • DIncorrect. That's unsafe.

  7. Question 7

    Which of the following veins is routinely used for venipuncture in cats and can be reached with gentle restraint while the cat lies on its side?

    • AThe medial saphenous vein
    • BThe marginal ear vein
    • CThe coccygeal (tail) vein
    • DThe cranial vena cava
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) The medial saphenous vein

    In cats, the jugular, cephalic and medial saphenous veins are routine venipuncture sites. The medial saphenous vein can be reached with gentle restraint while the cat lies on its side.

    • ACorrect. The medial saphenous vein is a routine feline venipuncture site, along with the jugular and cephalic veins. It can be reached with gentle restraint in lateral recumbency, although its small diameter limits how much blood can be collected.
    • BIncorrect. The marginal ear (auricular) vein is a typical site in rabbits. It isn't a routine venipuncture site in cats.
    • CIncorrect. The coccygeal vein is commonly used in cattle. It isn't a routine venipuncture site in cats.
    • DIncorrect. The cranial vena cava is used in species such as pigs and ferrets. It isn't a routine venipuncture site in cats.

  8. Question 8

    What is the resting energy requirement (RER) formula?

    • ABody weight × 10
    • B30 × body weight in pounds
    • C100 × body weight squared
    • D70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75

    • AIncorrect. That isn't the formula.
    • BIncorrect. That isn't the standard formula.
    • CIncorrect. That isn't the formula.
    • DCorrect. It estimates daily calories at rest.

  9. Question 9

    A barn manager plans to switch all horses to a new hay and grain ration overnight. Which condition is this abrupt feed change most likely to predispose the horses to?

    • AStrangles
    • BColic
    • CAnhidrosis
    • DEquine infectious anemia
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Colic

    Abrupt changes in hay or concentrate are a major management risk factor for colic, so horses should be moved to a new diet gradually.

    • AIncorrect. Strangles is an infectious disease caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and spread by contact. It is not caused by diet changes.
    • BCorrect. Sudden changes in hay or concentrate disrupt hindgut microbes and gut motility and are well-documented colic risk factors. Feed changes should be made gradually.
    • CIncorrect. Anhidrosis is the inability to sweat normally and is linked to hot, humid climates, not to changing the ration.
    • DIncorrect. Equine infectious anemia is a viral disease spread mainly by biting insects and contaminated needles. It is not related to feeding management.

  10. Question 10

    After giving food through a feeding tube, the tube should be flushed with:

    • AMilk
    • BAir only
    • CNothing
    • DWater
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Water

    • AIncorrect. Flush with water.
    • BIncorrect. Flush with water.
    • CIncorrect. Flushing prevents clogs.
    • DCorrect. To prevent clogging.

Animal Care and Nursing: FAQs

How much of the VTNE exam is Animal Care and Nursing?

Animal Care and Nursing is 20% of the VTNE exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 170-question form works out to roughly 34 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Animal Care and Nursing domain cover?

The largest VTNE domain: day-to-day patient care across species, from restraint and physical examination to nutrition, fluid therapy, husbandry and infection control.

How should I study Animal Care and Nursing for VTNE?

Build one table of normal temperature, pulse and respiration for dogs, cats, horses, cattle and common exotics. Nursing questions keep coming back to these values.

Where can I practise more Animal Care and Nursing questions?

This page has 10 free Animal Care and Nursing questions with answers. The ExamWize VTNE question bank has 120 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other VTNE topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the VTNE cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Animal Care and Nursing exam-ready

The full VTNE bank has 120 Animal Care and Nursing questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full VTNE practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with AAVSB; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.