Once we have done cardiovascular, respiratory and neuro, that means that we have done chest and head. Where is the next place that something nasty might be hiding? Abdomen. So if the animal is stable enough we then palpate the abdomen. And again, if the animal is sufficiently stable we should get a body temperature. Don’t forget to always get a temp if you’ve got a dog with an upper airway obstruction. They can have hyperthermia that is high enough to cause heatstroke.