Whiskers’ Swallowing Struggles: A Journey to Find the Purrfect Diagnosis

Instructional Guide

Students will learn why Whiskers, the cat, is having trouble swallowing by exploring possible causes and clues, ultimately diagnosing the problem in a detective-based activity.

Intended Grade Level

This lesson is meant for students in 6th – 8th grade. Students should be familiar with the general anatomy of the GI system, such as the oral cavity, esophagus, and stomach. They should also have general knowledge of common health issues that cats can have, such as dental issues and eating foreign bodies.

Learning Objectives

• Students will be able to define and identify the symptoms of dysphagia (trouble swallowing).
• Students will be able to differentiate dysphagia from regurgitation and vomiting
• Students will be able to explain how nerve damage, rabies, dental issues and foreign bodies could affect swallowing

Lesson Format

This lesson should be completed virtually and can be done independently or in small groups. If this lesson is performed in a class setting, and non-virtual elements want to be incorporated, the clues and questions should be printed and provided as the students work through the case.

• Students will read the first clue and brainstorm what they think is wrong with Whiskers based on his symptoms and what they think is causing him to have trouble swallowing. (10 minutes)
• Next, students will work through all four clues. (25 minutes)
• Students will then work through the causes of why Whiskers is having trouble swallowing. (5 minutes)
• Lastly, students will make their final diagnosis and identify common causes of dysphagia in cats and how veterinarians use a process of elimination to rule out different possibilities and figure out the best treatments for animals. (10 minutes)

Lesson Background

In this 50-minute lesson, students will work as veterinary detectives to figure out why Whiskers, the cat, is having trouble swallowing. They will explore four possible causes of dysphagia—nerve damage, rabies, dental issues, and a foreign body—by examining clues about Whiskers’ symptoms, such as drooling and difficulty eating. Using a process of elimination, students will evaluate each potential cause, working in small groups to discuss their reasoning and eliminate incorrect options. The lesson will conclude with the correct diagnosis, foreign body, and a discussion about how veterinarians use clues and diagnostic tests to solve medical problems. This lesson works best as an interactive online module with knowledge check-ins but can be conducted in person.

Activities

The students are going to be veterinary detectives, trying to figure out what’s wrong with Whiskers. Whiskers, a friendly cat, is having trouble eating, and it’s their job to figure out why. They’ll receive clues to help them figure out the cause, and they’ll eliminate wrong answers as they go. The goal is to figure out what’s causing Whiskers’ problem and make the correct diagnosis!

Student learning page

Common Misconceptions and Challenge Points

A potential challenge for students could be understanding the complexity of dysphagia and how different causes (nerve damage, rabies, dental issues, and foreign bodies) can lead to similar symptoms like drooling and difficulty swallowing. Since dysphagia is a relatively complex medical term, students might struggle with distinguishing between these causes, especially without direct observation of a cat or animal in distress. To address this, you can emphasize key differences in symptoms during the clue phase (e.g., rabies might show aggression, while a foreign body would cause drooling or gagging). Additionally, you can simplify the explanation of how nerve damage affects swallowing by describing it in terms of “signals” not getting to the muscles needed to swallow or how dental issues are directly related to pain while chewing.

To reinforce learning, providing visual aids like diagrams of the cat’s anatomy or even short video clips demonstrating the symptoms of each condition could help clarify the differences between these causes. Providing opportunities for learners to ask questions throughout and summarizing each clue with a simple recap will also help make the lesson clearer.

Assessment

Students will take a post-activity assessment about understanding dysphagia in cats. This assessment will evaluate if students can:

• Identify and explain the different causes of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) in cats.
• Apply the process of elimination in diagnosing medical conditions.
• Explain how specific symptoms correspond to different conditions that can cause dysphagia.

The post-activity assessment focuses on ​​multiple-choice questions and true/false questions.

Further Exploration

For middle school students interested in veterinary medicine, there are many engaging resources and activities to support their learning. Below are some resources tailored for middle schoolers.

Interactive Websites and Resources:

1. Discovery Education Animal Science
   Discovery Education offers a range of interactive activities and lessons for middle school students. Students can explore various animal science topics, including veterinary care, animal behavior, and biology. Teachers can access lesson plans and multimedia resources for engaging classroom experiences.
2. National Geographic Kids – Animal Health
   National Geographic Kids provides articles, videos, and fun quizzes related to animal health, including the role of veterinarians. The website covers a wide range of topics related to different species, including information about common animal diseases and treatments.
3. The Humane Society’s Education Resources
   The Humane Society offers educational materials and activities about animal care and welfare, which include lessons on how veterinarians help animals. This can be a great resource for students to learn about veterinary science and animal welfare.