Exam 1: Fluid therapy in Small Animals

how do we know what to give and how much?

• maintenance requirements

• correction of fluid deficits

  • consideration of ongoing losses

what are the boluses used in dogs

• full shock dose 80-90ml/g

• typical range 10-20ml/kg

what are the boluses used in cats

• full shock dose 50-60mL/kg

• typical range 5-10 mL/kg

how are boluses described

• given rapidly- volume administered over 15-60 minuttes but rarely needs to be less than 20-30

• reassess perfusion parameters afterward

• volume given via bolus must be considered in deficit calculations

how is potassium used as a fluid additive

• mainteance = +20mEq/L

• Kmax = 0.5mEq/kg/hr

• hypokalemia, potassium maintenance

• common with inappetance, renal loss, some medications and toxicities

how is dextrose used as a fluid additive

• bolus dose 0.5-1ml/kg 50%

• fluid additive range 2.5-10% solution

• hypoglycemia

• common with young, sepsis, liver disease, insulin overdose

how should dextrose be added to fluids

• 2.5%- mild or susceptible

• 5%- start point for most

• titrate up as necessary, monitor frequently

• add 50mL per L fluids of 50% dextrose for each +2.5% desired

• remove the volume replaced by dextrose first

describe PO fluids

• safest and easiest method

• delayed absorption, aspiration potential, unusable in vomiting patients

what are the advantages of peripheral catheters

• variable lengths and lumen sizes

• inexpensive

• techinically simple placement

• well tolerated by patients

• quick

• minimal restraint required

• low risk of significant complications

what are the limitations and indications of peripheral catheters

• prone to soiling or contamination, short term, <600mOsm/L

  • most pt, high volumes and or administration rates

what are potential complications of peripheral catheters

• phlebitis

• infection

• dislodgement or displacement

• extravasation of fluids or medications

• catheter embolism

• thrombosis

what are the advantages of intraosseous catheters

• quick

• techincally simple placement

• multiple potential insertion sites

• reliable access

• low complication rates

what are the limitations and indications of intraosseous catheters

• limited rates and volume, pain, one cath per bone, caution in birds

• ideal for challenging catheterizations, small , or neonatal

what are the potential complications of intraosseous catheters

• osteomyelitis

• fracture potential

• compartment syndrome

• fat embolism

what value has the most effect on volume flow rate

radius changes
bigger is better! use the largest gauge cath you can reasonably get into the patient