Vet Times

Tag: Respiratory

  • Induced vomiting from the nurse’s perspective

    Induced vomiting from the nurse’s perspective

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    New RVN author Dale Gillies starts off her Vet Times blogging career with a tasteful little piece about the best ways to make a dog revisit its last meal…

  • Oh, CR*P! Using point-of-care C-reactive protein tests

    Oh, CR*P! Using point-of-care C-reactive protein tests

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    Few companies now offer affordable point-of-care tests for canine C-reactive protein (CRP). As we did when we recently received our new box of CRP slides, you might soon be asking the question: what do we even do with this stuff? Here’s what we’ve learnt… CRP is one of the acute phase proteins produced by the…

  • Rat bait’s sneaky trick: bleeding into the dorsal tracheal membrane

    Rat bait’s sneaky trick: bleeding into the dorsal tracheal membrane

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    Most of us are familiar with anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis and the range of clinical signs it can present with, but there is one potentially fatal manifestation of coagulation pathology that is perhaps not as widely known… Dogs with severe clotting problems will occasionally bleed into the dorsal tracheal membrane. This causes collapse of the thoracic…

  • Dystocia, pt 4: caesarean tips

    Dystocia, pt 4: caesarean tips

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    Prolonged hypoxaemia, hypotension and hypoventilation are the top three causes of periparturient fetal mortality – for these reasons, all precautions must be taken to avoid it. As soon as authorisation has been obtained to proceed with a caesarean section, the patient should be stabilised immediately. This includes having perioperative blood work performed, and clinical hypoperfusion…

  • Systemic antibiotics – a brief guide for new grads

    Systemic antibiotics – a brief guide for new grads

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    A lot of information is available regarding different antibiotics and, for the newest generation of vets, the pressure to use them correctly and responsibly is greater than ever. One of main challenges when you start clinical practice is knowing the most appropriate antibiotic for common presenting conditions. Below is a rough guide for antibiotic selection according to body…

  • Thoracentesis, part 1: indications, equipment and protocol

    Thoracentesis, part 1: indications, equipment and protocol

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    Thoracentesis is a relatively straightforward and life-saving technique for seriously dyspnoeic animals with pleural space disease, and is a valuable diagnostic tool. Here are my tips for getting the most out of your approach to performing a thoracentesis. Indications Therapeutic – relieve respiratory distress caused by pleural effusions and pneumothorax. Diagnostics – cytological examination of…

  • Oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve, pt 2: pulse oximetry’s limitations

    Oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve, pt 2: pulse oximetry’s limitations

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    Pulse oximetry is a useful, non-invasive method of measuring a patient’s oxygen saturation (SO2) and, under normal physiological circumstances, correlates well to the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). However, despite its ease of use and accessibility, it is not infallible. Circumstances exist that will undermine the accuracy of these readings – some with dire consequences if…

  • Laryngeal paralysis

    Laryngeal paralysis

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    This patient was brought to us for exercise intolerance, breathing difficulty and loud airway sounds. The patient has laryngeal paralysis. This is where the muscles controlling the arytenoids cartilages do not work and leads to failure of opening of the arytenoids during inspiration. Most commonly seen in middle-aged large breed dogs, it can occur acutely,…

  • Blood gas analysis, pt 7: evaluating oxygenation and ventilation

    Blood gas analysis, pt 7: evaluating oxygenation and ventilation

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    In patients with respiratory compromise, it is important to look at the respiratory components of the blood gas to determine both oxygenation ability and adequacy of ventilation. To assess oxygenation, the partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio, and alveolar-arterial gradient (A-a gradient) can be used. Conversely, the partial…

  • Blood gas analysis, pt 6: compensatory response

    Blood gas analysis, pt 6: compensatory response

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    Simple acid-base disorders are compensated by predictable compensatory changes. The primary disorder shifts the pH, while the compensatory mechanisms aim to normalise the pH and bring it back to neutral. This is achieved by attempting to normalise the bicarbonate (HCO3-) to partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) ratio in a paralleled manner. For example, an increase…