Emergency Veterinary Care Quiz

Rodenticides and Antidotes

• Anticoagulant rodenticides interfere with clotting, leading to coagulopathy.
• BAL (British Anti-Lewisite) is used as an antidote for heavy metal poisoning, particularly arsenic and mercury.

Poisoning Treatments

• Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) ingestion is treated with ethanol or fomepizole to inhibit metabolism.
• Organophosphate toxicity is treated with atropine as the primary antidote.

Triage and Monitoring

• Triage veterinary emergencies in the following order: airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure.
• During heat stroke treatment, monitor temperature closely for 30 minutes after reducing to 103°F to prevent rebound hyperthermia.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

• Steps during cardiopulmonary arrest include: check responsiveness, call for help, initiate chest compressions, and provide airway support.
• Emergency drug that can be administered intratracheally includes epinephrine.

Emergencies and Drug Use

• For maintenance of heart action, use dobutamine.
• Lidocaine is used in emergencies to treat ventricular arrhythmias.
• To create a 5% dextrose solution, combine 1.25 liters of 50% dextrose with 5 liters of 0.9% saline.

Support and Responsibilities

• External supportive treatment for heat prostration can involve cooling measures such as wetting and fanning.
• The technician's primary responsibility in an emergency situation is to stabilize the patient and assist the veterinarian.

Hydration and Shock

• Percentage of dehydration in an animal can be estimated by examining skin turgor, mucous membranes, and overall appearance.
• The first sign of over-hydration in an animal is often edema or pulmonary congestion.
• The most critical treatment for an animal in shock, especially post-traffic accident, is fluid resuscitation.

Respiratory Depression and Emergency Drugs

• Naloxone is used to treat non-narcotic respiratory depression.
• Certain drugs not routinely used in anesthetic emergencies include specific inhalants and non-critical analgesics.
• General antidotes effective for acid ingestion include sodium bicarbonate for severe cases.

Warfarin Poisoning

• The antidote for warfarin (dicumarol) poisoning is vitamin K1 for reversing the effects.