Provides veterinary technicians with practical, comprehensive guidance on small animal ICU care
Small animal intensive care units (ICUs) demand precision, critical thinking, and advanced technical skills. Small Animal Technicians Guide to the Intensive Care Unit addresses the need for an all-in-one resource tailored specifically to veterinary technicians. Structured for both accessibility and depth, this guide emphasizes hands-on procedures, medical math, pharmacology, and the day-to-day nursing tasks that ensure high-quality patient care.
The book covers medical abbreviations, treatment chart anatomy, nursing care for commonly hospitalized diseases, pharmacological principles, and essential calculations. Step-by-step procedural guidance is reinforced with real-world case studies that bring clinical decision-making to life, illustrating how theoretical knowledge is applied in urgent scenarios such as placing a central venous catheter, caring for oxygen dependent patients, or calculating fluid therapy rates. By combining concise instruction with illustrative examples, it supports both the development of new technicians and the continued growth of experienced staff in specialty and emergency settings.
Focused on the unique responsibilities of the technician within the ICU setting, Small Animal Technicians Guide to the Intensive Care Unit:
Includes extensive coverage of medical abbreviations for streamlined clinical communication Offers in-depth instruction on treatment charts and patient monitoring protocols Provides clear guidance on medical math and pharmacology calculations Features case studies that highlight practical applications in critical care situations Covers a wide range of diseases and nursing interventions relevant to ICU patients Details advanced procedures such as transfusions, tracheostomy tube maintenance, and ventilation care
Designed for use in fast-paced clinical environments, Small Animal Technicians Guide to the Intensive Care Unit is ideal for veterinary technology students and credentialed veterinary technicians or nurses working in emergency and critical care. It is recommended for courses in Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) nursing within veterinary technology programs and serves as a valuable resource for DVM curricula and specialty practice training.
Introduction xv
1 Medical Abbreviations and Shorthand 1
1.1 Administration Routes 1
1.2 Anatomy 2
1.3 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 3
1.4 Diagnostics 3
1.5 Differentials and Diagnoses 4
1.6 Miscellaneous 7
1.7 Nursing Notes 7
1.8 Pharmacology 8
1.9 Physical Exam 9
1.10 Procedures 11
1.11 Professional Acronyms 11
1.12 Signalment 12
1.13 Time Frequencies 12
1.14 Tubes and Catheters 12
Further Reading 13
2 Treatment Chart Anatomy 14
2.1 Basics 14
2.1.1 Signalment: Name, Age, Reproductive Status/Sex, Species, Breed, Color
14
2.1.2 Dates 15
2.1.3 Problem List 15
2.1.4 Clinician or Doctor 16
2.1.5 Weight 16
2.1.6 Code Status 17
2.2 Diagnostics 18
2.2.1 Packed Cell Volume/Total Solids (Total Protein) 18
2.2.2 Blood Glucose 18
2.2.3 Complete Blood Count 18
2.2.4 Biochemical Profiles 19
2.2.5 Outside Lab Work 19
2.2.6 Blood Pressure 19
2.3 Fluids 19
2.3.1 Rate 19
2.3.2 Volume to Be Infused 20
2.3.3 Total Volume 20
2.3.4 Additives 20
2.4 Food/Water Intake 20
2.4.1 Water Intake 20
2.4.2 Food Intake 21
2.5 Medications 21
2.6 Treatments 21
2.6.1 Oxygen Therapy 21
2.6.2 Recumbency Care 24
2.6.3 Input 28
2.6.4 Output 29
2.7 Vitals 31
2.7.1 Attitude 33
2.7.2 Temperature 34
2.7.3 Heart Rate/Pulse 34
2.7.4 Respiratory Rate 34
2.7.5 Mucous Membranes/Capillary Refill Time 35
2.7.6 Pain Score 36
2.8 Walk/Litter Box 39
2.9 Alerts 40
References 45
3 Pharmacology 46
3.1 Additives 46
3.2 Analgesia, Induction, and Sedation 47
3.3 Antibiotics 52
3.4 Antihistamines 55
3.5 Antiparasitic 55
3.6 Appetite stimulants 56
3.7 Blood products 57
3.8 Cardiac 59
3.9 Chemotherapeutics 63
3.10 Emergency 64
3.11 Euthanasia 65
3.12 Fluids 65
3.12.1 Crystalloids 65
3.12.2 Colloids 66
3.13 Gastrointestinal 66
3.14 Immune Modulators 69
3.15 Insulin 69
3.16 Miscellaneous 71
3.17 Neurologic 75
3.18 Ophthalmic 77
3.19 Paralytics 78
3.20 Pressors 79
3.21 Respiratory 80
3.22 Reversals 81
References 81
4 Medical Math 84
4.1 Basic Math Review 84
4.2 Percentages 85
4.3 Ratios and Proportions 85
4.4 Dose Calculations 87
4.5 Maintenance Rates 88
4.6 Dehydration Rates 89
4.7 Shock Rates 90
4.8 Additives 92
4.8.1 Dextrose 92
4.8.2 Potassium Chloride (KCl) 93
4.8.3 Potassium Phosphate (KPhos) 95
4.8.4 Metoclopramide 96
4.9 Dilutions 98
4.10 Constant Rate Infusions 99
References 102
5 Commonly Hospitalized Diseases and Disorders 103
5.1 Bacterial 103
5.2 Cardiac 104
5.3 Endocrine 112
5.4 Fungal 114
5.5 Gastrointestinal 114
5.6 Hepatobiliary 121
5.7 Immune-Mediated 122
5.8 Miscellaneous 122
5.9 Neoplasia 126
5.10 Neurologic 128
5.11 Ophthalmologic 132
5.12 Parasitic 134
5.13 Reproductive 135
5.14 Respiratory 138
5.15 Surgical 141
5.15.1 Soft Tissue 141
5.15.2 Orthopedic 144
5.16 Toxins 145
5.17 Trauma 148
5.18 Urinary 151
5.19 Viral 154
References 155
6 Nursing Care 165
6.1 Aggressive Animal Handling 165
6.2 Bailey Chair 165
6.3 Bandage Care 168
6.3.1 Adhesive Bandages 168
6.3.2 Soft-Padded Bandages and Splints 168
6.3.3 Tie-Over Bandages 168
6.3.4 Negative Pressure Wound Therapy 168
6.4 Barrier Nursing and Isolation 170
6.5 Feeding Tubes 173
6.5.1 Nasogastric/Nasoesophageal (NG/NE) Tube 173
6.5.2 Esophagostomy (E-)Tube 173
6.5.3 Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Tube 174
6.5.4 Gastrostomy (G-)Tube 174
6.5.5 Jejunostomy (J-)Tube 174
6.6 Hand Hygiene 175
6.7 Nutrition 177
6.7.1 Resting Energy Requirement (RER) 177
6.7.2 Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER) 177
6.7.3 Daily Energy Requirement (DER) 177
6.7.4 Diets 177
6.7.5 Feeding Tubes 180
6.7.6 Enteral feeding 181
6.7.7 Tpn/ppn 181
6.8 Ophthalmic Medications 184
6.9 Pain Assessment 187
6.10 Recumbency Care 188
6.11 Thrombocytopathy 193
6.12 Tracheostomy Tubes 194
6.13 Ventilation 199
References 202
7 Procedures 204
7.1 Abdominocentesis 204
7.2 Arterial Lines and Sampling 205
7.3 Bandaging 207
7.3.1 Modified Robert Jones 207
7.3.2 Tie-Over 208
7.4 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 210
7.5 Central/PICC Lines 213
7.6 Chest Tubes 217
7.7 Closed-Suction Drains 219
7.8 Continuous Glucose Monitoring 221
7.8.1 Via Central Line 221
7.8.2 Glucose Sensor 222
7.9 Continuous Suction 223
7.10 Doppler BP 223
7.11 Enema 229
7.12 Fentanyl Patch 231
7.13 Gavage Feeding 233
7.14 High-Flow Oxygen 234
7.15 Indwelling Urinary Catheters 236
7.15.1 Male Dog 237
7.15.2 Female Dog 238
7.15.3 Male Cat 239
7.16 Intraosseous Catheters 241
7.17 Nasal Cannulas 244
7.18 Nasogastric/Nasoesophageal Tubes 247
7.19 Nebulization 252
7.20 Pulse Oximetry (SPO 2) 254
7.21 Thoracocentesis 256
7.22 Transfusions 257
References 261
8 Case Studies 263
8.1 Anaphylaxis 263
8.1.1 Signalment 263
8.1.2 History 263
8.1.3 Physical Exam 263
8.1.4 Initial Care 264
8.1.5 Continued Care 264
8.1.6 Discussion 268
8.2 Anticoagulant Rodenticide Toxicity 269
8.2.1 Signalment 269
8.2.2 Presentation 269
8.2.3 Initial Treatment 270
8.2.4 Day 2 271
8.2.5 Day 3 273
8.2.6 Discussion 273
8.3 Gall Bladder Mucocele 275
8.3.1 Signalment 275
8.3.2 Presentation 275
8.3.3 Surgery 276
8.3.4 Post-op Day 1 276
8.3.5 Post-op Day 2 277
8.3.6 Discussion 280
8.4 Tetanus 281
8.4.1 Signalment 281
8.4.2 History 281
8.4.3 Physical Examination 281
8.4.4 Initial Care 282
8.4.5 Continued Care 283
8.4.6 Discussion 286
References 287
Index 290
REBECCA J. ROESLER, MVSc, RVT, VTS (ECC), is a faculty member in the Appalachian State University Veterinary Technology Program and an ECC nurse at Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. She earned her AAS in veterinary technology from Madison College and her MVSc in biomedical science from the University of Missouri. A VTS in emergency and critical care, her professional interests include internal medicine emergencies, medical math instruction, and CPR preparedness.
ANGELA M. SECCHI, AAS-VT, RVT, CVT, is a critical care nurse at Colorado Animal Specialty and Emergency and an emergency nurse at Animal Urgent Care - Northeast. She earned her AAS in Veterinary Technology from Madison College in 2015 and has extensive experience in specialty and emergency medicine. Licensed in both Wisconsin and Colorado, her areas of interest include endocrine crises, polytrauma, and technician training and education.
