ER Basics
A patient arrives after being hit by a car. Before focusing on individual body systems, what should be assessed first?
General appearance?
Which monitoring device provides the best information about systolic and diastolic blood pressure?
blood pressure monitor
When splinting a fractured limb, which joints should be immobilized?
joints above and below the fracture
What compression rate should be maintained during veterinary CPR?
100-120 compressions per minute
A patient that was 6% dehydrated yesterday has been on IV fluids for 24 hours. When calculating today's fluid rate, which portion of the fluid therapy plan is usually no longer included?
dehydration deficit
This is the most common type of shock seen in dogs and cats.
hypovolemic shock
A client reports their dog just mouthed a large toad and is now hypersalivating. What should you instruct the owner to do immediately before transport?
flush the mouth with water directed rostrally
A dog presents with a prolapsed globe after trauma. What should be done immediately while preparing for surgery?
keep the eye moist
A dog is breathing comfortably after a short walk outside. Another dog is laterally recumbent, cyanotic, and minimally responsive. Which patient should be brought into the treatment area immediately?
Cyanotic, minimally responsive patient
Which monitoring device measures oxygen saturation and pulse rate?
Pulse oximeter
A burn extends completely through the dermis. What degree burn is this?
third-degree burn
Which cardiac rhythm is the classic indication for defibrillation
ventricular fibrillation
This is the typical maintenance fluid requirement for most veterinary patients.
40-60 mL/kg/day
Unlike dogs, cats in shock commonly present with this heart rate abnormality.
bradycardia
Which type of chocolate contains the greatest concentration of toxic methylxanthines?
baker's chocolate
What imaging modality is most useful for determining fetal number and position during dystocia?
radiographs
When providing oxygen to a dyspneic patient, what is the technician's primary goal when choosing an oxygen delivery method?
Minimize stress while providing adequate oxygen
Which monitoring device evaluates carbon dioxide concentration in exhaled respiratory gases?
Capnograph
Following an electrical injury, significant tissue damage may not become obvious until when?
1-2 days later
Name one of the two major theories explaining how blood moves during chest compressions.
Cardiac Pump Theory or Thoracic Pump Theory
A dog has pink but tacky mucous membranes and mildly decreased skin turgor. Approximately what percent dehydrated is the patient?
5-8% dehydrated
During this stage of shock, the body attempts to preserve blood flow to the heart and brain.
compensatory stage
Loss of this neurologic finding carries the poorest prognosis following spinal cord trauma
deep pain sensation
A male cat is vocalizing, repeatedly straining in the litterbox, and has a large painful bladder. What emergency should be suspected?
complete urinary obstruction
Which physical examination sequence is recommended during an emergency assessment?
General Appearance → Head → Thorax → Abdomen → Pelvis
Which method is considered the gold standard for obtaining body temperature in most veterinary patients?
rectal temperature
A dog has several fractured ribs that move inward during inspiration and outward during expiration, separate from the rest of the thorax. What condition is this?
flail chest
A dog undergoing emergency thoracic surgery experiences cardiac arrest. What type of CPR should the veterinary team perform?
open-chest CPCR
A dog receiving IV fluids develops serous nasal discharge, edema, and an increased respiratory rate. What complication should the technician suspect?
fluid overload
Which type of shock generally does not benefit from aggressive fluid boluses?
ardiogenic shock
A dog ingests sugar-free gum containing xylitol. What life-threatening complication is expected first?
rapid hypoglycemia
A diabetic patient arrives depressed, dehydrated, and severely hyperglycemic due to inadequate insulin. What emergency condition is most likely?
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
A technician immediately recommends a medication dosage before collecting a history or performing an examination. What important step in the emergency assessment process was skipped?
Collecting patient information and performing a thorough physical examination before making treatment decisions
Match each examination technique with its description.
Listening to heart and lung sounds
Feeling abdominal organs
Tapping the body to assess underlying structures
Detecting odors associated with disease
Auscultation
Palpation
Percussion
Olfaction
Place these patients in order from highest to lowest treatment priority:
Chronic arthritis
Closed fracture
Suspected spinal trauma
Spinal trauma → Closed fracture → Chronic arthritis?
During CPR, why is it important to allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions?
full chest recoil allows the heart to refill with blood, maximizing forward blood flow during the next compression.
A severely anemic dog also has significant blood loss and clotting factor deficiencies. Which blood product would best address all of these problems simultaneously?
Fresh Whole Blood (FWB)
Name the two life-threatening complications commonly associated with severe or prolonged shock that were emphasized in lecture.
SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) and DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation)
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Match each toxin with its major concern:
Lily
Warfarin rodenticide
Xylitol
Lily → Acute renal failure (cats)
Warfarin → Vitamin K₁ therapy
Xylitol → Rapid hypoglycemia
Identify the emergency condition from each description:
Requires immediate surgery due to infection of the uterus
Vision-threatening emergency requiring rapid reduction of intraocular pressure
Chronic kidney disease suddenly worsens after severe dehydration or toxin exposure
Pyometra
Acute glaucoma
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)