California RVT cheat sheet

Controlled substances: Schedule II requires a triplicate-style official form and no refills; Schedule III-V allow up to 5 refills within 6 months. Federal rules set the floor; California may be stricter.

Drug calculation formula: dose desired ÷ dose on hand × quantity on hand = amount to administer. Body weight dosing: mg/kg × kg = total mg.

Dose by body surface area: mg/m² × BSA in m². Use for chemotherapy and select drugs, not routine antibiotics.

Concentration conversions: percent solution × 10 = mg/mL (e.g., 2% lidocaine = 20 mg/mL); 1 g = 1000 mg; 1 mL = 1 cc; 1 tsp = 5 mL.

Cephalosporin generation: 1st (cefazolin) gram-positive skin coverage; 3rd (ceftazidime) gram-negative and Pseudomonas; 4th (cefovecin) broad, long-acting injectable.

NSAID caution: avoid in dehydrated or hypotensive patients and those with GI ulcer or renal disease; COX-2 (firocoxib, robenacoxib) spares COX-1 but is not GI- or renal-risk free.

Toxic antidotes: organophosphate → atropine plus pralidoxime; acetaminophen (cats) → N-acetylcysteine; ethylene glycol → ethanol or fomepizole; vitamin K1 for anticoagulant rodenticide.

Withdrawal times: milk withdrawal may exceed meat withdrawal. Verify species-specific label or FARAD before dispensing for food animals; extra-label use requires a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

Aseptic prep: scrub skin with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine from incision center outward in concentric circles; do not return to the center once the periphery is touched.

Instrument categories: cutting/dissecting (scalpel, scissors), grasping (thumb forceps, tissue forceps), hemostatic (hemostats, Kelly, Crile), retracting, and special (needle holders, towel clamps).

Suture selection: absorbable (polydioxanone, polyglactin 910) for buried layers; nonabsorbable (nylon, polypropylene) for skin. Monofilament reduces bacterial harboring versus braided.

Needle types: taper for soft tissue and hollow organs; cutting or reverse-cutting for skin; swaged-on needles reduce tissue trauma versus eyed needles.

Surgical counts: count sponges and sharps before incision, before closure, and at skin closure; record counts on the anesthesia/surgical record.

Wound healing phases: hemostasis/inflammation (days 0-5), proliferation/fibroplasia (days 3-14), remodeling/maturation (weeks to months).

Postoperative monitoring: assess incision for swelling, discharge, dehiscence, and pain; restrict activity and use an Elizabethan collar to prevent self-trauma.

Sterilization versus disinfection: autoclave (steam under pressure) for instruments; cold chemical (glutaraldehyde) for heat-sensitive items; ethylene oxide for delicate equipment.

Preanesthetic assessment: physical exam, PCV/TP, blood glucose, BUN/creatinine, and thoracic auscultation; ASA status guides drug choice and monitoring intensity.

Anesthetic stages: stage I analgesia, stage II excitement (avoid intubation here), stage III surgical anesthesia (planes 1-4), stage IV medullary paralysis (respiratory arrest).

Injectable induction agents: propofol (rapid, smooth, no analgesia), ketamine (dissociative, somatic analgesia), alfaxalone (cardiovascular stability), etomidate (minimal cardiovascular depression).

Inhalant MAC values: isoflurane ~1.3% in dogs, ~1.6% in cats; sevoflurane ~2.3% in dogs. MAC is the concentration preventing movement in 50% of patients.

Monitoring parameters: heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate and depth, mucous membrane color, CRT, blood pressure, temperature, and end-tidal CO2.

Pain assessment: use a validated scale (e.g., Colorado or Glasgow) and multimodal analgesia (opioid + NSAID + local block) rather than single-agent dosing.

Local anesthetics: lidocaine maximum ~4-6 mg/kg (with epinephrine up to ~7-8 mg/kg); bupivacaine is more cardiotoxic and should not exceed ~2 mg/kg.

Hypothermia prevention: warm IV fluids, forced-air blankets, and warmed tables; monitor rectal temperature every 15 minutes during anesthesia.

Dental formula: permanent dog 2×(I3/3, C1/1, P4/4, M2/3) = 42; permanent cat 2×(I3/3, C1/1, P3/2, M1/1) = 30.

Tooth numbering: the modified Triadan system uses three digits; the first digit is the quadrant (1 upper right, 2 upper left, 3 lower left, 4 lower right).

Periodontal disease staging: stage 1 gingivitis, stage 2 <25% attachment loss, stage 3 25-50%, stage 4 >50% with possible furcation involvement.

Dental radiography: full-mouth series (typically 10-14 views) is the standard; intraoral films detect root resorption, bone loss, and retained roots not visible on exam.

Anesthesia safety: dental scaling and extraction require general anesthesia with a cuffed endotracheal tube; use a pharyngeal pack to prevent aspiration of debris.

Scaling technique: supragingival and subgingival scaling with ultrasonic or hand instruments, followed by polishing and irrigation; avoid excessive heat and enamel damage.

Extraction principles: use a periosteal elevator and luxator; section multi-rooted teeth (carnassial, maxillary fourth premolar) to reduce root fracture.

Home dental care: daily brushing with pet-safe enzymatic toothpaste; chlorhexidine rinses or gels are adjuncts, not substitutes, for mechanical plaque removal.