Iowa Vet Tech cheat sheet

Dose calculation: dose (mg/kg) x body weight (kg) = total dose (mg); convert pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2.

CRI rate: mL/hr = dose (mg/kg/min) x weight (kg) x 60 / concentration (mg/mL).

Steady-state plasma concentration is reached after approximately 4 to 5 half-lives when dosing is unchanged.

A U-100 insulin syringe must match U-100 insulin; U-40 insulin requires a U-40 syringe because unit markings differ.

NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase; avoid combining with corticosteroids or using in patients with GI ulceration, renal insufficiency, or dehydration.

Most vaccines are stored at 2 to 8 degrees C (36 to 46 degrees F); freezing inactivates many vaccines, and reconstituted vaccines expire per label.

Controlled substances require secure storage and a dispensing log; exact recordkeeping requirements are set by federal and state law.

Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, such as digoxin, insulin, and warfarin, require precise measurement and monitoring for toxicity.

Sterile field: gown front from chest to waist and sleeves to cuffs are sterile; the back, below waist, and cuff edges are nonsterile.

Surgical site prep begins at the incision and moves outward in concentric circles; chlorhexidine scrub is followed by alcohol or chlorhexidine rinse.

Instrument identification: Metzenbaum scissors have short delicate blades for dissection; Mayo scissors have heavy blades for dense tissue.

Suture size: 3-0 is larger than 4-0; 0 is larger than 2-0; absorbable sutures include poliglecaprone, polyglactin 910, and chromic gut.

Sponge and instrument counts are performed before closure and at the end of surgery; a missing count requires radiographic or manual search before recovery.

Vacuum-assisted wound closure uses negative pressure; typical settings are -125 mmHg continuous, with changes every 2 to 3 days.

A Penrose drain is passive and open; a Jackson-Pratt drain is active and closed; drains exit through a separate stab incision.

Postoperative hypothermia is common; active warming, temperature monitoring, and pain assessment are part of recovery.

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

Triadan quadrants: 100 upper right, 200 upper left, 300 lower left, 400 lower right; the last two digits identify the tooth.

Normal gingival sulcus depth is about 1 to 3 mm in dogs and 0.5 to 1 mm in cats; deeper probing suggests periodontal attachment loss.

Periodontal disease staging uses attachment loss, probing depth, and radiographs; stage 1 is gingivitis only, and stage 4 has severe attachment loss.

Ultrasonic scaling requires water cooling to prevent heat damage; polishing after scaling smooths the enamel surface.

Dental radiography commonly uses the bisecting-angle technique for maxillary teeth and parallel technique for mandibular premolars and molars.

Local anesthetic blocks for dentistry include infraorbital, maxillary, mandibular, and mental blocks; aspirate before injecting to avoid intravascular delivery.

Tooth extraction requires elevation and sectioning; excessive force can fracture roots or damage adjacent bone.

Tube colors: lavender EDTA for CBC; red top for serum; green heparin for plasma; blue citrate for coagulation; gray oxalate/fluoride for glucose.

PCV is measured after centrifugation; total solids are measured by refractometer; normal PCV is about 37-55% in dogs and 30-45% in cats.

Blood smear evaluation: examine the feathered edge for platelet clumps and large cells; estimate platelet count at 100x as platelets per oil-immersion field x 15,000/microliter.

Urine specific gravity by refractometer: dog 1.015-1.045, cat 1.035-1.060; dipstick protein may be falsely positive in alkaline urine.

Fecal flotation uses a saturated salt or sugar solution; centrifugation improves recovery; direct smear is better for motile trophozoites.

Serum chemistry: hemolysis can falsely increase potassium, ALT, AST, and LDH; lipemia can interfere with several assays.

Coagulation tests use a citrated blue-top tube; PT evaluates the extrinsic pathway; PTT evaluates the intrinsic pathway.

Cytology: fine-needle aspiration; slides should be air-dried and stained; neoplastic cells often have variable nuclear size and prominent nucleoli.

Normal adult dog: temperature 100.5-102.5 degrees F, heart rate 60-160 bpm, respiratory rate 10-30 breaths/min.

Normal adult cat: temperature 100.5-102.5 degrees F, heart rate 140-220 bpm, respiratory rate 20-30 breaths/min.

Body condition score uses a 9-point scale; 4-5/9 is ideal, 1/9 is emaciated, and 9/9 is obese.

Maintenance fluid rate for a dog or cat is approximately 2-3 mL/kg/hr or 50-60 mL/kg/day; ongoing losses are added separately.

Capillary refill time normally is less than 2 seconds; prolonged CRT suggests poor perfusion, dehydration, or shock.

Mucous membrane color: pink is normal; pale suggests anemia or poor perfusion; cyanotic suggests hypoxemia; icteric suggests jaundice.

Bandage layers: primary contact layer, secondary absorbent layer, tertiary protective layer; bandages should be checked for slippage and swelling.

Nutritional assessment includes weight, body condition, muscle condition, and food intake; resting energy requirement is approximately 70 x (kg^0.75) kcal/day.

Radiographic opacity from least to most: gas (black), fat (dark gray), soft tissue/fluid (gray), bone/mineral (white), metal (bright white).

Orthogonal views are 90 degrees apart; a lateral and ventrodorsal or dorsoventral view are standard for the thorax and abdomen.

Thoracic radiographs are made at peak inspiration; a good feline film shows the diaphragm at the level of the last ribs and the heart not falsely enlarged.

ALARA: use the shortest exposure time, collimate to the area of interest, wear a lead apron and gloves, and use a dosimeter.

Ultrasound requires acoustic coupling gel; fluid appears anechoic (black), and bone or gas causes acoustic shadowing.

Contrast media: barium sulfate is for GI studies and is contraindicated if GI perforation is suspected; iodinated contrast is water-soluble.

Dental radiography uses lower kVp and mA than standard radiography; intraoral sensors or film are placed inside the mouth.

CT provides cross-sectional images and is excellent for bone and pulmonary detail; MRI uses magnetic fields and is superior for soft tissue, especially brain and spinal cord.

ASA status: I healthy, II mild systemic disease, III moderate systemic disease, IV severe systemic disease, V moribund; emergency modifier is E.

Premedication often includes an opioid for analgesia plus a sedative such as acepromazine, midazolam, or dexmedetomidine; choice depends on health status.

Induction agents include propofol, alfaxalone, ketamine, and mask or chamber inhalant; endotracheal intubation protects the airway.

MAC is the alveolar concentration preventing movement in 50% of patients; isoflurane MAC in dogs is about 1.3%, and sevoflurane about 2.3%.

Monitoring includes heart rate, respiratory rate, mucous membrane color, CRT, blood pressure, SpO2, ETCO2, and temperature.

Capnography: normal ETCO2 is 35-45 mmHg; a sudden decrease may indicate disconnection, obstruction, or low cardiac output; a sudden increase may indicate hypoventilation.

Hypotension under anesthesia is often MAP below 60 mmHg; causes include deep anesthesia, hypovolemia, and drug effects.

Recovery: extubate when the swallowing reflex returns; monitor temperature, oxygenation, pain, and bleeding.

Triage ABC: airway, breathing, circulation; life-threatening hemorrhage and airway obstruction are addressed before history and diagnostics.

CPR: compressions 100-120/min at one-third to one-half chest depth; ventilations 10 breaths/min, with 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio if no advanced airway.

Shock bolus: crystalloid 10-20 mL/kg in dogs and 5-10 mL/kg in cats, reassessing perfusion after each bolus.

GDV: nonproductive retching, abdominal distension, and shock; treatment includes decompression, IV fluids, and emergency surgery.

Heatstroke: core temperature often above 104 degrees F; cooling with room-temperature water and fans, not ice baths, and monitoring for DIC and renal injury.

Seizure emergency: dextrose for hypoglycemia, diazepam or midazolam, and cooling if hyperthermic; protect the airway.

Transfusion: crossmatch for repeated transfusions; monitor for transfusion reactions such as fever, hemolysis, and urticaria.

Oxygen therapy: nasal cannula, flow-by, mask, or oxygen cage; target SpO2 above 95% when possible.

Pain pathways: transduction, transmission, modulation, perception; multimodal analgesia targets more than one step.

Opioids act on mu, kappa, and delta receptors; common effects include analgesia and sedation; respiratory depression is dose-dependent.

NSAIDs inhibit COX-1 and/or COX-2; COX-2 selective drugs reduce GI side effects but renal and hepatic risks remain.

Local anesthetics block voltage-gated sodium channels; do not exceed the maximum dose, and aspirate before injection.

Acute pain scales use behavior, posture, activity, appetite, and palpation response; physiologic changes support but do not confirm pain.

Chronic pain management includes NSAIDs, gabapentin, amitriptyline, and environmental modification; monitor renal and hepatic values.

Pain assessment should be performed before and after analgesic intervention; a validated scale improves consistency.

Constant-rate infusion of opioids or lidocaine provides continuous analgesia; lidocaine CRI in cats requires lower doses due to toxicity risk.