Iowa Vet Tech key terms

The fraction of an administered drug dose that reaches the systemic circulation unchanged. Intravenous drugs are completely available, while oral drugs may lose some to poor absorption or liver metabolism.

Loss of an oral drug during its first pass through the liver before it reaches the general circulation. It lowers oral bioavailability and can make oral doses much larger than intravenous ones.

The time it takes for the amount of drug in the body to fall by half. It guides dosing intervals and predicts how long drug effects, or residues, may persist after the last dose.

Using an approved animal or human drug in a way the label does not describe, such as a different species, dose, or route. It requires a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship and careful records.

The required waiting period between the last dose of a drug and slaughter or milk collection, so residues fall below legal limits. Extralabel use often lengthens the withdrawal period.

Practices that keep microorganisms out of a surgical wound, including sterile gloves and drapes, sterilized instruments, and avoiding contact with nonsterile surfaces. Breaks in technique are a leading cause of surgical infection.

A timed, systematic cleaning of the hands and forearms with antiseptic soap and water, or an alcohol-based rub, before gowning and gloving. It reduces skin microbes before every sterile procedure.

Stopping or controlling bleeding during surgery with pressure, ligatures, electrosurgery, or hemostatic agents. Good hemostasis keeps the surgical field visible and reduces blood loss and postoperative bruising.

Separation of a surgical incision that had been closed, which may expose deeper tissue or organs. Infection, tension, self-trauma, and poor suture technique are common causes, and it is an emergency.

The distance in millimeters from the gum margin to the bottom of the gingival sulcus, measured with a periodontal probe. Deeper readings suggest attachment loss and periodontal disease.

Removal of plaque and calculus from below the gumline with curettes or ultrasonic tips, usually under anesthesia. Careful technique is needed to avoid damaging tooth roots and delicate gum tissue.

Loss of bone between the roots of a multirooted tooth, shown when a probe can pass between the roots. It indicates advanced periodontal disease and complicates treatment and extraction planning.

Intraoral X-rays that show tooth roots, surrounding bone, and structures hidden beneath the gum. Full-mouth series are recommended because much dental disease cannot be seen on visual examination alone.

The percentage of blood volume made up of red blood cells after a microhematocrit tube is spun. Read together with plasma protein, it helps distinguish anemia from dehydration.

The protein concentration of plasma measured with a refractometer after spinning a microhematocrit tube. Combined with packed cell volume, it helps separate anemia from dehydration and flags high protein.

A measure of how concentrated urine is compared with water, read with a refractometer. It reflects the kidney's ability to concentrate urine and helps interpret hydration and kidney function.

A test in which feces are mixed with a solution denser than parasite eggs, so the eggs float and can be collected from the surface. It detects many common intestinal parasites but not all.

Body temperature, pulse rate and quality, respiratory rate and effort, and mucous membrane color, recorded routinely to assess a patient. Subtle changes often appear before obvious clinical signs.

A standardized rating of body fat, usually on a nine-point scale, based on feeling the ribs and looking at the waist and flank. It guides feeding plans better than weight alone.

Collecting urine directly from the bladder through the abdominal wall with a needle and syringe, often guided by ultrasound. The sample is best for culture because it avoids contamination from the lower urinary tract.

A short plastic tube placed in a peripheral vein to give fluids and drugs and to draw blood. The site is checked often for swelling, pain, and bandage security to catch phlebitis early.

Two X-ray images of the same body part taken at right angles, such as a lateral and a ventrodorsal view. A single view can make a lesion appear to be in the wrong place.

Milliampere-seconds, the exposure setting that controls how many X-rays are produced and reach the image receptor. Raising mAs darkens the image and increases the radiation dose to the patient.

Kilovoltage peak, the setting that controls how strongly the X-ray beam penetrates the patient. Higher kVp gives a more penetrating beam, lower contrast, and generally less patient dose.

As low as reasonably achievable, the principle of keeping radiation exposure to patients, staff, and yourself to a minimum. It relies on shielding, distance, collimation, and avoiding repeat exposures.

Drugs given before anesthetic induction, often a sedative, opioid, or anticholinergic, to reduce stress and pain and to lower the induction agent dose needed. It improves safety and recovery quality.

Placing a cuffed tube in the trachea to deliver oxygen and anesthetic gas and to protect the airway. Correct placement is confirmed by chest movement, breath sounds, and capnography.

Continuous measurement of carbon dioxide in exhaled breath, displayed as a waveform. It confirms tube placement, shows ventilation, and warns of a disconnected circuit or cardiac arrest.

Minimum alveolar concentration, the inhaled anesthetic concentration that prevents movement in half of patients given a painful stimulus. It allows potency comparisons and guides vaporizer settings during anesthesia.

Rapid sorting of patients by urgency so life-threatening problems are treated first. It uses brief airway, breathing, circulation, and consciousness checks, repeated as the patient's condition changes.

A life-threatening state in which low blood volume reduces tissue perfusion, causing weak pulses, pale gums, cold limbs, and dull mentation. Rapid fluid resuscitation and control of the underlying loss are priorities.

A clear fluid containing small dissolved particles, such as saline or balanced electrolyte solutions, that moves quickly between blood vessels and tissues. It is used for resuscitation and maintenance but leaves vessels rapidly.

Organized efforts to restore circulation and breathing in a patient in cardiac arrest, including chest compressions, ventilation, and emergency drugs. Clear team roles and closed-loop communication improve the chance of success.

Using two or more analgesic methods together, such as an opioid, an NSAID, and a local nerve block, to target different pain pathways. It often gives better relief with lower doses of each drug.

The nervous system's processing of a painful stimulus, from sensory nerve endings through the spinal cord to the brain. It occurs even under anesthesia, when the patient cannot show pain behavior.

Continuous intravenous delivery of a drug at a steady rate, usually with a syringe or fluid pump, to keep a stable blood level. It is common for pain medication and critically ill patients.

A structured rating of pain based on behavior and body language, such as the Glasgow composite measure pain scale. Scores guide treatment choices and show whether analgesia is working.