Idaho CVT cheat sheet

Controlled substance logs must record drug name, strength, quantity, date, and the initials of both the person removing and the person witnessing, per Idaho Board of Pharmacy recordkeeping rules.

DEA schedule quick rule: C-II has no refills and requires a new written or electronic prescription; C-III and C-IV allow up to 5 refills within 6 months of issue.

Dose formula: dose (mg) = body weight (kg) × dose rate (mg/kg); liquid volume (mL) = dose (mg) ÷ concentration (mg/mL).

Cats lack efficient glucuronidation, so acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and most pyrethroid spot-ons are toxic; permethrin canine products must never be applied to cats.

Metoclopramide and other prokinetics are contraindicated with GI obstruction; maropitant is a NK-1 antagonist used for vomiting, not a prokinetic.

NSAID rule: never combine two NSAIDs, and observe a washout (minimum 5-7 days for most, longer for long-acting agents) when switching classes.

Withdrawal and residue rules: extra-label drug use in food animals requires a veterinarian-established extended withdrawal time; the FARAD withdrawal calculator is the standard reference.

Drug storage: insulin and most vaccines are refrigerated at 2-8 °C; never freeze; reconstituted vaccines are discarded per label, often within 1-2 hours.

Bactericidal versus bacteriostatic: aminoglycosides and beta-lactams are bactericidal; tetracyclines and chloramphenicol are bacteriostatic and should not be combined with penicillins.

Anesthetic machine check order: oxygen supply and pressure, vaporizer level and function, breathing circuit and valves, scavenging, then leak test with the pop-off valve closed.

MAC concept: MAC is the alveolar concentration at which 50% of patients do not respond to a supramaximal stimulus; lower MAC with hypothermia, hypotension, pregnancy, and concurrent injectable anesthetics.

Premedication classes: anticholinergics (glycopyrrolate, atropine) for bradycardia, alpha-2 agonists (dexmedetomidine) for sedation and analgesia, benzodiazepines for muscle relaxation and seizure control.

Normal parameters under anesthesia: heart rate 60-160 bpm in dogs, 120-220 bpm in cats; mean arterial pressure target 60-80 mmHg; SpO2 ≥95%.

Surgical asepsis sequence: cap and mask, surgical hand scrub, sterile gown, sterile gloves; the gown is sterile front from chest to table level and sleeves to the cuffs.

Suture selection: absorbable monofilament (poliglecaprone, PDS) for contaminated or deep tissue; nonabsorbable (nylon, polypropylene) for skin; chromic gut absorbs faster than PDS.

Postoperative monitoring priorities: temperature (hypothermia common), pain score, incision check for swelling or discharge, and return of appetite and normal urination.

Instrument identification: Mayo scissors cut heavy tissue, Metzenbaum dissect fine tissue, hemostats occlude vessels, and needle holders grasp needles only, never tissue.

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 uses the modified Triadan system: right maxillary quadrant 100s, left maxillary 200s, left mandibular 300s, right mandibular 400s; the carnassial tooth is 108/208 (maxillary fourth premolar).

Periodontal disease staging uses attachment loss: stage 1 <25%, stage 2 25-50%, stage 3 50-75%, stage 4 >75%; probing depth in dogs is abnormal above about 3 mm.

Grade the degree of tooth mobility 0-3 and furcation exposure 0-3; record both on the dental chart before extraction decisions.

Dental radiography: full-mouth series is typically 10-12 views; the bisecting-angle technique compensates for the lack of intraoral film parallelism.

Local anesthetic max doses: bupivacaine 2 mg/kg in dogs and cats; lidocaine 4-6 mg/kg in dogs, but cats are limited to about 1-2 mg/kg due to cardiotoxicity.

Home plaque control options: chlorhexidine and zinc-based rinses, VOHC-accepted chews and diets, and brushing; chew toys must be soft enough to flex, not hard enough to fracture teeth.

Anesthesia for dentistry requires a cuffed endotracheal tube with a pharyngeal pack to prevent water and debris aspiration during scaling.

PCV reference ranges: dog 37-55%, cat 30-45%; total protein 6.0-8.0 g/dL; a PCV that does not match the spun tube reading suggests improper centrifugation or a clot.

Blood smear zones: use the monolayer just behind the feathered edge for WBC differential counts; the feathered edge is best for platelet clumps and microfilariae.

Urinalysis order matters: measure specific gravity before dipstick, and read the reagent strip at the labeled time; USG 1.008-1.012 is isosthenuric, 1.035+ in cats suggests concentrated urine.

Cystocentesis urine is the preferred sample for culture; free-catch samples risk contamination; refrigerate samples if not processed within 30 minutes.

Radiographic exposure mnemonic: kVp controls contrast (higher kVp, lower contrast), mAs controls density/blackness (higher mAs, darker film).

Thoracic radiography: take at least right lateral, left lateral, and VD or DV views; expiration films falsely increase lung opacity; the DV view better evaluates the accessory lung lobe.

Ultrasound: higher frequency transducers give better resolution but less penetration; a 7.5-10 MHz probe suits superficial structures and 3.5-5 MHz suits deep abdominal organs.

Fecal floatation with zinc sulfate or sugar solution detects nematode and coccidia ova; a direct smear is better for motile Giardia trophozoites, and a Baermann test is used for lungworm larvae.

Vital sign baselines: dog temperature 38.0-39.2 °C (100.5-102.5 °F), cat 38.1-39.2 °C; respiratory rate 10-30 breaths/min in dogs, 20-30 in cats.

Nutritional calculations: resting energy requirement (RER) = 70 × (kg body weight)^0.75; illness factor multipliers (often 1.0-1.4) adjust RER for hospitalized patients.

Body condition scoring uses a 1-9 scale; 4-5 is ideal; a score of 1-3 indicates emaciation and 7-9 indicates obesity.

Fluid therapy: maintenance rate roughly 2-3 mL/kg/hr; shock bolus is 10-20 mL/kg of crystalloid, reassessed after each bolus; colloids are dosed in smaller volumes.

Catheter care: place an IV catheter aseptically, flush with heparinized saline per protocol, and check the site every shift for phlebitis, swelling, or disconnection.

Restraint principles: minimal restraint, use a towel or cat bag for fractious cats, and never place hands near the mouth of an unanesthetized painful animal.

Pain scoring tools: the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale and the Colorado State University canine and feline acute pain scales use behavioral and physiologic scoring.

Bandage rules: check toes for swelling and color every 4-8 hours; a bandage that slips or smells must be changed; never leave a bandage on a limb unmonitored for more than 24 hours.

CPR sequence (RECOVER): check breathing and pulse, start chest compressions at 100-120 per minute, then ventilate with 10 breaths/min; compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30:2 with one rescuer.

Drug route in CPR: intraosseous or IV preferred; epinephrine is given at 0.01-0.02 mg/kg IV every 3-5 minutes; atropine at 0.04 mg/kg for bradycardia.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus: decompress with a trocar or orogastric tube, then treat shock with crystalloid boluses, and plan surgery for gastropexy after stabilization.

Triage categories: red (immediate, e.g., respiratory distress, active hemorrhage), yellow (urgent but stable), green (nonurgent); recheck red patients every few minutes.

Poisoning first steps: identify agent and amount, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and never induce vomiting in a caustic ingestion or an unconscious patient.

Heatstroke: cool with room-temperature water and fans, not ice water; monitor for DIC and acute kidney injury; core temperature above 41 °C (106 °F) is life-threatening.

Hypoglycemia in neonates: treat with 10% dextrose at 1-2 mL/kg IV slowly, then feed or use corn syrup on the gums; monitor glucose every 15-30 minutes until stable.

Shock parameters: tachycardia, pale or prolonged CRT >2 seconds, weak pulses, hypothermia, and altered mentation; lactate >2.5 mmol/L supports hypoperfusion.

Diabetes mellitus management: insulin glargine or porcine lente twice daily, monitor with glucose curves and fructosamine; persistent hyperglycemia with weight loss suggests poor control.

Feline hyperthyroidism: elevated T4, weight loss with polyphagia, tachycardia, and a thyroid nodule; methimazole, radioiodine, or thyroidectomy are treatment options.

Canine hypothyroidism: low T4 with high TSH; clinical signs include weight gain, alopecia, and bradycardia; treat with levothyroxine twice daily and recheck 4-6 weeks later.

CKD staging uses IRIS criteria based on creatinine and SDMA; stage 1 is nonazotemic with inadequate concentrating ability; blood pressure and proteinuria are monitored at every stage.

Pancreatitis: elevated canine pancreatic lipase (cPL) and vomiting with cranial abdominal pain; treatment is supportive with fluids, antiemetics, and analgesia.

Nutritional rule: cats are obligate carnivores and require taurine, arginine, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A; dogs can synthesize some but not all of these.

Heart failure: pimobendan plus furosemide plus an ACE inhibitor (e.g., enalapril) is a standard combination for canine congestive heart failure; monitor renal values and electrolytes.

Parvovirus: profound leukopenia with hemorrhagic diarrhea in unvaccinated puppies; treat with fluid therapy, antiemetics, and antibiotics for secondary infection; isolation is required.

Canine critical periods: socialization window is roughly 3-16 weeks; fear periods occur around 8-10 weeks and again in adolescence.

Feline social behavior: cats are not strictly solitary; colony living is normal, but resource spacing (litter boxes, food, water) reduces stress and urine marking.

Low-stress handling: use pheromone sprays (Adaptil for dogs, Feliway for cats), minimize waiting-room contact between predator and prey species, and use treat lures instead of force.

Restraint devices: the Elizabethan collar prevents licking; the soft collar allows more normal activity; muzzles must allow panting and are removed at the first sign of vomiting.

Livestock handling: flight zone and point of balance guide movement; a handler behind the point of balance moves an animal forward; loud noise increases stress and balking.

Equine restraint: a twitch applies pressure to the upper lip or ear; use only briefly; a lip chain is a last resort and requires an experienced handler.

Behavioral diagnoses require ruling out medical causes first: pain, neurologic disease, and endocrine disorders can mimic aggression or anxiety.

Reptile and bird husbandry: ectotherms need a temperature gradient and UVB for many species; birds need full-spectrum light and can hide illness until critically ill.

Informed consent: document the procedure, risks, alternatives, and the client's decision in the medical record, and obtain a signature before anesthesia or surgery.

Medical record legal standard: record date, time, findings, treatments, and client communication; alterations must be dated and initialed, never erased or whited out.

Veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR): established when the veterinarian has examined the animal and is available for follow-up; Idaho requires a valid VCPR for prescribing and dispensing.

Cost estimate communication: give a written range before treatment, discuss gold-standard versus limited options, and record the client's choice.

Nonverbal communication: mirror the client's tone, use open-ended questions, and avoid jargon; the ask-tell-ask method improves adherence and recall.

Euthanasia communication: confirm the decision, explain the process step by step, offer a private room, and allow time for goodbye; document the consent.

Scheduling and triage: keep urgent slots open, triage by phone using the same red-yellow-green logic as in-person triage, and call back emergency clients promptly.

Team roles: a credentialed veterinary technician may perform tasks under supervision; the scope of duties is defined by state law, not by employer preference alone.

Idaho licenses veterinary technicians through the Idaho Board of Veterinary Medicine; the CVT credential requires graduation from an AVMA-accredited program and passing the VTNE.

Idaho practice act: the veterinarian-client-patient relationship requires a veterinarian to have examined the animal and be available for follow-up care; technicians cannot diagnose, prescribe, or perform surgery.

Continuing education: Idaho requires biennial CE for license renewal; verify the current hour requirement and reporting deadline with the Board before renewal.

Controlled substances: Idaho follows federal DEA scheduling and requires a state controlled substance registration; inventory, storage, and disposal records must be maintained and available for inspection.

Rabies: Idaho requires rabies vaccination of dogs and cats; a veterinarian must report suspected rabies cases to the state veterinarian or local health authority.

Confidentiality: client and patient records are confidential; release requires client authorization or a legal order, except as required for public health reporting.

Ethics: the AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics require honesty with clients, avoidance of conflicts of interest, and reporting of impaired or incompetent colleagues to the Board.

Unprofessional conduct includes practicing beyond the scope of one's license, falsifying records, and practicing without a current license; the Board may suspend, revoke, or fine.

Vaccine and drug dispensing: prescription drugs may be dispensed only in the context of a valid VCPR, with labeling that includes directions, drug name, and withdrawal information for food animals.