LO Vet Tech cheat sheet

Directional terms: cranial (toward head), caudal (toward tail), dorsal (toward spine/back), ventral (toward belly), rostral (toward nose, head only), proximal (toward body), distal (away from body).

Body planes: median (midsagittal) divides left/right; dorsal plane divides dorsal/ventral; transverse divides cranial/caudal.

Prefixes: brady- slow, tachy- fast, poly- many, oligo- few, hyper- above normal, hypo- below normal, dys- difficult/painful, a-/an- without.

Suffixes: -itis inflammation, -ectomy surgical removal, -otomy incision into, -ostomy permanent opening, -megaly enlargement, -penia deficiency, -emia blood condition.

Dental formula for the adult dog: 2 x (I3/3 C1/1 P4/4 M2/3) = 42 teeth; adult cat: 2 x (I3/3 C1/1 P3/2 M1/1) = 30 teeth.

Skeletal counts: dog 319 bones; vertebral formula dog C7 T13 L7 S3 Cd20-23; cat C7 T13 L7 S3 Cd21.

Ruminant stomach compartments in order: rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum (true stomach); ruminants lack upper incisors (dental pad instead).

Normal adult reference values (dog): temperature 100.5-102.5 F (38.1-39.2 C), heart rate 60-160 bpm, respiratory rate 10-30 breaths/min.

Species-typical defensive behavior: cats strike with forelimbs and bite; dogs warn with lip lift, growl, and stiffened posture before biting; horses kick with hindlimbs and strike with forelimbs; rabbits kick with powerful hindlimbs and can fracture their own spine.

Minimum restraint principle: use the least restraint that safely completes the procedure; chemical restraint (e.g., acepromazine, dexmedetomidine, midazolam) is indicated when manual restraint risks injury to patient or handler.

Cat scruff: grasp loose skin over the dorsal neck; never lift a cat solely by the scruff for prolonged periods, and never scruff a cat with respiratory distress.

Dog muzzle: applied snugly over the nose with the strap behind the ears; a muzzle must not be left on an unattended animal because it prevents panting and vomiting.

Elizabethan (cone) collar: prevents licking/chewing of wounds and IV sites; size is correct when the collar extends just past the tip of the nose.

Rabbit restraint: support the hindquarters at all times; never suspend a rabbit by the ears or scruff alone; a towel wrap ('burrito') is used for examination.

Horse restraint: a chain or rope over the upper lip or a twitch provides short-term control; a stock is used for hindlimb procedures; never stand directly behind a horse.

Avian restraint: control the head, support the body, and avoid compressing the thorax; birds are prone to stress-induced collapse and hypoxia.

Drug schedule (US DEA): Schedule II drugs (e.g., morphine, fentanyl, oxymorphone) require a separate locked storage, a DEA 222 form for ordering, and no refills; Schedule III-V have progressively less restriction.

Controlled substance log: each dose administered or wasted must be recorded with date, patient, amount, and initials of the person; wasting of a partial dose requires a witness.

Common canine/feline NSAIDs: carprofen, meloxicam, deracoxib, firocoxib; never combine two NSAIDs or an NSAID with a corticosteroid because of GI ulceration and renal risk.

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are toxic to cats (cats lack sufficient glucuronidation); acetaminophen causes methemoglobinemia and Heinz body anemia.

Antibiotic classes: beta-lactams (amoxicillin, cephalexin) inhibit cell wall synthesis; fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin) inhibit DNA gyrase; tetracyclines (doxycycline) inhibit 30S ribosome.

Drug calculation: dose (mg/kg) x body weight (kg) = total mg; total mg / concentration (mg/mL) = volume (mL).

Enrofloxacin is contraindicated in growing animals (cartilage damage) and should be avoided in cats at high doses (retinal toxicity).

Ivermectin toxicity (MDR1/ABCB1 mutation in Collies) causes hypersalivation, ataxia, and coma; the mutation is most common in herding breeds.

Anesthetic depth signs: loss of palpebral reflex, loss of jaw tone, central eye position, and stable respiratory rate indicate surgical plane; return of swallowing or tearing indicates lightening.

MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) is the alveolar concentration at which 50% of patients do not respond to a noxious stimulus; lower MAC with hypothermia, hypotension, and concurrent drugs.

Premedication classes: opioid (analgesia), alpha-2 agonist (sedation, analgesia), benzodiazepine (muscle relaxation, anticonvulsant), anticholinergic (bradycardia prevention).

Induction agents: propofol (rapid, no accumulation), ketamine (dissociative, maintains airway reflexes), alfaxalone (smooth induction, no histamine release), isoflurane/sevoflurane for maintenance.

Monitoring parameters: heart rate, respiratory rate, SpO2 (>95% normal), ETCO2 (35-45 mmHg), blood pressure (MAP >60 mmHg), temperature (maintain >98 F / 36.7 C).

Hypotension management: reduce inhalant concentration, increase IV fluid rate, and use vasopressors (dopamine, dobutamine) if MAP remains <60 mmHg.

Recovery: extubate when swallowing reflex returns; keep patient warm, sternal, and monitored until ambulatory; watch for airway obstruction and hypothermia.

Local anesthetics: lidocaine (dogs only; cats are sensitive to CNS toxicity), bupivacaine (longer duration); never exceed maximum dose (lidocaine 6-10 mg/kg dog).

Aseptic technique: surgical hand scrub (chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine) for at least 3-5 minutes; sterile gown and gloves; sterile field maintained throughout.

Patient skin prep: clip hair, then scrub with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine alternating with alcohol, moving from the incision site outward in concentric circles.

Sterile field rules: only sterile items touch sterile field; non-sterile personnel do not reach over the field; items below the table edge are considered contaminated.

Instrument categories: cutting (scalpel, scissors), grasping (forceps, hemostats), retracting (self-retaining retractors), and suturing (needle holders).

Suture materials: absorbable (vicryl, monocryl, PDS) for internal tissues; non-absorbable (nylon, silk) for skin; size selection based on tissue strength needs.

Surgery pack indicators: autoclave tape changes color to confirm sterilization; biological indicators (spore tests) verify effectiveness; packs are dated and rotated.

Postoperative monitoring: vital signs every 15-30 minutes during recovery, incisional check for swelling or discharge, and pain assessment (grimace scale, behavior).

Wound classification: clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated, and dirty; contaminated/dirty wounds may be left open or managed with delayed primary closure.

Dental formula adult dog: 42 teeth; adult cat: 30 teeth; puppies have 28 deciduous teeth and kittens 26.

Periodontal disease staging: gingivitis (reversible, no attachment loss), stage 1 (<25% attachment loss), stage 2 (25-50%), stage 3 (>50%), stage 4 (advanced with tooth mobility).

Dental scaling: ultrasonic scaler removes supragingival calculus; subgingival scaling requires hand instruments (curettes); polishing follows scaling to smooth enamel.

Dental radiography: full-mouth series (usually 10 views in dog, 8 in cat) detects root resorption, bone loss, and retained roots; bisecting angle technique is standard.

Common oral pathology: periodontal disease (most common), odontogenic tumors, fractured teeth with pulp exposure, and feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLs).

Extraction technique: ensure adequate anesthesia, use elevators and extraction forceps; multi-rooted teeth may require sectioning; close extraction sites when needed.

Anesthesia for dentistry: intubate and pack the pharynx with gauze to prevent aspiration of debris; monitor for bradycardia from the oculocardiac reflex.

Home dental care: daily brushing with pet-safe toothpaste; avoid human toothpaste (fluoride/xylitol toxicity); dental chews and water additives are adjuncts, not substitutes.

Radiographic density: air (black) < fat < soft tissue/fluid < bone < metal (white); the five opacities are gas, fat, soft tissue, bone, and metal.

Standard thoracic views: right lateral, left lateral, and ventrodorsal (VD) or dorsoventral (DV); thoracic radiographs are taken at peak inspiration.

Abdominal radiography: right lateral and VD views; evaluate for organ size, position, and presence of gas or mineral opacity (stones, foreign bodies).

Radiation safety: ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable); wear lead apron and thyroid shield, use collimation, and monitor with dosimeter badges.

Ultrasound: real-time imaging of soft tissue; useful for pregnancy diagnosis, cardiac evaluation (echocardiography), and guided aspirates; does not penetrate bone or gas.

CT provides cross-sectional imaging with high contrast resolution; MRI is superior for soft tissue and neurologic evaluation; both require general anesthesia in most patients.

Contrast studies: barium sulfate for GI series (never use if GI perforation suspected); iodine-based contrast for excretory urography and angiography.

Patient positioning: use sandbags, troughs, and ties; ensure symmetry for VD views; avoid manual restraint of the primary beam area to reduce occupational exposure.

Blood collection sites: dog/cat - cephalic, saphenous, or jugular vein; horse - jugular; cattle - coccygeal or jugular; small mammals - lateral saphenous or cranial vena cava (careful).

Blood tube types: EDTA (purple, hematology), heparin (green, chemistry), serum separator (red/gold, chemistry), citrate (blue, coagulation), oxalate/fluoride (gray, glucose).

PCV/TP: fill a microhematocrit tube, centrifuge, read PCV as percent; plasma protein by refractometer; normal dog PCV 37-55%, cat 30-45%.

CBC interpretation: anemia (low PCV/Hgb), leukocytosis (infection/inflammation), neutrophilia with left shift (bacterial), eosinophilia (parasites/allergy).

Urinalysis: evaluate color, specific gravity (refractometer), pH, protein, glucose, ketones, and sediment (crystals, cells, casts); cystocentesis is preferred for culture.

Fecal examination: direct smear, fecal flotation (sugar or salt solution), and sedimentation; identify parasite eggs (roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm).

Serum chemistry panels: BUN/creatinine (renal), ALT/AST/ALP (hepatic), glucose, electrolytes (Na, K, Cl), calcium, and albumin; interpret in light of species and age.

Microbiology: Gram stain classifies bacteria (Gram-positive purple, Gram-negative pink); culture and sensitivity guides antibiotic selection.

Triage categories: red (immediate life threat), yellow (urgent, stable), green (non-urgent); assess airway, breathing, circulation (ABC) first.

CPR: 100-120 compressions/min, compress 1/3 to 1/2 chest depth, 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio (or continuous compressions with intubation); avoid interruptions.

Shock: recognize tachycardia, pale mucous membranes, prolonged CRT (>2 sec), weak pulses, and hypotension; treat with IV crystalloids (e.g., 20-40 mL/kg bolus in dog) and reassess.

Anaphylaxis: epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV or IM, IV fluids, diphenhydramine, and oxygen; monitor for hypotension and bronchoconstriction.

Toxicities: chocolate (theobromine), grapes/raisins (renal failure), xylitol (hypoglycemia, hepatic failure), anticoagulant rodenticides (vitamin K1 antidote), and organophosphates (atropine).

Gastric dilatation-volvulus: life-threatening; stabilize with IV fluids, decompress stomach (trocarization or tube), then surgery (gastropexy).

Heatstroke: cool with water and fans, IV fluids, monitor for DIC and renal failure; avoid ice water immersion (causes vasoconstriction).

Emergency drug doses (dog): epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV, atropine 0.02-0.04 mg/kg IV, diazepam 0.5 mg/kg IV, and lidocaine 2 mg/kg IV for ventricular arrhythmias.

Vital sign monitoring: temperature, pulse, respiration (TPR), mucous membrane color, capillary refill time (<2 sec), and mentation; record at each assessment.

Fluid therapy: maintenance ~50-60 mL/kg/day in dogs and cats; replace deficits and ongoing losses; monitor for overhydration (serous nasal discharge, chemosis, weight gain).

Nutrition: calculate resting energy requirement (RER = 70 x BWkg^0.75); ill or anorexic patients may need assisted feeding (syringe, feeding tube) and appetite stimulants.

Pain assessment: use species-specific tools (e.g., Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale for dogs, Feline Grimace Scale); treat with multimodal analgesia (opioid + NSAID + local block).

Wound care: clean with sterile saline, debride necrotic tissue, apply appropriate dressing (hydrocolloid, foam, or wet-to-dry), and protect from self-trauma with an E-collar.

Bandaging principles: apply distal to proximal, maintain even pressure, check for swelling or cool toes, and change when soiled or wet.

Isolation protocols: separate infectious patients (parvovirus, panleukopenia, ringworm); use dedicated equipment, gowns, gloves, and hand hygiene between patients.

Client education: explain medication administration, monitor for adverse effects, schedule recheck, and provide written discharge instructions.