LO Vet Tech flashcards

40 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Cranial vs caudal

Cranial means toward the head; caudal means toward the tail. These directional terms describe position along the long axis of the body in quadrupeds.

Dorsal vs ventral

Dorsal refers to the back or spine side of the body; ventral refers to the belly side. They describe position relative to the vertebral column.

Dental formula adult dog

2 x (I3/3 C1/1 P4/4 M2/3) = 42 teeth. This counts incisors, canines, premolars, and molars on each side of the upper and lower jaw.

Ruminant stomach order

The four compartments are rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. The abomasum is the true glandular stomach; the first three are forestomach compartments.

Minimum restraint principle

Use the least restraint that safely completes the procedure. Excessive force increases stress and injury risk; chemical restraint is appropriate when manual restraint endangers patient or handler.

Elizabethan collar sizing

A cone is correctly sized when it extends just past the tip of the nose. This prevents licking or chewing of wounds and IV sites without obstructing vision.

Rabbit hindquarter support

Always support a rabbit's hindquarters during restraint. Rabbits have powerful hindlimbs and can fracture their own spine if they kick while unsupported.

Muzzle safety rule

A muzzle must never be left on an unattended animal. It prevents panting and vomiting, which can lead to overheating or aspiration.

DEA Schedule II drugs

Schedule II controlled substances such as morphine and fentanyl require separate locked storage, a DEA 222 order form, and no refills. Each dose must be logged.

NSAID contraindication

Never combine two NSAIDs or an NSAID with a corticosteroid. The combination increases the risk of gastrointestinal ulceration and renal injury.

Acetaminophen toxicity in cats

Cats lack sufficient glucuronidation and are highly sensitive to acetaminophen. Toxicity causes methemoglobinemia and Heinz body anemia; ibuprofen is also toxic to cats.

Dose volume calculation

Dose (mg/kg) x body weight (kg) = total mg. Divide total mg by drug concentration (mg/mL) to obtain the volume in milliliters to administer.

MAC definition

Minimum alveolar concentration is the alveolar concentration at which 50% of patients do not respond to a noxious stimulus. Hypothermia and hypotension lower MAC.

Anesthetic depth signs

Surgical plane is indicated by loss of palpebral reflex, loss of jaw tone, central eye position, and stable respiration. Return of swallowing indicates lightening.

SpO2 and ETCO2 targets

Normal SpO2 is above 95%, and end-tidal CO2 is 35-45 mmHg. Values outside these ranges indicate hypoxemia or hypoventilation requiring intervention.

Lidocaine cat caution

Cats are sensitive to lidocaine CNS toxicity. Use the lowest effective dose and avoid exceeding species-specific maximums; bupivacaine provides longer duration but greater cardiotoxicity risk.

Surgical hand scrub duration

Scrub hands and forearms with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine for at least 3-5 minutes. Then don a sterile gown and gloves before entering the sterile field.

Sterile field rule

Only sterile items may contact the sterile field. Non-sterile personnel must not reach over the field, and items below the table edge are considered contaminated.

Suture material choice

Absorbable sutures such as vicryl or PDS are used for internal tissues; non-absorbable sutures such as nylon are used for skin. Size is chosen based on tissue strength needs.

Wound classification

Wounds are classified as clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated, or dirty. Contaminated and dirty wounds may be left open or managed with delayed primary closure.

Periodontal disease staging

Stage 0 is gingivitis with no attachment loss; stage 1 is less than 25% loss; stage 2 is 25-50%; stage 3 is over 50%; stage 4 is advanced with tooth mobility.

Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions

FORLs are common painful tooth resorptions in cats. They appear as defects at the gingival margin and require extraction or restoration after radiographic confirmation.

Dental scaling sequence

Ultrasonic scaling removes supragingival calculus; hand curettes remove subgingival deposits. Polishing follows scaling to smooth enamel and reduce plaque retention.

Dental radiography technique

The bisecting angle technique is standard for intraoral dental radiographs. A full-mouth series detects root resorption, bone loss, and retained roots.

ALARA principle

ALARA means as low as reasonably achievable for radiation exposure. Use collimation, lead aprons, thyroid shields, and dosimeter badges to protect personnel.

Radiographic opacities

The five opacities from least to most dense are gas (black), fat, soft tissue/fluid, bone, and metal (white). Density order guides interpretation of radiographs.

Ultrasound limitations

Ultrasound does not penetrate bone or gas, limiting evaluation of the skeleton and lungs. It excels at real-time soft tissue imaging and guided aspirates.

Thoracic radiograph views

Standard thoracic series includes right lateral, left lateral, and ventrodorsal or dorsoventral views. Images are taken at peak inspiration to reduce atelectasis.

Blood tube types

EDTA (purple) is for hematology; heparin (green) and serum separator (red/gold) are for chemistry; citrate (blue) is for coagulation; oxalate/fluoride (gray) is for glucose.

PCV and TP reference

Normal PCV is 37-55% in dogs and 30-45% in cats. Plasma protein is measured by refractometer and helps assess hydration and protein loss.

Cystocentesis advantage

Cystocentesis collects urine directly from the bladder, avoiding contamination from the lower urinary tract. It is preferred for urine culture and sensitivity testing.

Gram stain interpretation

Gram-positive bacteria stain purple; Gram-negative bacteria stain pink. The stain guides initial antibiotic selection before culture and sensitivity results are available.

CPR compression rate

Perform chest compressions at 100-120 per minute, depressing the chest by one-third to one-half its depth. Minimize interruptions and use a 30:2 ratio with ventilations.

Xylitol toxicity

Xylitol ingestion causes profound hypoglycemia and can lead to hepatic failure in dogs. Treat with dextrose supplementation and monitor liver enzymes closely.

GDV stabilization

Gastric dilatation-volvulus is life-threatening. Stabilize with IV fluids, decompress the stomach by trocarization or tube, then perform surgery with gastropexy.

Heatstroke cooling

Cool a heatstroke patient with water and fans plus IV fluids, and monitor for DIC and renal failure. Avoid ice water immersion, which causes vasoconstriction and impairs cooling.

Resting energy requirement

RER = 70 x (body weight in kg)^0.75. This estimates daily calories at rest; illness factors adjust the value for hospitalized or recovering patients.

Capillary refill time

Normal CRT is under 2 seconds when pressing the gingival mucosa. Prolonged CRT suggests poor perfusion, dehydration, or shock and warrants further assessment.

Bandaging principle

Apply bandages distal to proximal with even pressure. Check for swelling or cool toes and change the bandage when soiled or wet to prevent complications.

Isolation protocol

Separate infectious patients such as parvovirus or ringworm cases. Use dedicated equipment, gowns, gloves, and hand hygiene between patients to prevent transmission.