MA Vet Tech flashcards

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

Bioavailability

The fraction of an administered drug dose that reaches systemic circulation unchanged. Intravenous administration is 100% bioavailable by definition, while oral bioavailability may be reduced by incomplete absorption or first-pass hepatic metabolism.

Drug half-life

The time required for plasma drug concentration to decrease by half. It determines dosing interval and time to steady state, which is reached after approximately four to five half-lives.

Withdrawal time

The interval after the last drug dose before milk, meat, or eggs from a treated food animal may enter the human food supply. Extra-label use generally requires an extended withdrawal period.

Extra-label drug use

Use of an approved drug in a manner not described on its label, such as a different dose, species, or indication. In food animals it is restricted under AMDUCA and requires veterinary oversight.

Sterile field

The area of a surgical drape and gown considered free of microorganisms. Only sterile items may contact it, and a sterile gown is sterile only in front from chest to waist.

Surgical scrub

Antiseptic skin preparation using chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine with friction, alternating with alcohol or saline, working outward from the incision site to reduce skin flora before surgery.

Suture size notation

USP suture size is written with a dash, such as 3-0 or 4-0. Larger numbers after the dash indicate smaller suture diameter, so 4-0 is thinner than 3-0.

Absorbable suture

Suture material that loses tensile strength and is broken down by the body over time. Examples include polyglactin 910, poliglecaprone 25, and chromic gut.

Periodontal disease staging

A classification based on attachment loss and probing depth. Stage 1 is gingivitis without attachment loss, and stages 2 through 4 reflect progressively greater attachment and bone loss.

Odontoclastic resorptive lesion

A painful tooth lesion common in cats in which odontoclasts resorb tooth structure, often at the gingival margin. Radiographs are needed because lesions may be hidden below the gumline.

Dental formula adult dog

The adult dog has 42 permanent teeth: 12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars, and 10 molars. The adult cat has 30 permanent teeth.

EDTA tube use

A lavender-top tube containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, which chelates calcium to prevent clotting. It is the standard tube for hematology and the complete blood count.

Packed cell volume

The percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells, measured after centrifuging a microhematocrit tube. Reference ranges are roughly 37–55% in dogs and 30–45% in cats.

Urine specific gravity

A measure of urine concentration read by refractometer. Dogs typically range from 1.015 to 1.045 and cats from 1.035 to 1.060; values near 1.008–1.012 indicate isosthenuria.

Blood tube order of draw

The sequence for filling tubes to avoid additive carryover: blood culture, citrate, serum, heparin, EDTA, then fluoride oxalate. Citrate tubes must be filled to the marked line.

Capillary refill time

The time for color to return to the gingival mucosa after blanching with a finger. Normal is under about two seconds; prolongation suggests poor perfusion or shock.

Resting energy requirement

The daily calories needed by a resting animal, calculated as 70 times body weight in kilograms raised to the 0.75 power. Illness energy needs are often estimated as RER times 1.1 to 1.4.

Body condition score

A subjective assessment of fat cover over the ribs, spine, and pelvis, usually on a 1–9 or 1–5 scale. A score in the middle of the scale represents ideal condition.

Minimum alveolar concentration

The inhalant anesthetic concentration that prevents movement in 50% of patients exposed to a noxious stimulus. Lower MAC values indicate a more potent anesthetic agent.

End-tidal CO2

The carbon dioxide concentration measured at the end of exhalation by capnography. Normal values are approximately 35–45 mmHg and reflect ventilation during anesthesia.

Multimodal analgesia

Combining analgesic drugs with different mechanisms, such as opioids, NSAIDs, and local anesthetics, to improve pain control while reducing the dose and side effects of any single agent.

Anesthetic depth signs

Observable indicators such as jaw tone, palpebral reflex, eye position, and respiratory rate. Loss of jaw tone and central eye position suggest deeper anesthesia.

RECOVER CPR guidelines

Consensus recommendations for veterinary cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including chest compressions at 100–120 per minute, a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio for one rescuer, and early defibrillation.

Triage categories

A system that sorts patients by urgency: red for immediate life threat, yellow for urgent but stable, and green for non-urgent. Airway, breathing, and circulation guide the initial assessment.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus

A life-threatening emergency in which the stomach distends with gas and rotates. Treatment includes fluid therapy, gastric decompression, arrhythmia monitoring, and surgery.

ALARA principle

As low as reasonably achievable, a radiation safety principle. It is applied through shielding, collimation, maximizing distance from the beam, and minimizing exposure time.

Radiographic opacity

The degree to which a structure blocks x-rays. Gas appears black and radiolucent, soft tissue gray, bone white, and metal brightest white and radiopaque.

Vertebral heart score

A radiographic measurement of cardiac size obtained by summing the long and short axis of the heart in vertebral lengths on a lateral view. Values above about 10.5 suggest cardiomegaly in dogs.

Regenerative anemia

Anemia accompanied by increased red cell production, shown by reticulocytosis and polychromasia on a blood smear. Hemorrhage and hemolysis are common causes.

SDMA

Symmetric dimethylarginine, a biomarker that rises earlier than creatinine in chronic kidney disease. It is less affected by muscle mass and helps detect reduced glomerular filtration.

Veterinarian-client-patient relationship

A professional relationship required before prescribing or dispensing drugs. It generally requires the veterinarian to have examined the animal and to be available for follow-up care.

Informed consent

The owner's authorization for a procedure after being told the diagnosis, options, risks, benefits, costs, and alternatives. The discussion should be documented in the medical record.