MI Vet Tech key terms

The study of how a drug moves through the body over time, covering absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. It explains why dose, route, and timing change drug effects and helps technicians anticipate onset and duration.

The time required for the concentration of a drug in the body to decrease by half. It guides dosing intervals and tells you roughly how long a drug's effect or withdrawal period will last.

The fraction of an administered dose that reaches systemic circulation unchanged. Intravenous drugs are essentially 100 percent bioavailable, while oral drugs may be reduced by incomplete absorption or liver metabolism.

Metabolism of an orally absorbed drug by the liver before it reaches general circulation, which lowers the amount available to tissues. It explains why some oral doses must be much larger than intravenous doses.

The ratio between a drug's toxic dose and its effective dose. A narrow index means small dosing errors can cause harm, so those drugs demand careful calculation and close patient monitoring.

The condition in which drug intake and elimination balance so blood levels remain relatively constant. It is generally reached after about four to five half-lives of consistent dosing.

Any harmful or unintended response to a drug given at a normal dose, ranging from vomiting to organ damage. Technicians record and report these events so the veterinarian can adjust treatment.

The legally required period after the last dose of a veterinary drug before an animal or its products may enter the food chain. Violating it leaves illegal residues and is a regulatory offense.

A running record of every receipt, use, and waste of a scheduled drug, kept in a locked area with restricted access. Accurate entries, including witness signatures for waste, are required by federal and state law.

The professional relationship among veterinarian, client, and patient that must exist before treatment or prescriptions are provided. It generally requires recent knowledge of the animal and availability for follow-up care.

The client's voluntary agreement to a procedure or treatment after being told the purpose, risks, alternatives, and expected costs. Documenting it in the medical record protects the patient and the practice.

The legal, chronological account of a patient's care, including history, findings, treatments, drugs, and communications. Entries must be accurate, dated, and permanent because courts and regulators may review them.

Practices that prevent contamination of wounds, surgical sites, and sterile supplies by microorganisms. It includes hand hygiene, sterile gloves and drapes, and keeping sterile fields dry and in view.

A timed, systematic washing of hands and forearms with an antimicrobial agent before surgery. The goal is to reduce resident and transient skin microbes to a minimum before donning sterile attire.

The area of a drape or package whose contents are free of microorganisms and may be touched only by sterile items or gloved hands. Anything that touches an unsterile surface is considered contaminated.

Continuous assessment of an anesthetized patient's depth, circulation, oxygenation, and ventilation using observation, monitors, and reflexes. Early recognition of trends lets the team intervene before a crisis develops.

The stage of central nervous system depression produced by an anesthetic, judged by reflexes, muscle tone, eye position, and respiratory pattern. It must be deep enough for the procedure but not so deep that circulation fails.

Measurement of carbon dioxide in exhaled gas, displayed as a waveform. It confirms endotracheal tube placement, reflects ventilation, and can signal low blood flow or equipment problems.

Noninvasive estimate of arterial oxygen saturation using light absorption through tissue. It detects hypoxemia but can be inaccurate with poor perfusion, motion, or dark pigmentation.

Inflammation and destruction of the tissues supporting the teeth, driven by plaque bacteria. It is the most common dental problem in dogs and cats and progresses from gingivitis to irreversible attachment loss.

Professional cleaning of the teeth above and below the gumline under anesthesia, including scaling, polishing, and charting. It removes plaque and calculus that home care cannot reach.

Intraoral imaging of teeth and surrounding bone to find disease hidden below the gumline. It is essential before extraction and for detecting root fractures, resorptive lesions, and retained roots.

A panel measuring red cells, white cells, and platelets, often including indices and a differential. It helps identify anemia, infection, inflammation, and clotting concerns before procedures or treatment.

A group of tests measuring enzymes, electrolytes, proteins, and metabolites in serum to assess organ function. Results guide anesthesia risk assessment, diagnosis, and monitoring of treatment response.

Physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine to evaluate the urinary tract and systemic health. Findings such as crystals, casts, or protein help localize disease and guide further testing.

Microscopic review of a stained blood film to assess cell shape, size, and distribution. It confirms automated counts and can reveal parasites, toxic changes, or platelet clumping that machines miss.

Rapid sorting of patients by urgency so life-threatening problems are treated first. It uses brief assessments of airway, breathing, circulation, and mental status rather than arrival order.

Rapid, accurate dose computation for critical patients, often using body weight in kilograms and a known concentration. Double-checking and clear labeling reduce the risk of fatal errors under pressure.

Administration of balanced fluids to restore circulating volume, correct dehydration, and maintain perfusion. Rate, type, and route are chosen from the patient's weight, losses, and cardiovascular status.

Systematic evaluation of an animal's comfort using behavior, posture, facial expression, and response to handling. Scoring tools help the team give analgesics appropriately and judge their effect.

Core measurements such as temperature, pulse, respiration, and mucous membrane color that reflect physiologic status. Serial values reveal trends that a single reading may hide.

Evaluation of body condition, muscle mass, diet history, and disease factors to plan feeding. Appropriate nutrition supports healing, immune function, and recovery in hospitalized patients.

Placing the patient in a precise, standardized stance so anatomy is projected accurately on the image. Correct positioning prevents distortion and repeat exposures that add radiation dose.

Practices that limit exposure of staff and patients to ionizing radiation, including shielding, distance, and collimation. The principles are time, distance, and shielding, with personnel dosimeters monitoring cumulative dose.

The difference in density between structures on an image, which may be natural or produced by a contrast medium. Contrast studies outline hollow organs and vessels that plain films cannot show clearly.

The body's tendency to keep internal conditions such as temperature, pH, and blood glucose within narrow limits. Understanding it explains why illness produces compensatory changes in heart rate, respiration, and hydration.

Techniques that minimize fear and force during restraint by reading body language and using gentle, species-appropriate methods. They improve safety for staff and reduce injury and stress for patients.

Physical or chemical means of limiting an animal's movement for examination or procedures. The least restrictive effective method is preferred, with attention to the animal's comfort and the handler's safety.

Policies and procedures that prevent transmission of infectious agents within a hospital, including cleaning, disinfection, isolation, and hand hygiene. It protects patients, staff, and clients from nosocomial spread.