NAVTA AVA cheat sheet

Directional terms: cranial = toward the head, caudal = toward the tail, dorsal = toward the spine, ventral = toward the belly, proximal = toward the body, distal = away from the body, palmar = underside of the front paw, plantar = underside of the rear paw.

Body planes: median (sagittal) plane divides the body into left and right; dorsal plane divides it into dorsal and ventral parts; transverse plane divides it into cranial and caudal parts.

Common prefixes: tachy- (fast), brady- (slow), dys- (difficult or painful), hyper- (above normal), hypo- (below normal), a-/an- (without), poly- (many), olig- (few), leuko- (white), erythro- (red), hepato- (liver), nephro- (kidney), osteo- (bone).

Common suffixes: -itis (inflammation), -ectomy (surgical removal), -otomy (incision into), -ostomy (surgically created opening), -plasty (repair), -megaly (enlargement), -penia (deficiency), -emia (blood condition), -uria (urine condition).

Permanent dental formula: dog = 2 × (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3) = 42 teeth; cat = 2 × (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/2, M 1/1) = 30 teeth.

Vertebral formula for dog and cat: 7 cervical, 13 thoracic, 7 lumbar, 3 fused sacral, and approximately 20 (dog) or 21 (cat) caudal vertebrae.

Lung lobation: the dog has 2 lobes on the left (cranial, caudal) and 4 on the right (cranial, middle, caudal, accessory); the cat has 3 on the left (cranial cranial, cranial caudal, caudal) and 4 on the right.

Ruminant forestomach order is rumen → reticulum → omasum → abomasum; the abomasum is the true glandular stomach, homologous to the monogastric stomach.

Normal adult reference values: rectal temperature 100.5–102.5 °F (38.1–39.2 °C) for dog and cat; heart rate 60–140 bpm in dogs (higher in small breeds and puppies), 140–220 bpm in cats; respiratory rate 10–30 breaths/min in dogs, 20–30 in cats.

Restraint decision rule: use the least restraint that keeps the patient and handler safe; if manual restraint would injure the patient or staff, stop and request a veterinarian's order for chemical restraint.

Muzzle contraindications: never muzzle a brachycephalic breed, a patient in respiratory distress, a vomiting patient, or one with oral trauma or a fractured jaw.

Feline options in escalating order: minimal scruff or head hold, towel wrap, commercial cat bag, thick gloves, then chemical restraint ordered by the veterinarian.

Cephalic venipuncture restraint: dog in sternal recumbency at the table edge, one arm cradling head and neck, the other around the thorax, with the vein occluded above the elbow.

Jugular venipuncture restraint: sternal or standing position, head extended forward and slightly up only - overextension compresses the trachea and compromises breathing.

Small dog carry: one hand under the chest behind the forelimbs and one supporting the hindquarters, holding the patient close to the handler's body and never by the scruff alone.

Rabbit handling: support the hindquarters at all times; a rabbit that kicks with unsupported rear legs can fracture its lumbar spine. Never lift by the ears or by the scruff alone.

Avian handling: use a light towel, control the head gently, and avoid pressure on the keel or restriction of abdominal movement; birds can die from stress or handling, so keep sessions short.

Safety rules: never leave a patient unattended on an examination table, and always close cage doors and latches before releasing a patient.

Vital sign order and values: temperature, pulse, respiration (TPR) plus mucous membrane color, capillary refill time, and hydration; CRT of 2 seconds or less is normal, longer indicates poor perfusion.

Pulse sites: femoral (medial thigh, high in the groin), dorsal pedal, and coccygeal arteries; count beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, or for 10 seconds and multiply by 6.

IV catheter site and gauge selection: cephalic vein (cranial forelimb) is most common; lateral saphenous for rear limb access, jugular for large-volume or central access. 22–24 G for cats and toy breeds, 18–20 G for medium and large dogs.

Fluid drip rate formula: gtt/min = (volume in mL × drop factor in gtt/mL) ÷ total minutes of infusion; confirm the drop factor printed on the administration set (commonly 10, 15, 20, or 60 gtt/mL).

Aseptic technique before venipuncture or catheter placement: clip the site, scrub with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine alternating with alcohol, and allow the site to dry before needle insertion.

Bandage checks every shift: look at the toes for swelling, coolness, discharge, or odor and confirm the patient can bear weight; a tight bandage compromises circulation and requires immediate veterinarian notification.

Oxygen delivery options in ascending order of tolerance: flow-by, face mask, oxygen cage or tent, nasal cannula; use the least stressful method that maintains oxygenation.

Anesthesia monitoring parameters: heart and respiratory rate, mucous membrane color, CRT, blood pressure, SpO2, end-tidal CO2, temperature, jaw tone, and palpebral reflex; keep the patient warm and position the airway clear during recovery.

Core conversions: 1 kg = 2.2 lb; 1 lb = 0.454 kg; 1 L = 1000 mL; 1 g = 1000 mg; 1 mg = 1000 mcg; 1 tsp = 5 mL; 1 oz = 30 mL; 1 tbsp = 15 mL.

Dose calculation: milligrams needed = dose (mg/kg) × body weight (kg); volume to draw up (mL) = milligrams needed ÷ drug concentration (mg/mL). Convert body weight from pounds to kilograms first.

Tube colors: lavender EDTA for hematology and CBC, red top (no additive) for serum chemistry, green heparin for plasma, light blue sodium citrate for coagulation panels, grey oxalate/fluoride for glucose.

Dangerous abbreviations to avoid: 'qd' and 'qod' (misread as qid), 'U' for units (misread as 0 or 4), 'MS' for morphine sulfate, and trailing zeros or missing leading zeros (write 0.5, never .5).

Controlled substance handling: store in a double-locked cabinet, log every dose and wastage with date, patient, and initials, perform periodic inventories, and follow federal and state recordkeeping requirements.

Insulin rules: refrigerate, never freeze, roll gently rather than shake, and match the syringe to the vial concentration (U-40 syringe with U-40 insulin, U-100 with U-100) to prevent dosing errors.

PCV/TP technique: fill a heparinized microhematocrit tube about three-quarters full, seal one end, centrifuge for about 5 minutes, and read the packed cell volume on the chart; typical ranges are dog PCV 37–55% and cat 30–45%, total protein roughly 6.0–7.5 g/dL.

Cytology stains differ by sample: Diff-Quik for skin and mass aspirates, mineral oil wet mount for ear swabs (saline destroys ear mites), and Wright's or Giemsa for blood smears read at the feathered edge.

Hand hygiene: soap and water for at least 20 seconds including between fingers and under nails; alcohol-based hand rub is acceptable when hands are not visibly soiled, and hands are washed before and after every patient contact.

PPE selection: gloves for any body fluid contact, gowns for splash risk, masks and eye protection for spray, splash, or aerosol procedures, and dedicated footwear or shoe covers in isolation areas.

Disinfectant matching rule: quaternary ammonium compounds do not reliably kill non-enveloped viruses such as parvovirus; use an accelerated hydrogen peroxide product or a 1:32 dilution of household bleach (about 1500 ppm) with roughly 10 minutes of contact time.

Cleaning sequence that must not be skipped: remove visible organic debris, wash with detergent, rinse, apply disinfectant for the labeled contact time, then allow surfaces to dry completely.

Steam sterilization standard: 121 °C (250 °F) at 15 psi for 15–20 minutes in a gravity displacement autoclave, verified with indicator strips or biological spore testing; glutaraldehyde is a cold chemical alternative for heat-sensitive equipment.

Radiation safety: wear a lead apron, thyroid shield, and gloves, maximize distance and minimize time, and wear a personal dosimeter badge at collar level outside the apron - never share or remove badges from the facility.

Zoonotic risk list: rabies, ringworm, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, salmonellosis, giardiasis, cat scratch disease, and psittacosis; pregnant, immunocompromised, and pediatric clients require explicit counseling.

Sharps and waste: place needles and scalpel blades in rigid puncture-resistant sharps containers without recapping by hand, and never overfill a container past the fill line.

Scope-of-practice rule for the veterinary assistant: collect history and explain previously given instructions, but diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plans, and prescription decisions belong to the veterinarian.

A veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) requires the veterinarian to have examined the animal and assumed responsibility for its care; without a current VCPR, treatment and dispensing generally cannot proceed.

Documentation rule: record every client contact, observation, drug administered, and instruction given with date, time, and initials; the medical record is a legal document that may be reviewed in court or by regulators.

Informed consent: present an itemized estimate before procedures, obtain a signed treatment authorization, and document any declined services with the client's initials rather than a verbal agreement alone.

Communication technique: open-ended questions elicit better history than yes/no questions, reflective listening confirms understanding, and the teach-back method (client restates instructions) verifies comprehension of home care.

Low-stress client interactions: avoid medical jargon, use the patient's name, sit at eye level, and provide written discharge instructions to reinforce verbal explanations.

Grief and euthanasia support: allow silence, avoid minimizing statements such as 'it was just a pet,' review quality-of-life options without pressure, and offer aftercare choices and memorial items.

Telephone triage intake: record the caller's name, phone number, patient name and species, the nature of the problem, and current medications, then route urgent signs such as respiratory distress, collapse, or uncontrolled bleeding to the veterinarian immediately.