OK Vet Tech flashcards

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

Bioavailability formula

F equals the area under the curve after oral administration divided by the area under the curve after intravenous administration, multiplied by 100; intravenous drugs are 100% bioavailable.

Loading dose

Loading dose equals volume of distribution multiplied by target plasma concentration, divided by bioavailability; it rapidly achieves therapeutic levels before maintenance dosing begins.

First-pass effect

Hepatic metabolism of an orally absorbed drug before it reaches systemic circulation; drugs with high first-pass metabolism, such as lidocaine and morphine, are given parenterally.

Cytochrome P450 inducers

Drugs such as phenobarbital and rifampin that increase hepatic enzyme activity, lowering plasma levels of co-administered drugs and potentially reducing efficacy.

Sterile gown boundaries

A surgical gown is sterile from chest to waist and from cuffs to elbows; the back, shoulders, and areas below the waist are considered non-sterile.

Surgical sponge count

Sponges, needles, and instruments are counted before incision, before closure, and before skin closure; any discrepancy is reported to the surgeon immediately.

Suture selection

Absorbable sutures such as polydioxanone are used for internal tissues; non-absorbable sutures such as nylon are used for skin, and monofilament sutures reduce infection risk.

Surgical skin prep

Clip hair, then scrub the incision site in concentric circles moving outward with chlorhexidine or iodine alternating with alcohol; never return to the center.

Adult dog dental formula

The adult dog has 42 permanent teeth: incisors 3/3, canines 1/1, premolars 4/4, and molars 2/3 per side.

Modified Triadan system

Tooth numbering where 100s are maxillary right, 200s maxillary left, 300s mandibular left, and 400s mandibular right; each quadrant starts at the central incisor.

Feline resorptive lesions

Odontoclastic resorptive lesions appear as defects at the cementoenamel junction; treatment is extraction or crown amputation with intentional root retention.

Periodontal disease staging

Stage 1 is gingivitis; Stage 2 is less than 25% attachment loss; Stage 3 is 25–50%; Stage 4 is greater than 50%, based on probing depth and attachment loss.

EDTA tube use

Lavender-top tubes contain EDTA and are used for hematology, including complete blood count and blood smear evaluation, because EDTA preserves cell morphology.

Order of draw

Blood culture, light blue citrate, red or gold serum, green heparin, lavender EDTA, then gray oxalate-fluoride tubes; following this order prevents additive cross-contamination.

PCV and total protein

Packed cell volume is measured after microhematocrit centrifugation; normal dog PCV is 37–55% and cat 30–45%, with total protein measured by refractometer.

PT versus aPTT

Prothrombin time evaluates the extrinsic pathway (factors II, V, VII, X); activated partial thromboplastin time evaluates the intrinsic pathway (factors VIII, IX, XI, XII).

Resting energy requirement

RER equals 70 multiplied by body weight in kilograms raised to the 0.75 power, in kilocalories per day; illness energy requirement is often 1.0–1.3 times RER.

Normal feline vital signs

Cats normally have a temperature of 38.0–39.2°C, heart rate of 140–220 beats per minute, and respiratory rate of 20–30 breaths per minute.

Body condition score

A 1–9 scale where 4–5 is ideal, 1–3 is underweight, and 6–9 is overweight; it is more reliable than body weight alone for nutritional assessment.

Maintenance fluid rate

Dogs and cats typically require approximately 2–3 mL/kg/hr for maintenance; deficits are replaced over 6–24 hours in addition to ongoing losses.

Minimum alveolar concentration

MAC is the anesthetic concentration at which 50% of patients do not respond to surgical stimulus; isoflurane MAC in dogs is approximately 1.3%.

End-tidal CO2 normal

Capnography normally shows end-tidal carbon dioxide of 35–45 mmHg; a sudden drop may indicate esophageal intubation, circuit disconnection, or cardiac arrest.

Reversal agents

Atipamezole reverses medetomidine and dexmedetomidine, naloxone reverses opioids, and flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines; doses are calculated by body weight.

Anesthetic machine leak test

Occlude the Y-piece, close the pop-off valve, and squeeze the reservoir bag; the bag should stay compressed, indicating no leak in the circuit.

CPR compression rate

Chest compressions are delivered at 100–120 per minute with a compression-to-ventilation ratio of 30:2, and rhythm is checked every 2 minutes.

Shock fluid bolus

Give isotonic crystalloid at 20 mL/kg for dogs or 10–15 mL/kg for cats over 15–20 minutes, then reassess perfusion before repeating the bolus.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus

Decompress the stomach with a tube or trocarization, treat shock with fluids, and prepare for surgery; decompression should not be delayed.

Heatstroke cooling

Cool with room-temperature water and fans, avoid ice water, and monitor for disseminated intravascular coagulation and hypoglycemia; target a temperature near 39.5°C.

Radiographic opacity order

From most radiolucent to most radiopaque: air, fat, soft tissue and fluid, bone, and metal; this order helps identify structures on a radiograph.

Ultrasound frequency

Higher-frequency transducers of 7.5–12 MHz give better resolution for superficial structures; lower frequencies of 2–5 MHz penetrate deeper tissues.

Barium contraindication

Barium sulfate is used for gastrointestinal contrast studies but is contraindicated when perforation is suspected because leakage causes severe peritonitis.

Glasgow pain scale

The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale for dogs and the Feline Grimace Scale for cats are validated tools that guide analgesic treatment decisions.

CRI calculation

Constant rate infusion rate in mL/hr equals dose in mg/kg/hr multiplied by body weight in kg, divided by drug concentration in mg/mL.

NSAID and steroid risk

Combining NSAIDs with corticosteroids increases the risk of gastrointestinal ulceration and renal injury, so the combination is avoided in veterinary patients.

Veterinary-client-patient relationship

A VCPR requires recent examination and knowledge of the animal by the veterinarian and is required before prescribing or dispensing medications.

Controlled substance log

Each entry records date, patient, drug, amount, and prescriber; discrepancies are investigated, and records are retained according to federal and state requirements.

Informed consent

Before procedures, the client is told the diagnosis, treatment options, risks, and costs; consent is documented in the medical record.

Medical record legal status

Medical records are legal documents; entries must be timely, legible, objective, and include consent, treatments, and client communication.