VTNE flashcards

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

MDR1 ivermectin toxicity

Collies with the ABCB1 (MDR1) mutation lack P-glycoprotein efflux at the blood-brain barrier, so standard ivermectin doses can cause tremors, ataxia, mydriasis, coma, and death.

Drug volume calculation

Volume to administer equals the dose in milligrams divided by the drug concentration in mg/mL; always confirm the dose using body weight in kilograms before drawing up the syringe.

Acetaminophen toxicity in cats

Cats glucuronidate poorly, so acetaminophen causes methemoglobinemia and Heinz body anemia; signs include cyanosis, facial edema, and dyspnea. It is never dispensed to cats.

Aminoglycoside toxicity

Gentamicin and amikacin concentrate in the renal cortex and damage the kidney and cochlea; avoid them in dehydrated or azotemic patients, and once-daily dosing lowers the risk.

Metzenbaum scissors use

Metzenbaum scissors have long shanks and short, delicate blades for sharp dissection of fine tissue; Mayo scissors have heavier blades and are used for dense fascia and tough tissue.

Standard autoclave cycle

Gravity-displacement steam sterilization typically runs at 121°C (250°F) and 15 psi for 15 to 30 minutes; flash cycles use about 132°C for a few minutes on unwrapped items.

USP suture size numbering

In USP sizing, more zeros mean a smaller strand: 3-0 is thinner than 0, and 0 is thinner than 2. Choose the smallest size that securely holds the tissue.

Penrose versus active drain

A Penrose drain is passive and open, relying on wound pressure to move fluid; a Jackson-Pratt drain is active and closed, using suction with a lower risk of ascending infection.

Permanent dog dental formula

The adult dog has 42 permanent teeth: per side, incisors 3/3, canines 1/1, premolars 4/4, and molars 2/3, for both the maxillary and mandibular arcades.

Triadan tooth numbering

The Triadan system assigns quadrants: 100 and 200 are maxillary right and left, 300 and 400 mandibular. The last digit gives tooth position, so 104 is the upper canine.

Periodontal disease staging

Stages are based on attachment loss: stage 1 up to 25%, stage 2 from 25 to 50%, stage 3 from 50 to 75%, and stage 4 beyond 75% with furcation or mobility.

EDTA tube use

Lavender EDTA tubes chelate calcium and are used for hematology such as the CBC and blood smears; serum separator or heparin tubes are used for most chemistry panels.

Platelet estimate from smear

At 1000x oil immersion, each platelet per field averages roughly 15,000 platelets/µL, so about eight to ten per field suggests an adequate count of 150,000 to 200,000/µL.

Zinc sulfate fecal flotation

Zinc sulfate solution at specific gravity near 1.18 floats most nematode eggs and protozoal cysts and is preferred for Giardia; centrifugation recovers more organisms than passive standing.

Sodium fluoride tube

Gray-top sodium fluoride tubes block glycolysis and preserve glucose, so they are used when delay before plasma separation would otherwise falsely lower the measured blood glucose.

Normal feline temperature

Rectal temperature in cats is normally about 100.5 to 102.5°F (38.1 to 39.2°C); values below 99°F suggest hypothermia and above 103°F suggest fever.

Resting energy requirement formula

RER in kilocalories per day equals 70 times body weight in kilograms raised to the 0.75 power; multiply by an illness factor of about 1.2 to 1.4 for most hospitalized patients.

Fluid deficit calculation

Deficit in milliliters equals the dehydration percent as a decimal times body weight in kilograms times 1000; add maintenance near 60 mL/kg/day and ongoing losses to set the rate.

Capillary refill time

Digital pressure on the gingiva blanches it, and color should return within about one to two seconds; a prolonged refill time suggests poor perfusion and shock.

End-tidal CO2 monitoring

Capnography showing end-tidal CO2 of 35 to 45 mmHg confirms tracheal tube placement and adequate ventilation; a flat waveform indicates esophageal intubation or cardiac arrest.

Lidocaine maximum dose

Lidocaine 2% contains 20 mg/mL; the maximum recommended dog dose is about 4 to 6 mg/kg. Cats are more sensitive, so reduce or avoid intravenous lidocaine in them.

Atipamezole reversal

Atipamezole is an alpha-2 antagonist that reverses dexmedetomidine and medetomidine; it is given intramuscularly at roughly the same volume as the alpha-2 agonist used.

Isoflurane MAC in dogs

The minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs is about 1.3 to 1.5%; MAC is the concentration at which half of patients do not respond to a noxious stimulus.

Crystalloid bolus for shock

For hypovolemic shock, give about 20 mL/kg of a balanced crystalloid in dogs or 10 to 15 mL/kg in cats, then reassess perfusion before repeating the bolus.

Xylitol toxicity

Xylitol triggers massive insulin release in dogs, causing hypoglycemia within 30 to 60 minutes and later hepatic necrosis; treatment includes glucose support and liver protectants.

Lily toxicity in cats

Any part of Lilium or Hemerocallis species, including pollen and vase water, causes acute kidney injury in cats; decontaminate and begin fluid diuresis immediately.

RECOVER CPR compression rate

Current veterinary CPR guidelines recommend chest compressions at 100 to 120 per minute with a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio and pauses no longer than 10 seconds.

Multimodal analgesia

Combining drugs that act at different points in the pain pathway, such as an NSAID plus an opioid plus a local block, improves relief while allowing lower doses of each agent.

Buprenorphine in cats

Buprenorphine is a partial mu agonist given at about 0.01 to 0.02 mg/kg that can be absorbed transmucosally in cats; its long duration suits moderate pain.

Feline Grimace Scale

A validated pain scoring tool that rates ear position, orbital tightening, muzzle tension, whisker position, and head position to detect pain in cats that hide discomfort.

SOAP medical record format

SOAP stands for Subjective history, Objective examination and laboratory findings, Assessment diagnosis or differentials, and Plan for treatment and follow-up; it standardizes the legal medical record.

Valid VCPR requirement

A veterinarian-client-patient relationship requires that the veterinarian has examined the animal and is available for follow-up; it must exist before prescribing or dispensing most drugs.