The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice
-
Vet. Clin. North Am. Food Anim. Pract. · Jul 2009
Chemical restraint, anesthesia, and analgesia for camelids.
This article covers techniques used to provide chemical restraint, injectable or inhalation anesthesia, and analgesia in camelid patients. Understanding the information presented improves safety and efficacy when using the techniques presented in the article. This article focuses primarily on llama and alpaca patients. Of the techniques that have been used on camels, the dosing protocols provided have proven effective.
-
The estimation of fluid deficits in camelids is challenging. However, early recognition and treatment of shock and hypovolemia is instrumental to improve morbidity and mortality of critically ill camelids. ⋯ Nonetheless, a protocol of conservative fluid management is often indicated in the treatment of camelids with pulmonary inflammation, to counteract edema formation. The early recognition of lung dysfunction is often based on advanced diagnostic techniques, including arterial blood gas analysis, diagnostic imaging, and noninvasive pulmonary function testing.
-
Vet. Clin. North Am. Food Anim. Pract. · Mar 2009
ReviewTreatment of calf diarrhea: intravenous fluid therapy.
Severely dehydrated calves that are unable to suckle need intravenous fluids for effective resuscitation. Intravenous fluid therapy is also indicated for sick calves without obvious dehydration, such as calves with strong ion acidosis, ruminal acidosis (rumen drinkers), severe pneumonia, septicemia, or hypothermia. This article presents an updated overview of intravenous fluid therapy for calves, recent insights into the development of metabolic acidosis in young calves resulting from accumulation of D-lactate, a simplified algorithm for intravenous fluid therapy, and a procedure for ear vein catheterization under field conditions.
-
Limb fractures are common in farm animals, are most commonly found in young stock, and often occur subsequent to trauma during dystocia or handling. Cattle are excellent patients for treatment of orthopedic injuries because they spend a majority of time lying down, have a tremendous potential for bone healing, are more resistant than other animals to contralateral limb breakdown and stress laminitis, and usually do not resist having orthopedic devices on their limbs. This article describes management of fractures, especially for cattle, in field settings; explains how the principles of external skeletal fixation are adapted for cattle; discusses the application of external skeletal fixation to individual bones, and reviews potential complications in the use of external skeletal fixation.