Clinical techniques in small animal practice
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Fractures of the radius and ulna are commonly encountered in the small animal population. Diaphyseal fractures are the most common location and are often repaired with the use of external fixators or a bone plate. Select patients, such as young large breed dogs, may be managed with external coaptation. Extremely proximal and distal fractures require special consideration, especially if articular involvement is present.
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Complications are a reality of fracture repair. Many can be avoided or minimized by being aware of their pathophysiology and predisposing factors. ⋯ Consideration of these complications should factor into presurgical patient evaluation as well as postoperative management. This discussion focuses on how to avoid, recognize, and treat these complications.
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Clin Tech Small Anim Pract · May 2004
ReviewTransfusion medicine in veterinary emergency and critical care medicine.
Transfusion medicine is a vital part of veterinary emergency and critical care medicine. The goals of this article are to review blood banking and the transfusion principles surrounding care of the critically ill or injured small animal, to highlight the differences in emergency/critical care transfusions compared with standard transfusion medicine, and to discuss traumatic blood loss and sepsis as unique entities in emergency and critical medicine.
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Clin Tech Small Anim Pract · Feb 2004
ReviewNutritional requirements of the critically ill patient.
The presence or development of malnutrition during critical illness has been unequivocally associated with increased morbidity and mortality in people. Recognition that malnutrition may similarly affect veterinary patients emphasizes the need to properly address the nutritional requirements of hospitalized dogs and cats. Because of a lack in veterinary studies evaluating the nutritional requirements of critically ill small animals, current recommendations for nutritional support of veterinary patients are based largely on sound clinical judgment and the best information available, including data from experimental animal models and human studies. ⋯ The first step of nutritional support is to identify patients most likely to benefit from nutritional intervention. Careful assessment of the patient and appraisal of its nutritional needs provide the basis for a nutritional plan, which includes choosing the optimal route of nutritional support, determining the number of calories to provide, and determining the composition of the diet. Ultimately, the success of the nutritional management of critically ill dogs and cats will depend on close monitoring and frequent reassessment.