Constant rate infusions (CRIs) are used to manage a wide variety of conditions in veterinary medicine. Their use is especially beneficial in drugs with a short half-life.
By removing the need for frequent redosing, a CRI makes drug administration easier and less prone to error.
Even drugs with long half-lives, however, may be delivered via CRI to maximize clinical benefits while minimizing the risk of side effects.
Topics: Calculations, Constant Rate Infusions, Small Animals
Intravenous fluids are used to treat a number of different conditions, including shock, hypovolemia, and dehydration. In general small animal practice, however, one of the most common use of IV fluids is to treat dehydration or ongoing fluid losses in a hospitalized patient.
Providing optimal fluid therapy requires careful selection of fluid type, as well as determining an appropriate fluid rate. Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the risks that can accompany IV fluid therapy, so that you can minimize the likelihood of complications and detect complications promptly if they do occur.
Topics: Vet Student, Fluid Therapy
As a new graduate, you will eventually receive an emergency visit from a panicked client who is convinced that their geriatric dog has had a stroke.
You’ll rush into the exam room and be faced with an older dog with a head tilt, nystagmus, and trouble standing without falling to one side. The dog may even be rolling across the exam room floor.
Topics: Idiopathic Vestibular Disease
It’s the beginning of the semester and your financial aid money has (hopefully!) been deposited into your bank account. Now you need to figure out how to make that money last through the end of the semester, until you receive your next financial aid deposit or start a job.
If you’re like many people, receiving large sums of money on an infrequent basis makes budgeting a bit challenging. How do you avoid overspending at the beginning of the semester? How do you ensure that you’ll have enough money to get through the entire semester?
Topics: Veterinary School, Financial Aid, Vet School
As a vet student, and eventually as a veterinarian, you will spend a significant amount of time interacting with people from different generations. Intergenerational conflicts may arise in interactions with your classmates or professors, in dealing with your employer or coworkers at your first job, and in client interactions.
No matter the context, being aware of generational differences in communication can help improve your conversations with colleagues and clients.
Topics: Communication
