2024 VTNE Exam Prep- Critical Care Complete Questions & Answers (Solved) 100% Correct
- You have a small canine patient in cardiac arrest that needs emergency drugs. The animal
does not have venous access, and placing a venous catheter would be too difficult and take too long. What is the best way to get the drugs to this animal quickly?Intracardiac injection Subcutaneous injection Intramuscular injection Intraosseous catheter
Answer: Intraosseous catheter
An intraosseous catheter or spinal needle can easily be placed in the trochanteric fossa of the femur for vascular access. The marrow has a similar rate of absorption as venous catheters allowing for quick delivery of drugs and fluids.
Intracardiac injection presents high potential hazards such as inducing fibrillation and pneumothorax.
Subcutaneous injections are very slowly absorbed and would not be a good option for this patient.
Intramuscular injection would not be effective because of the length of time the drugs would require to reach circulation.
- A Yorkshire Terrier who has given birth 2 weeks ago presents with a history of tremoring.
She is febrile and not eating well. On her electrolyte panel which of the following would you expect to see?
Hypokalemia Hypomagnesemia Hyponatremia Hypocalcemia
Answer: Hypocalcemia
Eclampsia, also known as "milk fever" is caused by a low calcium level. It most often occurs around 3 weeks after whelping due to losing calcium in the milk and the inability of the body to keep up with demand. It is most common in small-breed dogs with larger litters. It is treated with calcium gluconate IV in an acute crisis and oral supplementation is then required.
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Milk fever is also seen more commonly in dairy cows that are close to calving. It typically causes a LOW temperature and often causes staggering and recumbency. It can also cause tremors and dilated pupils. It is also treated with injectable calcium. When cows are dry (not lactating), they should be kept on a LOW calcium diet so that calcium can be mobilized more rapidly from the bone when it is needed during calving and lactation.
- A 10-year old Chow Chow needs a whole blood transfusion due to anemia from chronic
renal failure. The patient has received multiple blood transfusions over the last 2 years. What blood tests is needed prior to initiating the transfusion?
Tick-titer Crossmatch Blood type Coagulation profile
Total protein
Answer: Crossmatch
Patients who have had multiple blood transfusions are more likely to have a reaction to subsequent blood product transfusions. In order to reduce the likelihood of a reaction, a major and minor crossmatch should be performed prior to administration. To know what donors would most likely be compatible, the patient's blood type could be determined. Dogs with the same blood type still require a crossmatch, especially if the dog has received prior transfusions.
- A very tiny kitten presents with severe dehydration and is hardly responsive to handling. You
are unable to place a peripheral IV catheter. Which of the following routes could be used as a fast or most efficient way of administering fluids and medications to such a small animal?
Subcutaneous Intraosseus Intraperitoneal
Orogastric tube
Answer: Intraosseus
Intraosseus fluid administration is delivery of fluid directly into the bone/bone mar- row. It can be very beneficial and life saving in a tiny animal with poor peripheral veins when a catheter cannot be placed.
Intraperitoneal means inside the abdominal cavity; this route has very slow absorp- tion. 2 / 4
Oral/orogastric absorption is very slow, especially in an animal that is obtunded; this may put the patient at an increased risk for aspiration.
Subcutaneous fluid administration could be used but may be poorly absorbed in a patient this dehydrated and is not the most efficient.
5. A butterfly catheter is most commonly used to:
Administer an IV injection Give tube feedings Give intraosseous fluids
Collect a urine sample
Answer: Administer an IV injection
- A 2-year old dachshund presents with acute urticaria and facial swelling. Which of the
following would be a most likely cause for this presentation: In- sect sting
While any of these choices may cause hives, the most common cause for an acute reaction such as this is an insect bite or sting. This patient should be assessed and treated for an allergic reaction, which most often includes administration of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and dexamethasone. Epinephrine may be used in cases of anaphylaxis when the patient is collapsed in a state of shock.
- During calving, the rupture of the umbilical cord before birth causes which of the
following?
Hypoxia in the calf
Hyperemia in the calf Septic peritonitis in the cow Fetal sepsis
Answer: Hypoxia in the calf
Hypoxia is inadequate tissue oxygenation. The umbilical cord supplies oxygen from the mother's blood to the calf, therefore, if the umbilical cord ruptures, the calf will not receive oxygen and it is a life threatening emergency. Hyperemia is the increase of blood flow to different tissues in the body. Sepsis is caused by infection and does not result from a ruptured umbilical cord. 3 / 4
- A Dachshund presents for back problems and the dog is ambulatory but very unsteady in
both hindlimbs. The doctor suspects an intervertebral disk protrusion that is affecting the spinal
cord. Regarding the gait, this dog has:
Vestibular syndrome Paralysis Paresis Plegia Hypermetria
Answer: Paresis
Paresis is partial loss or impaired movement; this is when motor is still present. A dog with paresis of both hindlimbs would have "paraparesis".
Paralysis and plegia are terms used to describe lack of any voluntary motor. Hypermetria is an exaggerated gait caused by cerebellar disease.Pets with vestibular syndrome often have an abnormal gait and will veer toward one side or the other and have difficulty standing, but this is not a lack of motor.
- Your clinic has decided to start harvesting blood from volunteer donors to administer to
patients. How long can whole blood units be stored in the refrigerator if properly collected?
45 days
- months
- year
35 days
21 days Answer: Whole blood units may be stored for 35 days if the unit is collected aseptically, stored appropriately and mixed daily.
- A dog with which condition should not have blood drawn from the jugular vein?
Hyperadrenocorticism Congestive heart failure
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