QUESTIONS

1. What is the chief objective of fluid therapy?
2. List signs of dehydration and shock.
3. What is hypovolaemic shock?
4. What are the 2 main sources of body water?
5. Within what period of time should existing fluid deficits be replaced?
6. What are inevitable or insensible water losses?
7. List routes for inevitable fluid losses.
8. List routes for sensible fluid losses.
9. Approximately how much water loss occurs in terms of body weight over 24 hours?
10. What type of blood sample is required for an acid-base balance estimate?
11. What 3 parameters are measured when estimating acid-base balance?
12. What are the normal ranges of urine specific gravity in a cat and dog?
13. How can the specific gravity of urine be a useful measurement in the assessment of dehydration?
14. Define dehydration.
15. What are the 4 main causes of primary water depletion?
16. Mixed water and electrolyte depletion is more common. What may give rise to this condition?
17. What is the most common electrolyte lost and why?
18. What is the medical term used to describe a deficiency of blood sodium?
19. What might possible causes of hyponatraemia be?
20. Hypernatraemia describes high blood sodium; what possible causes can you list?
21. What is the medical term for potassium depletion?
22. In what cat breed may hypokalaemia be congenital?
23. List possible causes of hypokalaemia.
24. Hyperkalaemia describes high blood potassium; what may give rise to this condition?
25. A client telephones the surgery; the symptoms described lead you to believe that his cat may be suffering from dehydration. What questions might you ask in order to assess the seriousness of the situation?
26. What percentage dehydration is usually fatal?
27. How is capillary refill time (CRT) assessed?
28. What laboratory tests may be useful in the assessment of dehydration?
29. What dog breed is predisposed to a high PCV?
30. What clinical measurements may be made to monitor the progress of a patient undergoing fluid therapy?
31. What is the normal urine output of an animal per hour?
32. How is central venous pressure (CVP) measured, and what is the normal range?
33. What would a high CVP measurement be indicative of?
34. What should be monitored at least 3 times daily when a patient is undergoing fluid therapy?
35. How does pyrexia affect fluid requirements?
36. What is the shock dose fluid therapy rate?
37. A cat is on fluid therapy following an RTA. The veterinary surgeon asks you to monitor the cardiovascular system; what checks would you carry out?
38. In addition to monitoring the cardiovascular system, a patient on fluids also requires attention to the respiratory system. What regular checks are prudent?

Note: A Key Notes table - Monitoring The Dehydrated Patient - accompanies this module.