Practical Approach to the Small Animal Emergency Patient

A concise, accessible guide to clinical decision making in veterinary emergency medicine focused on the thought process in selecting diagnostic and treatment options.

Practical Approach to the Small Animal Emergency Patient helps veterinarians identify the critical questions to determine diagnostic and therapeutic priorities when facing an emergency situation. The book reviews important decision points for common emergencies and emphasizes how to think, not just what to do.

The first section of the book covers general principles of emergency medicine topics such as triage, sedation, and lab work selection, while the latter part of the book applies these principles to common emergency presentations. Rather than providing an exhaustive review of pathophysiology, the book uses current research and decision-making tools to equip clinicians with the questions and tools necessary to decide whether a certain intervention is appropriate. Each chapter also includes a section on client communication to assist new clinicians in discussing diagnostic testing, treatment approaches, and prognosis with family members.

Written by a board-certified criticalist and practising veterinarian in emergency medicine, Practical Approach to the Small Animal Emergency Patient includes information on:

• Fluid therapy, covering fluid requirements, fluid selection, patients with heart murmurs, and correcting electrolyte abnormalities
• Sedation and analgesia, covering appropriate use and risks of inadequate or inappropriate sedation
• Diabetic emergencies, including diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycaemic nonketotic syndrome, and hypoglycaemia
• Treatment for car accidents, penetrating trauma, and dog bite wounds
• Gastrointestinal distress, covering surgical versus non-surgical causes, the need for imaging, and differences between inpatient and outpatient assessment

Practical Approach to the Small Animal Emergency Patient is an essential guide for clinicians, particularly new graduates and emergency doctors, seeking to gain confidence and improve their decision-making in emergency situations.