Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine: A Color Handbook (Veterinary Color Handbook Series)

Emergency and critical care medicine is one of the fastest growing fields of veterinary practice. Virtually every life-threatening disease can present for emergency evaluation, requiring knowledge of internal medicine, neurology, cardiology, oncology, anesthesia, and much more. Rapid and effective application of this knowledge can mean the difference between life and death for the animal. Critical care requires the recognition of subtle changes in the clinical course of animals, and the ability to take corrective action before severe systemic disease becomes irreversible. Clinical decisions regarding seemingly small items, such as fluid therapy, antibiotics, or analgesics, can have a profound impact on patient outcome. This book focuses on management of the more common emergency and critical care conditions encountered in clinical practice, collated in a concise manual. There are chapters on emergencies affecting each body system, on toxicology and other environmental causes, and on critical care techniques ranging from patient monitoring, anesthesia and analgesia to fluid therapy, transfusion medicine and nutritional support, plus a chapter describing clinical skills and procedures. The text is illustrated by top-quality color photos, imaging and diagrams, and key information is highlighted in tabular form. The authors combine experience in teaching and in clinical practice, and provide a ready resource for all those actively engaged in the field: practitioners and trainees, technicians, and nurses.