Principles of shock and fluid therapy in special species

Abstract

Increasing numbers of exotic animals are being kept as pets, and owners want to receive high-quality medical care for these pets. Treatment of hypovolemic shock and critical care monitoring in exotic pets are complicated by small patient size, physiological diversity, and lack of research and clinical data on their response to therapy. Despite these impediments, the same principles and techniques of monitoring used in domestic animals can be applied to the exotic patient. The goal of this article is to provide an in-depth presentation on the principles and pathophysiology of shock, types of fluids, monitoring techniques, and shock resuscitation methods for use in rabbits, ferrets, small mammals, and birds. An understanding by the veterinarian of the patient’s cardiovascular state and the characteristics of crystalloid and colloid fluids available is necessary for establishing a fluid therapy plan. Arterial blood pressure measurement is an important tool in the management of the critically ill pet. The message of clinical importance is that fixed fluid regimens (eg, Lactated Ringers), fixed volumes (eg, mL/kg) and rules of thumb are in most instances outdated, inappropriate and often times inadequate. Appropriate fluid therapy, combined with frequent patient evaluation and periodic blood pressure monitoring techniques, can produce astounding and at times miraculous results.