Water, water everywhere: Fluid choices in the hospitalized patientFluid therapy is a crucial part of the treatment of patients in the emergency room and the critical care unit. Though it has great ability to help our patients, like any medical intervention, it has the potential to do harm as well. Having a greater understanding of the fluid balance within the body, the effect of different disease states on this fluid balance, and the fluid choices available for treating our patients is vital to maximizing patient benefit, while minimizing side effects of therapy. Read More
Synthetic colloids: A friend or foe?Synthetic colloids are a combination of water, electrolytes and large molecular weight molecules that contribute to the oncotic force (colloid osmotic pressure, COP) of the intravascular space. This post covers the pros and cons of their use. Read More
Stroke / infarctCerebrovascular accidents ("stroke") were once thought to be uncommon to rare in veterinary medicine, but the increasing availability of advanced imaging shows that not to be the case. This post reviews possible causes, diagnosis, and treatment of strokes in dogs and cats. Read More
Limiting dependence on transfusion for the critically-ill patientThis post reviews the pillars of patient blood management, including maximizing red cell mass, optimizing hemostasis, and techniques to recover active hemorrhage. Read More
Corneal ulceration in dogs and cats: Diagnosis and treatmentCorneal ulceration is one of the most common ophthalmic problems seen in our canine and feline patients. This post covers the causes and diagnosis of corneal ulceration in dogs and cat, as well as medical and surgical treatment. Read More
The incidentally discovered adrenal massWith improved imaging techniques, the number of adrenal masses detected in animals with problems unrelated to adrenal function is common. Read More
The latest on steroids and spinal cord injuryOne of the most common causes of spinal cord injury in dogs is intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH). This post updates the use of methylprednisolone and PEG in the treatment of spinal cord injury. Read More
Making the most of your ultrasound machineThis post describes how to manipulate user controls to obtain better ultrasound images in veterinary medicine. Read More
Update on acid suppressant therapyThis post describes the use and pros/cons of H2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors. Read More
