Emergency Veterinary Care

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Emergency Veterinary Care

• LAT Chapter 12

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Introduction

• Laboratory animal technicians will bring the
  emergency situation to the attention of the
  veterinarian or supervisor.
• They are also the ones who, under the direction
  of the veterinarian, may carry out the emergency
  procedures.
• The basic steps for dealing with emergency
  situations should be mastered by laboratory
  animal technicians.

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Surgical Emergency Procedures

• Anesthetic Emergencies
• Cardiac or respiratory arrest gt open an airway
  to facilitate administration of oxygen.
• Rabbits and larger, this is often accomplished by
  inserting endotracheal tube into the trachea.
• Placement of an endotracheal tube intubation.
• Laryngoscope is a flat blade with a light on the
  end.
• The blade depresses the tongue and the light
  illuminates the posterior pharynx and the
  laryngeal opening.
• Antagonist - counteracts the effects of the
  anesthetic in the event of accidental overdosing
  or complications during the surgical procedure.
• Know which antagonist works best with anesthetic
  being used, and have antagonist available for
  emergency.

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Intubation 1 of 5
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Intubation 2 of 5
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Intubation 3 of 5
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Intubation 4 of 5
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Intubation 5 of 5
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Post-Surgical Complications

• Monitor closely for gt five days.
• includes body temperature, appetite, and
  urination and defecation.
• watch for bleeding, dehiscence, redness, swelling
  or discharge.
• observe for self-trauma, licking or chewing the
  wound or sutures.
• record observations in a log book or individual
  record.
• Shock is a life-threatening emergency.
• peripheral circulation fails either because of
  excessive fluid loss or loss of circulatory
  control.
• signs - pale gums, clammy or cold skin, lt bp,
  rapid weak pulse, decreased respiration,
  restless, anxious, dazed, or unconscious
• Treatment of shock varies with severity
• 1. Keep the patient quiet and warm (not hot).
• 2. Administer intravenous fluids.
• 3. Administer antibiotics.

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Shock
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Nonsurgical Emergencies

• Serious Illness
• Bacterial, viral, and parasitic disease can be
  life-threatening.
• Respiratory problem gt pneumonia overnight.
• Observant animal technicians can detect
  respiratory problems in their early stages and
  bring them to the attention of the facility
  veterinarian before they become more serious
  problems.
• Animal may be treated with antibiotics and
  supportive therapy, or may be euthanized.
• Seriously ill animals may require fluids and
  supplemental nutrition, heat, or oxygen.

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Check Heartbeat Respiration
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Dystocia

• Dystocia non-productive, painful labor
• Large pregnant animals, check at least twice
  daily near the end of gestation period.
• Once in labor, check as often and as quietly as
  possible.
• Have an idea of how long animal has been having
  contractions.
• Most animals deliver at night or early in the
  morning.
• Dystocia or uterine inertia treated with various
  contraction-stimulating drugs.
• Cesarean section performed if drug therapy
  contraindicated or ineffective.

Neonatal mini-pigs under a heat lamp
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Injuries from Fighting

• Separate combatants immediately.
• Cats, dogs, pigs and monkeys can inflict severe
  injuries and on anyone who attempts to intervene.
• Place physical barriers between combatants, or
  splash a bucket of cold water on them to end a
  severe fight.
• Injuries include internal injuries, lacerations,
  puncture wounds, torn ears, and broken or
  amputated limbs.
• Lacerations should be cleaned, damaged tissue
  excised (debrided), and the wound sutured.
• Puncture wounds probed to remove hair and dirt.
• Keep puncture wounds open for drainage,
  antibiotic therapy should be given at this time.
• Amputations require first aid to stop
  hemorrhaging, followed by debridement and
  suturing.

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Trapped Animals
A trapped muzzle?

• A common mechanical emergency, especially among
  dogs and monkeys, is a trapped paw.
• Rodent limbs or tails become trapped in a cage
  floor or feeder.
• Sometimes the application of some lubricant to
  the area is all that is necessary to free the
  animal.
• A large screwdriver or crowbar can often be used
  as a pry bar to aid releasing a trapped
  appendage.
• Cage bars may need to be cut in order to free an
  animal.
• Since most cages are made of heavy gauge
  stainless steel, a heavy duty bolt cutter may be
  required.
• Animal may be frightened or in pain and difficult
  to handle gt anesthetize in order to be released.

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Flooded Cages

• Due to automatic watering system problems or
  water bottles leak
• Guinea pigs have a tendency to play with their
  watering valves and stuff food into them gt valve
  leakage.
• Problem can be prevented by using cages that have
  flanges which direct water leakage out of the
  cage.
• If flooding occurs, it must be corrected before
  the cage fills and drowns the animals.
• Soaked animals should be dried, placed in dry
  bedding, and provided with supplemental heat
  until they regain a normal appearance.

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Poisonings

• Poisoning rarely occurs in an animal facility
  but could if animals were subjected to
  insecticide and disinfectant dips.
• Majority of poisoning cases occur in the
  receiving or quarantine areas of the facility,
  when newly arrived dogs and cats are dipped or
  treated for external parasites.
• For contact poisons, the first line of treatment
  is to flush the animal with water or give it a
  soap and water bath to remove as much of the
  poison as possible.
• Technicians should wear waterproof gloves during
  this procedure.

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The Emergency Cart

• Prepare emergency cart in anticipation of
  emergencies
• Have drugs, equipment, dosage lists and SOPs
  possibly needed.
• Check supplies and replace with new items to
  ensure that expired drugs, deteriorated tubing,
  syringes, or other materials dont interfere with
  emergency care.
• Cover container of stored equipment with a easily
  torn tape such as masking tape.
• Tape a place for initials along with date of most
  recent refilling.
• In an emergency, tape can be quickly and easily
  removed.
• For a complete list of the equipment, drugs, and
  supplies needed for an emergency cart see
  Fundamental Techniques in Veterinary Surgery,
  listed in the Additional Reading section below.

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The Emergency Cart
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Facility Emergency Plan

• For use during natural disasters such as floods,
  hurricanes, tornados and earthquakes
• A written SOP outlining
• responsibilities of each member of the animal
  facility staff
• location of flashlights, first-aid kits and other
  emergency equipment
• a designated meeting place for all personnel
• Review plan annually.

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Additional Reading

• 1. Kirk, R.W. and Bistner, S.I. Handbook of
  Veterinary Procedures and Emergency Treatment,
  6th Ed. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA, 1995.
• 2. Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and
  Distress in Laboratory Animals, National Research
  Council, National Academy Press, 1992.
• 3. Knecht, C.D. et al. Fundamental Techniques in
  Veterinary Surgery, 3rd Ed. W.B. Saunders,
  Philadelphia, PA, 1987.