Fluid therapy (contd.)

FLUID THERAPY  
  • To calculate the fluid for replacement one must calculate the degree of dehydration.

Degree of dehydration

Clinical signs

4%  

history of fluid loss, leathery skin, mucous membrane still moist and evidence of thirst

6%

skin still leathery, when lifted the skin will peak and return to normal slowly, hair coat dull,mucous membrane dry but the tongue still moist

8%

skin will show lack of pliability and elasticity, the skin loses turgor (when lifted will peak and stay, mucous membrane and tongue dry, eyeballs will be soft and sunken.

12%

Signs of circulatory collapse

15%

Symptoms of Acute shock

Fluid volume to replace

  • The volume of fluid to replace loss of fluid is calculate dby the body weight multiplied by degree of dehydration.
  • For eg., a dog weighing 20 kg with 6% dehydration is given 20 kg x 0.06 - 1200 ml or 1.2 liters.
  • This is apart from the maintenance requirement of 20 x 65 = 1300 ml.
Last modified: Wednesday, 25 April 2012, 12:27 PM