Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
PART 1 Practical Approaches for the Emergent Patient 1
1 The Triage Exam 3
2 Rational Lab Work Selection and "Diagnostic Stewardship" 11
3 Selecting Appropriate Imaging Studies 17
4 Intravenous Fluid Therapy: Yes, No, How Much, How Fast 23
5 Analgesia and Sedation 33
6 Use of Antibiotics in the Emergent Patient 43
7 Decision-making for Hospital Admission 53
PART 2 Clinical Reasoning for Common Diseases and Presentations 57
8 Approach to the "Down Dog" 59
9 Diabetic Emergencies 65
10 Trauma 79
11 Spontaneous Hemoabdomen 109
12 Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus 119
13 The Blocked Cat 125
14 Approach to Vomiting and Diarrhea 135
15 Dyspnea 147
16 Neurologic Emergencies 163
17 Immune-mediated Hemolytic Anemia and Thrombocytopenia 179
18 Approach to the Azotemic Pet 193
19 Managing the Chronic Disease Patient 205
20 Toxin Ingestion Management 213
21 Client Communication and Palliative Care 221
22 Cardiac Emergencies 227
23 Reproductive Emergencies 245
24 Cardiopulmonary-cerebral Resuscitation 255
Index 265