Cases in Fluid Therapy: What, When and How Much

Intravenous fluid therapy is undoubtedly one of the most important mainstays of treatment in both acute and chronic illness. organ health depends on adequate tissue oxygen delivery, which in turn depends on tissue perfusion.

The fluid armamentarium available to veterinary practitioners has evolved dramatically over the past decades to include a variety of crystalloid and colloid options. fluid selection and delivery depends on the patient’s hydration and perfusion status, as well as the electrolyte, acid-base and colloid osmotic pressure status. understanding the various fluid options within the context of the patient’s needs, is paramount to successful fluid therapy.

This talk will review crystalloid fluids (isotonic, hypertonic, hypotonic) as well as colloids (synthetic colloids, plasma, human serum albumin) and discuss the indications for their use and their correct administration in a variety of clinical situations.