Community Animal Hospital - Veterinarian In Hazelwood, MO USA :: Importance of IV fluid administration

Posted on 2011-12-09 11:58:17

Did you ever wonder why you were put on IV fluids through an IV catheter whenever you were anesthesized for a surgical or medical procedure? It is considered the standard of care for human patients for the following reasons:

1. The patient has been witheld from food and water for the last 12 hours to prevent vomitting while under anesthesia, and they are therefore dehydrated to some degree.

2. The IV fluids allow the anesthesiologist to administer drugs to the patient easily as the need arises, which is especially critical in the face of any medical emergency that may occur.

3. The IV fluids allow the patient's blood pressure to be maintained at a steady level even in the face of fluid losses pertinent to the procedure (i.e. blood loss, loss of abdominal fluid, etc); which in turn protects the liver and kidneys from damage due to poor perfusion, as well as maintaining bloodflow and oxygen delivery to the brain.

4. The IV fluids allow the patient to recover faster from anesthesia and return to an awake and fully functional status. This greatly reduces stress and adds to the patient's well being.

5. The patient is well hydrated post-op and is much more likely to return to a normal appetite and elimination schedule than the patient who does not have fluid support.

Now that you know these important benefits to having fluid therapy during any medical or surgical procedure involving sedation or anesthesia, you may ask yourself why these benefits wouldn't also apply to pets. The answer is that fluid therapy is just as important to the anesthetized pet as it is to the anesthetized human patient. It is for this reason that we offer fluid therapy for our patients during surgical, dental or medical procedures requiring anesthesia. This important therapy does not add significantly to the cost of procedures, and with our "pay as you go" program you can always plan ahead and ensure that your pet receives the best medical care without "breaking the bank." Please feel free to contact Dr. Barbara Eichler and she will be happy to discuss any questions you may have about the standard of care offered at Community Animal Hospital, and the many options you have as a pet owner.

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