Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care

I can strongly recommend this book to everyone involved in small animal emergencies. (Veterinary Times, 9 April 2012) "This is a great book for veterinarians in general practice as well as those in training. No other book (to my knowledge) in veterinary medicine addresses medical errors and communication issues from the point of view of a specialist. This book is extremely useful and provides great learning material based on past experiences in order to prevent future errors." (Doody's, 29 July 2011) "Worth reading several times... This book is an easy and interesting read and is very accessible... it is a book that I believe is useful for both experienced and newly-graduated vets and also nurses, as not only are clinical aspects broached, there is also a large focus on communication." (Veterinary Practice, May 2011) "In my opinion, most cases in this book would make a great discussion starter for staff meetings / clinical audit meetings. The book should be required reading for all interns and residents in the relevant fields. It is an excellent resource for anyone who deals with emergency or critically ill patients, filling a particular need that is not met by other textbooks." (Veterinary Record, April 2011)

Dr Lisa Powell is a clinical professor at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center, US. Dr Elizabeth Rozanski and Dr John Rush are clinical professors at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, US. All three are board-certified Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, and have 50 years of emergency and critical care experience between them. The authors have practiced in institutions that provide advanced diagnostic techniques, 24-hour emergency and intensive care medicine, and training of both professional veterinary students and post-doctorate veterinarians seeking specialty certification in veterinary emergency and critical care. Dr Rush is also board-certified in veterinary cardiology, and Dr Rozanski is board-certified in veterinary internal medicine.

Contributor list. Preface. Part One: Medical and Treatment Errors. 1. Coming Up for Air: When equipment failure can be fatal. 2. Alistair and the UTI: Sometimes antibiotics ARE indicated! 3. Double-Check the RX: How a simple math error cost a dog his life. 4. Holey Chest Tube!: How some inadvertent complications led to a change in standard operating procedure. 5. Count Your Sponges: A simple procedure can sometimes result in disaster. 6. First Off, Do No Harm: Always check tube placement, by many methods! 7. Right is Wrong: An example of a tragic outcome due to unmarked radiographs. 8. Sabrina the Good Witch: The importance of using the correct syringe. 9. Friends in High Places: An illustration of how imperative it is to correctly prepare and administer medications. 10. Midnight: A case describing the consequences of technical complications. 11. Sam and the Muscle Medicine: When you should listen to your gut and not your clients wishes. 12. A Shot in the Dark: The importance of discussing all potential complications prior to performing the procedure. Part Two: Medical Judgment Errors. 13. Another Down Dog: Sometimes things are not as they seem! 14. It HAS to Be Blasto!: Surprise endings. 15. Can You Tap that Cat for Me?: Complications of common procedures. 16. Chiefs Complaint: Always suggest further diagnostics, and consider all differential diagnoses in a patient. 17. But Hes Been Fine!: The importance of assessing thoracic radiographs in patients experiencing blunt force trauma. 18. Would You Like Water with That? A Tale of Two Dogs: The dangers of hypernatremia! 19. The Great Pretender: ALWAYS consider hypoadrenocorticism as a differential diagnosis in dogs with nonspecific symptoms 20. A Lack of Concentration: Another example of how Addisons disease can masquerade as a disease with a much worse prognosis. 21. Unlucky Lady: Remember to consider ALL possible differentials for your patient! 22. But She Has Heart Disease!: All aspects of a patients history should be carefully considered when presenting for an illness. 23. Pennies From Heaven: ALWAYS perform abdominal radiographs in patients presenting with signs of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia! 24. Seeing Red!: All ocular abnormalities should be examined promptly and completely, as irreversible disease may be present. 25. Sepsis the Next Day: An illustration of the importance of analyzing effusions yourself if the results will not be reported the same day, and to ALWAYS look under the tongue of a vomiting cat! 26. Anxious to Breathe: Care must be taken when performing diagnostics on brachycephalic, apprehensive dogs. 27. The Lost Acorn: A complicated case gets more perplexing! 28. The Lost Puppies: How the inexperience of a junior veterinarian caused the demise of two puppies. 29. Dont Be Too Cavalier: A full abdominal exploratory should always be performed during an abdominal surgical procedure. 30. Too Much Sugar: All causes, pulmonary and extrapulmonary, should be investigated in patients with respiratory distress. 31. Tyler: Dehiscence of enterotomy sites should always be considered as a cause of illness in the 35 days following the operative procedure. 32. Whiskers: Immunosuppression from administered medications can result in the development of secondary infections. 33. Would You Like Some Salt?: The importance of monitoring fluid therapy. 34. Bambi?: Things to think about when coming into contact with wild animals. 35. The Big C: The dangers of making a pathologic diagnosis without obtaining a biopsy. 36. To Stent or Not to Stent: New technology isnt always the answer. 37. It Isnt Asthma?: Noting when it is important to look past the suspected client situation and focus on the patient. 38. Hoping History Doesnt Repeat: An Illustration of the importance of good history taking. Part Three: Lessons in Client Communication. 39. Not All Albumins are Equal: