References
An extended patient care report for a canine in congestive heart failure

Abstract
This article describes the nursing care provided to a patient presenting with congestive heart failure and cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. It is essential to minimise stress during diagnostic investigations and throughout the implementation of monitoring plans and nursing interventions of patients presenting in respiratory distress, to prevent decompensation and arrest. Oxygen therapy was administered immediately and drug therapy tailored to the patient's response. Monitoring techniques were selected based on those requiring minimal handling while ensuring sufficient information was obtained to allow repeat assessment of the patient's response to drug and oxygen therapy.
This patient care report highlights the initial veterinary nursing interventions provided to a canine patient presenting in respiratory distress secondary to cardiac failure. Nursing considerations including respiratory function, oxygen supplementation and patient monitoring will be discussed below.
Roxy had a chronic history of mitral valve disease, which had progressed to heart failure 18 months prior to presentation at the author's clinic. There had been an initial response to medical management; however, Roxy then developed dyspnoea, 2 days prior to referral. The patient was severely dyspnoeic on presentation and as such physical examination and diagnostic investigations were limited to non-invasive low-stress techniques (Tseng and Waddell, 2000). Roxy had marked inspiratory effort with a rate of 84 breaths per minute. Thoracic auscultation revealed bilateral crackles — worse over the right hemi-thorax. She was also tachycardic with a regular rhythm and a heart rate of 140 beats per minute. All other physical examination parameters were within normal limits.
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