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Patient care report

Nursing a canine in septic shock: a patient care report

02 November 2016

Patient Report

11 mins read

02 November 2016

Volume 7 · Issue 9

ISSN (print): 2044-0065

ISSN (online): 2052-2959

Figure 1. Disease process from trauma to septic shock (adapted from Mittleman Boller and Otto (2009); Breton (2012)). SIRS, systemic inflammatory response syndrome; HR, heart rate; RR, respiration rate.

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Abstract

Patients in septic shock require immediate attention. Veterinary nurses play a vital role in their care and recovery. Involvement in patient care includes the monitoring and recording of vital signs, fluid therapy and pain assessments. Identifying improvements or deteriorations in a patient's progress helps veterinary surgeons to make more informed decisions about its long-term care. This report aims to discuss the importance of these aspects and identify areas for development.

The patient presented with a 2-day history of vomiting, anorexia and lethargy. On admission, she was trembling and panting. There was a previous history of a gastrointestinal foreign body.

Species: Canine

Breed: Labrador crossbreed

Age: 11 years 11 months

Sex: Female neutered

Weight: 23.6 kg

On physical examination, the patient was quiet and lethargic but responsive. Her mucus membranes were pink and moist and capillary refill time was two seconds. The patient was tachycardic and panting. Her temperature was 38.9°C and she experienced pain on abdominal palpation.

The veterinary surgeon requested a comprehensive blood profile including electrolytes, haematology, biochemistry and a canine pancreatic lipase (cPLI) test. The cPLI was abnormal, her urea was 11.9 nmol (1.70–7.40 nmol), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) was 580 nmol (12–83 nmol) and phosphate was 2.50 nmol (0.80–1.80 nmol). The veterinary surgeon diagnosed acute pancreatitis, but the presence of a gastrointestinal foreign body could not be ruled out. Supportive treatment, including intravenous (IV) fluid therapy, analgesia, antacids and antiemetics, was initiated.

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