Critical Care Questions with Correct Answers
Updated 2026-2027
# Term Definition
1 2 hours
In an animal receiving fluid therapy, the
IV catheter site should be assessed
every:
2 RR, HR, Temperature, BP, Pain score
What are the 5 vital signs that need to
be monitored in an emergency patient?
3
List the 5 characteristics of a good Where crash cart lives, good lighting, near oxygen
“ready area”. source, centrally located, near OR
4 What does ABCDE stand for?
-Airway = patent? Noisy breathing? -Breathing/
Bleeding = Yes/ No, dyspnea, ect - Circulation =
MM/CRT, pulse quality and rate, extremity temperature
- Disability = LOC, response to environment, Ambulatory
or recumbent External = open fracture, proposed eye,
extreme pain
5 Define Stuporous Reacts only to noxious stimuli
6 Define Obtunded
Reacts appropriately to stimuli but at a much lower level
or slower pace
7 How are body fluid compartments
intracellular (ICF)= 40% - in the cells.
broken up in percentages?
extracellular (ECF)= 20% interstitial (ISF) = 15% all tissue
that is not blood vessel or cells intravascular (IVF)= 5% -
in blood vessels
8 PCV/TP. stick BUN. USG
What lab tests should be done in
conjunction with PE to asses
dehydration and blood volume?
, 9 elevated
What will a USG result be for a
dehydrated pt with normal renal
function?
10
What is the formula for replacement hydration deficit + maintenance + ongoing losses=
fluid rate? replacement fluid rate
11 What is the maintenance rate? 60mls/kg/day
# Term Definition
12 wt (kg) x %dehydrated x 1000
How do you find hydration deficit?
13 1-2 mls/kg/hr
normal urinary output for a patient.
14 Describe the methods used to monitor
the effectiveness of fluid therapy. HR and pulse quality- RR, depth, auscultation,
any signs of coughing- MM color and
moisture/CRT- Skin turgor (feels gelatinous with fluid
overload) and eye position- LOC- level of consciousness
15 animal in diabetic ketoacidosis they need central
Identify patient’s that would benefit
catheter for multi blood draws.
from a central line over a peripheral
catheter.
16
\- Estimates BP within right atrium and Indicator of
Explain what central venous pressure
blood volume- INDICATIONS: 1. Monitoring efficacy of
monitors in a patient and the 2
fluid therapy 2. Monitoring patients at risk of volume
indications for this monitoring tool.
overload
17 What is a normal CVP?
Normal 0-10 cm H20. \- Reading over 10cm H20 can
indicate fluid overload or reading 2-4 cm H20 over
previous measurement.
18 6-8 hours
How long does it take SubQ fluids to
absorb?
,19 10mls/kg/site, isotonic fluid
What is the amount you should
administer fluids subQ?
20 1lb BW = ? mls 500mls of fluid gain or lost
21 ~75%
When given IV, what percentage of
crystalloid will move into interstitial
and intracellular space within 30-60
minutes
22 examples: LRS, Normosol R, Plasmalyte A
Examples of balanced electrolyte
isotonic crystalloid solution
23 isotonic crystalloid balanced electrolyte solution
Which type of fluid is electrolyte, pH,
and osmolality most like serum?
# Term Definition
24 Ex: 0.9% NaCl
What is an example an unbalanced
electrolyte isotonic crystalloid
solution?
25
What are some examples of hypotonic examples of HYPOTONIC: plasmalyte M, 0.45% NaCl , 5%
solutions? Dextrose in water (D5W)
26 Examples: 3 and 7.5% NaCl
What are examples of hypertonic
solutions?
27 Hypotonic solutions
What type of fluids are considered
"maintenance" fluids?
28
Examples: dextrans gelatins hydroxyethyl starches (HES)
What are some examples of colloids?
hetastarch/ vetstarch
29
In what animals can eye position and chronically emaciated animals, hyperthyroid or kidney dz
skin turgor be misleading for gauging cats, young and old animals- lack elasticity, obese
dehydration? animals- no excess skin to tent
, 30
Decreased blood flow = Decreased oxygen delivery to
What is the pathophysiology of shock.
tissues
31 Describe the 4 types of shock and give
cardiogenic- heart disease. Distributive- sepsis.
an example of each.
Obstructive- heart worm disease.
hypovolemichemorrhage.
32 Explain how the body compensates
when a decrease in cardiac output and Baroreceptors in heart and vasculature sense decreases
in cardiac output and blood pressure which results in the
blood pressure are sensed.
activation of adrenal gland (to release
epinephrine/norepinephrine/cortisol) and Renin
Angiotensin aldosterone system
(sodium and water)
33 what is first stage of shock? compensatory
34 compensatory
What stage of shock is a patient who is
tachypnic, tachycardic, normal temp,
normal CRT with pale MM, and normal
to slightly decreased BP?
35 Decompensated
What is the second stage of shock?
# Term Definition
36 early decompenstory
A 30kg dog was HBC 30 minutes ago.
Primary survey reveals: pale
MM with a CRT of 3 sec. HR 160bpm,
RR- 45bpm, weak femoral pulses with
absent dorsal metatarsal pulses. Initial
PCV 55% TS 4.0g/dL. What stage of
shock is this pt in?
37
What does a low TS tell us and what Low Albumin levels. Will need colloids to maintain
kind of fluid will patient need to help colloid oncotic pressure. FFP, plasma or Albumin
correct it? transfusion.
Updated 2026-2027
# Term Definition
1 2 hours
In an animal receiving fluid therapy, the
IV catheter site should be assessed
every:
2 RR, HR, Temperature, BP, Pain score
What are the 5 vital signs that need to
be monitored in an emergency patient?
3
List the 5 characteristics of a good Where crash cart lives, good lighting, near oxygen
“ready area”. source, centrally located, near OR
4 What does ABCDE stand for?
-Airway = patent? Noisy breathing? -Breathing/
Bleeding = Yes/ No, dyspnea, ect - Circulation =
MM/CRT, pulse quality and rate, extremity temperature
- Disability = LOC, response to environment, Ambulatory
or recumbent External = open fracture, proposed eye,
extreme pain
5 Define Stuporous Reacts only to noxious stimuli
6 Define Obtunded
Reacts appropriately to stimuli but at a much lower level
or slower pace
7 How are body fluid compartments
intracellular (ICF)= 40% - in the cells.
broken up in percentages?
extracellular (ECF)= 20% interstitial (ISF) = 15% all tissue
that is not blood vessel or cells intravascular (IVF)= 5% -
in blood vessels
8 PCV/TP. stick BUN. USG
What lab tests should be done in
conjunction with PE to asses
dehydration and blood volume?
, 9 elevated
What will a USG result be for a
dehydrated pt with normal renal
function?
10
What is the formula for replacement hydration deficit + maintenance + ongoing losses=
fluid rate? replacement fluid rate
11 What is the maintenance rate? 60mls/kg/day
# Term Definition
12 wt (kg) x %dehydrated x 1000
How do you find hydration deficit?
13 1-2 mls/kg/hr
normal urinary output for a patient.
14 Describe the methods used to monitor
the effectiveness of fluid therapy. HR and pulse quality- RR, depth, auscultation,
any signs of coughing- MM color and
moisture/CRT- Skin turgor (feels gelatinous with fluid
overload) and eye position- LOC- level of consciousness
15 animal in diabetic ketoacidosis they need central
Identify patient’s that would benefit
catheter for multi blood draws.
from a central line over a peripheral
catheter.
16
\- Estimates BP within right atrium and Indicator of
Explain what central venous pressure
blood volume- INDICATIONS: 1. Monitoring efficacy of
monitors in a patient and the 2
fluid therapy 2. Monitoring patients at risk of volume
indications for this monitoring tool.
overload
17 What is a normal CVP?
Normal 0-10 cm H20. \- Reading over 10cm H20 can
indicate fluid overload or reading 2-4 cm H20 over
previous measurement.
18 6-8 hours
How long does it take SubQ fluids to
absorb?
,19 10mls/kg/site, isotonic fluid
What is the amount you should
administer fluids subQ?
20 1lb BW = ? mls 500mls of fluid gain or lost
21 ~75%
When given IV, what percentage of
crystalloid will move into interstitial
and intracellular space within 30-60
minutes
22 examples: LRS, Normosol R, Plasmalyte A
Examples of balanced electrolyte
isotonic crystalloid solution
23 isotonic crystalloid balanced electrolyte solution
Which type of fluid is electrolyte, pH,
and osmolality most like serum?
# Term Definition
24 Ex: 0.9% NaCl
What is an example an unbalanced
electrolyte isotonic crystalloid
solution?
25
What are some examples of hypotonic examples of HYPOTONIC: plasmalyte M, 0.45% NaCl , 5%
solutions? Dextrose in water (D5W)
26 Examples: 3 and 7.5% NaCl
What are examples of hypertonic
solutions?
27 Hypotonic solutions
What type of fluids are considered
"maintenance" fluids?
28
Examples: dextrans gelatins hydroxyethyl starches (HES)
What are some examples of colloids?
hetastarch/ vetstarch
29
In what animals can eye position and chronically emaciated animals, hyperthyroid or kidney dz
skin turgor be misleading for gauging cats, young and old animals- lack elasticity, obese
dehydration? animals- no excess skin to tent
, 30
Decreased blood flow = Decreased oxygen delivery to
What is the pathophysiology of shock.
tissues
31 Describe the 4 types of shock and give
cardiogenic- heart disease. Distributive- sepsis.
an example of each.
Obstructive- heart worm disease.
hypovolemichemorrhage.
32 Explain how the body compensates
when a decrease in cardiac output and Baroreceptors in heart and vasculature sense decreases
in cardiac output and blood pressure which results in the
blood pressure are sensed.
activation of adrenal gland (to release
epinephrine/norepinephrine/cortisol) and Renin
Angiotensin aldosterone system
(sodium and water)
33 what is first stage of shock? compensatory
34 compensatory
What stage of shock is a patient who is
tachypnic, tachycardic, normal temp,
normal CRT with pale MM, and normal
to slightly decreased BP?
35 Decompensated
What is the second stage of shock?
# Term Definition
36 early decompenstory
A 30kg dog was HBC 30 minutes ago.
Primary survey reveals: pale
MM with a CRT of 3 sec. HR 160bpm,
RR- 45bpm, weak femoral pulses with
absent dorsal metatarsal pulses. Initial
PCV 55% TS 4.0g/dL. What stage of
shock is this pt in?
37
What does a low TS tell us and what Low Albumin levels. Will need colloids to maintain
kind of fluid will patient need to help colloid oncotic pressure. FFP, plasma or Albumin
correct it? transfusion.
