Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. One of the hallmarks of DKA is the presence of ketone bodies in the blood and urine. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of ketone detection and explore the various methods used to identify ketonemia and ketonuria in dogs and cats.
Continue reading “Unveiling the Mysteries of Ketone Detection in Diabetic Ketoacidosis”Tag: Electrolytes
Deep dive into insulin infusion protocols for management of diabetic ketoacidosis in dogs and cats
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a relatively common complication of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats. In the face of insulin deficiency or resistance, the liver produces ketones to provide an alternative energy source from glucose. However, excessive ketone production can lead to high anion gap metabolic acidosis and other negative effects. Besides restoration of intravascular and interstitial fluid deficits as well as electrolyte derangements such as hypokalemia, insulin administration is necessary to stop production of ketones, reduce lipolysis and enhance cellular uptake of glucose.
Several insulin protocols have been described in veterinary medicine to treat DKA patients during the first 24-72 hours of hospitalization until the patient becomes stable and regains appetite. One of the most commonly utilized protocols in clinical practice is an intravenous variable-rate insulin infusion protocol when a short-acting insulin is infused IV and the rate is altered based on blood glucose concentration (Figure 1).
Continue reading “Deep dive into insulin infusion protocols for management of diabetic ketoacidosis in dogs and cats”Hyperkalemia Associated with General Anesthesia in Dogs and Cats
Hyperkalemia has been reported as a complication of general anesthesia in systemically healthy animals with normal renal function. Several case reports and case series are summarized in Table 1. Upon reviewing the literature, several distinct patterns and interesting observations are worth discussing. Some of these observations may be relevant to veterinary practitioners and technicians dealing with anesthetized animals or managing their post-anesthetic recovery.
Continue reading “Hyperkalemia Associated with General Anesthesia in Dogs and Cats”Intravenous phosphate supplementation in dogs and cats
In animals and humans, phosphorus plays a crucial role in the synthesis of several compounds that are vital for maintaining cellular membrane integrity, energy stores, metabolic processes, and biochemical messenger systems. These compounds include ATP, guanosine triphosphate, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and phosphocreatine (Yanagawa et al. 1994; DiBartola et al. 2012). Phosphate is a molecular anion that contains phosphorus. Approximately 80-85% of phosphate resides in the bone and teeth as inorganic hydroxyapatite, 14-15% in soft tissues, and less than 1% in the extracellular space (Yanagawa et al. 1994; DiBartola et al. 2012). The body and plasma contain both organic and inorganic phosphates, though blood chemistry analyzers measure only inorganic phosphates.
Continue reading “Intravenous phosphate supplementation in dogs and cats”LRS vs Citrate: Friend or Foe?
Imagine having a patient who needs simultaneous administration of a citrated blood product and Lactated Ringer’s solution (LRS), but there is only one available peripheral catheter.
Can you administer citrated donor blood or plasma and LRS at the same time?
Conventionally, this practice is discouraged because LRS is a calcium-containing fluid that may be incompatible with citrate due to the risks of calcium chelation and clot formation. Once LRS exceeds the chelating capabilities of the citrate in the stored blood that may result in clot formation, which makes perfect sense. However, as we all know, theory and practice are not the same in clinical medicine. Therefore, let’s explore the evidence to answer this very practical question.
Continue reading “LRS vs Citrate: Friend or Foe?”