The document provides guidance on how to manage an emergency case of a stray dog presented to a veterinary hospital. It outlines evaluating the animal's airway, breathing, circulation and level of consciousness to prioritize life-threatening issues. Once stabilized, a full clinical examination can be conducted and the animal treated systematically for its specific condition.

1. Dr. Ajith Y., MVSc, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Veterinary Medicine
FVAS, Banaras Hindu University, Mirzapur

2. • EMERGENCY
A life-threatening condition or state
demanding immediate attention, assessment,
decision, aggressive intervention and follow-up
in terms of extra-ordinary measures.
- Acute onset – Toxicity, Heat stroke, Anaesthesia induced etc.
- Sequelae of a chronic disease – Hepatic encephalopathy
• CRITICAL CARE
Care required to avoid the threats to LIFE or to
prevent DEATH.

3. A stray dog is presented in your hospital in this condition by the Local
Administrative Authority….How you will proceed to manage this case..?

4. Phase I ===>
• Make WISE decisions (History via phone)
• Must advise on initial management and transport
procedure.
Eg: Dog with Seizure/Brain trauma, Cow with bloat
• Awareness on the facility available in your hospital
& plan accordingly

5. Key factors
• Age & previous illness history
• Time delay in instituting therapy (Right time)
• Volume, Dose, drug of choice (Right amount of drug)
• Severity of the illness or injury (Right order)
The golden rule of emergency medicine is to ‘treat
the most life-threatening problems first’

6. Phase II ===>
• Triage is the art of assigning priority to the
condition of emergency patients via quick and
accurate initial assessment and making a
decision regarding the stability of the animal.
• Major Causes of Death????????
• Stabilization of patient….

7. • Airway, breathing, and circulation are evaluated
sequentially, followed by examination for sources
of hemorrhage, and determination of the level of
consciousness and level of pain.
• Is pain an emergency?????

8. Parameters to evaluate during Triage
Mucous membrane color
Pink Normal PCV and adequate perfusion
Pale or white Anemia or shock (Circulatory)
Cyanotic Severe hypoxemia (Respiratory)
Yellow Increased serum bilirubin

9. Parameters to evaluate during Triage
Capillary refill time
1–2 sec Normal perfusion
>2 sec Poor perfusion or shock (Circulatory)
<1 sec Hyperdynamic state

10. Parameters to evaluate during Triage
Heart rate
Normal Normal Cardiac output (Only rate, Not Volume)
Bradycardia Reduced rate
Tachycardia Increased rate
Bradycardia with weak beats (Late stage Hypocalcemia)
Bradycardia with powerful beats (hypercalcemia)
Tachycardia with weak beats (Septic shock, Hypocalcemia/
lactic acidosis)
Tachycardia with powerful beats (Atropa alkaloids toxicity)
When to give Digitalization and Atropine therapy ?

11. Parameters to evaluate during Triage
• PULSE RATE and QUALITY
• Level of consciousness
Alert and responsive Normal overall neurologic and metabolic state
Depressed or obtunded Decreased perfusion
Seizures Excitatory neurological symptoms
Stupor (arousable only with
painful stimuli)
Severe neurological problems
Comatose (unarousable with any
stimuli)

12. • Airway and Breathing
- Obstructions (foreign body/Mucus/Aspirated content) to
be cleared.
- Tracheal intubation, Suction, Bronchoscope
- Emergency tracheostomy
- Oxygen therapy
- Thoracocentesis, pleural disease management
- Furosamide, Steroid, Vasodilator – Lung parenchymal
- Nikethamide, Doxapram - Respiratory Stimulants
- Sedatives (narcotic/tranquilizer combination)
Phase III ===>

14. Mechanical Ventilation and Cardiac Pumping
• Positive Pressure Ventilation
- Mouth-to-nose resuscitation
- Invasive: Endotracheal intubation (Ambubag), tracheostomy
- Non-invasive: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Adjustable Positive Airway Pressure (APAP), Bilevel positive
airway pressure (BiPAP)
Ventilation settings ==> 10 breaths/min; 10 mL/kg
inspiratory time of 1 sec
• Negative Pressure Ventilation
• External chest compression @ 100–120 compressions/min
for cardiac pumping alter every 2 min with ventilation

15. • Circulation
- Shock Management to ensure adequate perfusion
- Internal (hemostatic drugs) or External(Direct pressure,
Clamping, tourniquet, Compression bandage, Tr Benzoin)
hemorrhage control
- Intra vascular volume replacement (Colloids & crystalloids)
• Pain Control
• Neurological stabilization
Phase III ===>

16. • Once animal is stabilized, Detailed clinical
examination can be conducted and treated more
systematically
Phase IV ===>

17. • Accidents & Trauma (Internal/ External)
• Poisoning
• Metabolic alterations
• Mechanical obstructions
• Myocardial ishaemia
• Status Epilepticus
• Septic shock, Anaphylatic reactions
• Heat stroke and Hyperthermia
• Snake envenomation

18. How you will proceed…..?