Fluid Therapy in Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care

Abstract

Many new concepts are emerging in the understanding of fluid therapy in human and mammalian medicine, including the role of the glycocalyx, increased understanding of fluid, sodium, and chloride overload, and the advantages of colloid administration in the form of albumin. None of these concepts, however, appear to be directly applicable to non-mammalian exotic patients, and careful consideration of their alternate physiology is required when formulating fluid plans for these patients.

Keywords: Colloid; Crystalloid; Dehydration; Hypovolemia; Maintenance; Replacement; Resuscitation.