Clinical Services

The Small Animal ICU has many unique and specialized pieces of equipment at its disposal 24 hours a day to provide patient care and diagnostics.

Five different types of ventilators with both pressure and volume control capabilities are commonly used to assist animals breathing efforts. Respiratory monitoring in the form of blood gas machines, pulse oximetry, end-tidal carbon dioxide analysis and respiratory mechanics equipment accompany these ventilators to track a patient's respiratory needs.

The ICU also provides detailed cardiac support techinques and monitoring. Many oscilloscopes are available with multiple channels to continuously monitor invasive blood pressures, electrocardiograms, and central venous pressures. The ICU also utilizes pulmonary artery catheters to measure cardiac output and determine other parameters involved in oxygen delivery and utilization.

All transfusions of blood products take place under direct, continuous observation from the ICU staff. Optimizing fluid therapy and balance using crystalloids and colloids as well as blood products is a particular focus of the Emergency/Critical Care Service.

Intracranial pressure and intra-abdominal pressure monitoring are also unique services provided within the ICU. Laboratory services that are unique to the ICU include colloid oncotic pressure measurement and osmometry. The service also provides coagulation screening and blood cross-match and transfusion support. Many other diagnostic tests to measure serum chemistries and electrolytes as well as urinalyses are preformed in the ICU lab adjacent to the patient care area.