Cardiac Medications

Although most veterinary codes, without an obvious correctable cause, are not succesful (similar to pediatric codes in humans), the following are meds/dosages for cardiac codes:

• Asystole - Atropine .5-1mg IVP q 1-5min (up to 3mg), Epinephrine 1mg IVP q 3-5min (up to 5mg)

• Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia - Defibrillate using 200J, Lidocaine 1-1.5mg/Kg (up to 3mg/kg)

• Ventricular Fibrillation - Defibrillate using 200,300,360 stacked, Lidocaine 1-1.5mg/Kg (up to 3mg/kg)

• Lidocaine, Epinephrine and Atropine can go down the ET tube, at 2-2.5 normal IV dosage

Seizures

Although it is rare for an animal to require emergency care due to seizures, their treatment is the same as in humans: Mostly supportive. If possible, place a pad under the head to prevent trauma, and assure that there is no hazard from the environment to the patient. Do not stick ANYTHING in an animals mouth (remember the carnivore thing...). If the animal sustains the seizure state for more than 5 minutes, then we will treat this as Status Epilepticus. The 2 main drugs used in Veterinary medicine for the cessation of seizures is Diazepam (Valium) and Phenobarbital.

• Diazepam 5-25mg IVP in 5mg increments for dogs or 1mg/kg in cats (can work IM, but very slow action) Note: you can also administer rectally, which works quite well

• Phenobarbital 60-120mg

• Pentobarbital 2-4 mg/kg

Drug Overdoses

It is likely that a drug overdose from illegal drugs could occur to a K9 dog team which is hunting for drugs, or encountering a drug dealer's animal who has gotten into the stash. We will only cover a few, and most antidotes are the same as in humans.

Emesis Technique

Use 3% H₂O₂ (Hydrogen Peroxide) at 5ml/10lb PO repeat in 5-10 minutes.

Cocaine OD

The ingestion/sniffing of cocaine by a K9 dog team is quite serious, as the quantities ingested may be quite large. Rapid treatment is neccesary to stave off death due to cardiac arrythmias and seizures.

1. Emesis or Gastric Lavage

2. Charcoal 1-2 Oz/10Lb PO

3. Lactated Ringers fluid IV

4. Anti-seizure medications as neccesary

5. Propanolol 0.04-0.06mg/kg for cardiac arrythmias

Opiate/Narcotic OD

1. Emesis or Gastric Lavage

2. Charcoal 1-2 Oz/10Lb PO

3. Naloxone (Narcan) 0.04mg/kg IV

Marijuana OD

1. Emesis or Gastric Lavage

2. Charcoal 1-2 Oz/10Lb PO

3. Atropine as needed

4. Doxapram (Dopram) 2-10mg/kg Slow IV for respiratory depression

Diabetic Emergencies

It is unlikely that an animal will be encountered from a K9 dog team or rescue dog in a diabetic emergency; however, in EMS the unusual is the routine. Treat all cases as hypoglycemia, unless confirmed by a glucometer or other means of assessing blood-glucose.

Assessment

Take a small amount of blood (from any vein) and using a glucometer/strips... determine the blood-glucose level. If it is less than 50, the patient has hypoglycemia (a true emergency you should treat); if the patient has a blood glucose above 200, then they are hyperglycemic.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a serious, immediate life threat, and needs to be treated agressively. As in humans, the results can be startiling in how rapid a patient can recover (if at all) from severe hypoglycemia.

1. Start LRS with D5 (LRS with 5% dextrose) IV Drip

2. Bolus 2-4ml/kg D50 (50% dextrose in water) or 20ml/kg D10 (10% dextrose in water)

3. Reassess the BG levels if possible enroute

Hyperglycemia

In hyperglycemia, you should strongly consider transport to a veterinary hospital, as although life threatening, it is not a rapid emergent situation. The same types of insulin are used, in fact many of them are animal anyway.

© 1997 Henry and Lori Feldman, http://members.aol.com/henryhbk/