Critical Care EXAM Questions and Answers Graded
A+
A 3-year old female cow presents with a decreased appetite, decreased manure production, and
decreased milk production. She calved three weeks ago and has been less active than normal. You
auscultate the GI tract and elicit a pinging noise on the left side of the abdomen. Which of the
following emergencies is most likely to be occurring?
-Left displaced abomasum
-Right displaced abomasum
-Uterine prolapse
-Mastitis - ✔✔✔Left displaced abomasum
A 3-year old female Yorkie presents to your hospital as an emergency for seizures and tetany. In the
history, you learn that the bitch had a litter of 3 puppies about 2 weeks ago. What is the most likely
treatment this dog will need to correct the cause of its problem?
-Diazepam IV
-Calcium gluconate IV
-Tetanus anti-toxin
-Phenobarbital - ✔✔✔Calcium gluconate IV
A 3-year old male neutered Labrador Retriever presents for lethargy and inappetence of a few days in
duration. The dog is approximately 7% dehydrated with pale and dry mucous membranes, a capillary
refill time > 2 sec, heart rate > 170 bpm and weak femoral pulses. The veterinarian diagnoses the dog
with hypovolemic shock and orders isotonic crystalloid fluid therapy. What is the isotonic crystalloid
total "shock dose" in dogs?
-5 ml/kg
-10-20 ml/kg
-40-60 ml/kg
-90 ml/kg
-180 ml/kg - ✔✔✔90 ml/kg
A 4 year old male neutered domestic shorthair cat presents to your clinic with a history of straining to
urinate. The owner is unsure how long it has been since the cat urinated. What is the first thing you
should check while waiting for the doctor?
-Heart rate
-Temperature
-PCV (Packed cell volume)
-Blood pressure
-Pupillary Light Response - ✔✔✔Heart rate
A 40 kg dog presents to your hospital and is approximately 5% dehydrated. What is the replacement
fluid volume needed for this dog?
-1.5 L
-1,200 mL
-500 mL
-2,000 mL - ✔✔✔2,000 mL
A 5-year old feline presents after being hit by a car. The veterinarian wants you to administer
mannitol intravenously. For what reason was mannitol chosen as a therapy?
-It increases respiratory rate
-It increases blood flow to the -heart and lungs via peripheral vasoconstriction
-It is a pain medication
-It helps to prevent GI ischemia
-It reduces intracranial pressure - ✔✔✔It reduces intracranial pressure
,A 5-year-old female spayed domestic short hair cat presents on emergency for acute vomiting,
weakness, hypersalivation, and tremoring. Her heart rate is 240 bpm and her temperature is elevated
at 104.2F. The owner applied an over-the-counter flea control product to her skin earlier in the day.
What toxicity is suspected?
-Ethylene glycol
-Metaldehyde
-Coumadin
-Permethrin - ✔✔✔Permethrin
A 5-year-old female spayed Shih Tzu presents to your emergency hospital with a several-day history
of vomiting and diarrhea. On presentation, she is dehydrated with pale and dry mucous membranes
and a prolonged capillary refill time. Her heart rate is 220 bpm, and she has weak femoral pulses.
What type of shock is she in?
-Anaphylactic shock
-Hypovolemic shock
-Distributive shock
-Cardiogenic shock - ✔✔✔Hypovolemic shock
A 50-kg Golden Retriever has presented with extremely pale mucous membranes and is diagnosed
with a hemoabdomen. A blood transfusion has been requested, and the doctor would like a
10ml/kg/hr transfusion rate for 4 hours. How many milliliters of blood will you need?
-2000 ml
-40 ml
-1000 ml
-20 ml - ✔✔✔2000 ml
A 55-pound Pit Bull mix "Rocky" was hit by a car and is hospitalized in the emergency ward. The ECG is
showing continuous runs of ventricular tachycardia. The veterinarian asks you to start a constant rate
infusion of lidocaine to be given at 80 micrograms per kilogram per minute (ug/kg/min). The dog is
currently on a fluid rate of 80 mL per hour. Lidocaine is a 2% solution. How much lidocaine will you
add to a liter of LRS?
-5 ml
-26 ml
-19 ml
-75 ml - ✔✔✔75 ml
A 6-year old collie presents after falling out of a moving vehicle. The dog has an open tibial fracture
and pulmonary contusions. What would be the best way to immediately stabilize the fracture?
-Robert-Jones bandage
-Internal stabilization
-Splint
-External stabilization
-Tourniquet - ✔✔✔Robert-Jones bandage
A 6-year old male domestic short hair presents dyspneic with fluid dripping from both nares. The
veterinarian suspects heart failure due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. What type of injection would
most likely immediately be given?
-A sedative
-Intravenous fluids
-An antibiotic
-A diuretic
-A corticosteroid - ✔✔✔A diuretic
A 6.7 kg Chihuahua has been prescribed a 2 mg/kg/day constant rate infusion of metoclopramide. The
metoclopramide is to be added to the intravenous fluids. If the metoclopramide is 5 mg/ml and the
Chihuahua's fluid rate is 17 ml/hr, how many milliliters of metoclopramide should be added to a 250
ml bag of intravenous fluids?
, -0.56 mL
-13.4 mL
-4.6 mL
-1.6 mL - ✔✔✔1.6 mL
A 60 lb Bulldog is to receive intravenous fluids at a maintenance rate. Assuming the maintenance rate
can be calculated as 60 ml/kg/day, what would the fluid rate be per hour? Round answer to the
closest milliliter/hour.
-68
-163
-30
-108
-150 - ✔✔✔68
A 65-pound Golden Retriever "Marley" presents with a history of gastroenteritis over the past 48
hours. He is approximately 5% dehydrated and the attending veterinarian would like to hospitalize
him on IV fluids for the day. Calculate the volume deficit in this patient.
-325 mL
-1500 mL
-480 mL
-3 L - ✔✔✔1500 mL
A 7-year old female spayed domestic short hair previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus presents
to your clinic dull and unresponsive. In addition to obtaining a blood glucose, what other laboratory
test would be important for determining the cat's diabetic status?
-Hematocrit
-Total protein
-BUN
-Urine ketones
-Blood lactate - ✔✔✔Urine ketones
A 7-year-old Lab mix presents to your hospital with a very swollen muzzle. The vet suspects the
swelling is from a rattlesnake bite. How could you support this suspicion?
-Perform a blood smear and look for spherocytes
-Perform a buccal mucosal bleeding time
-Perform a blood smear and look for echinocytes
-Perform an aspirate of the swelling for cytology - ✔✔✔Perform a blood smear and look for
echinocytes
A 9-year old male castrated Westie presents on emergency after being rescued from a house fire. On
presentation, the dog has a respiratory rate of 60 breaths per minute with increased inspiratory effort
and moderate distress. The dog's mucous membranes are bright red. What is the likely cause of the
bright red color of the dog's mucous membranes?
-Carbon monoxide
-Burns
-Ash
-Carbon dioxide - ✔✔✔Carbon monoxide
A Boston terrier puppy presents lethargic and minimally responsive at your clinic. The owner says he
hasn't been eating very well; his gums are a little pale, temperature is 99.1F. What is the likely cause
of his acute symptoms?
-Hypoglycemia
-Intestinal parasites
-Parvovirus
-Head trauma - ✔✔✔Hypoglycemia
A butterfly catheter is most commonly used to:
A+
A 3-year old female cow presents with a decreased appetite, decreased manure production, and
decreased milk production. She calved three weeks ago and has been less active than normal. You
auscultate the GI tract and elicit a pinging noise on the left side of the abdomen. Which of the
following emergencies is most likely to be occurring?
-Left displaced abomasum
-Right displaced abomasum
-Uterine prolapse
-Mastitis - ✔✔✔Left displaced abomasum
A 3-year old female Yorkie presents to your hospital as an emergency for seizures and tetany. In the
history, you learn that the bitch had a litter of 3 puppies about 2 weeks ago. What is the most likely
treatment this dog will need to correct the cause of its problem?
-Diazepam IV
-Calcium gluconate IV
-Tetanus anti-toxin
-Phenobarbital - ✔✔✔Calcium gluconate IV
A 3-year old male neutered Labrador Retriever presents for lethargy and inappetence of a few days in
duration. The dog is approximately 7% dehydrated with pale and dry mucous membranes, a capillary
refill time > 2 sec, heart rate > 170 bpm and weak femoral pulses. The veterinarian diagnoses the dog
with hypovolemic shock and orders isotonic crystalloid fluid therapy. What is the isotonic crystalloid
total "shock dose" in dogs?
-5 ml/kg
-10-20 ml/kg
-40-60 ml/kg
-90 ml/kg
-180 ml/kg - ✔✔✔90 ml/kg
A 4 year old male neutered domestic shorthair cat presents to your clinic with a history of straining to
urinate. The owner is unsure how long it has been since the cat urinated. What is the first thing you
should check while waiting for the doctor?
-Heart rate
-Temperature
-PCV (Packed cell volume)
-Blood pressure
-Pupillary Light Response - ✔✔✔Heart rate
A 40 kg dog presents to your hospital and is approximately 5% dehydrated. What is the replacement
fluid volume needed for this dog?
-1.5 L
-1,200 mL
-500 mL
-2,000 mL - ✔✔✔2,000 mL
A 5-year old feline presents after being hit by a car. The veterinarian wants you to administer
mannitol intravenously. For what reason was mannitol chosen as a therapy?
-It increases respiratory rate
-It increases blood flow to the -heart and lungs via peripheral vasoconstriction
-It is a pain medication
-It helps to prevent GI ischemia
-It reduces intracranial pressure - ✔✔✔It reduces intracranial pressure
,A 5-year-old female spayed domestic short hair cat presents on emergency for acute vomiting,
weakness, hypersalivation, and tremoring. Her heart rate is 240 bpm and her temperature is elevated
at 104.2F. The owner applied an over-the-counter flea control product to her skin earlier in the day.
What toxicity is suspected?
-Ethylene glycol
-Metaldehyde
-Coumadin
-Permethrin - ✔✔✔Permethrin
A 5-year-old female spayed Shih Tzu presents to your emergency hospital with a several-day history
of vomiting and diarrhea. On presentation, she is dehydrated with pale and dry mucous membranes
and a prolonged capillary refill time. Her heart rate is 220 bpm, and she has weak femoral pulses.
What type of shock is she in?
-Anaphylactic shock
-Hypovolemic shock
-Distributive shock
-Cardiogenic shock - ✔✔✔Hypovolemic shock
A 50-kg Golden Retriever has presented with extremely pale mucous membranes and is diagnosed
with a hemoabdomen. A blood transfusion has been requested, and the doctor would like a
10ml/kg/hr transfusion rate for 4 hours. How many milliliters of blood will you need?
-2000 ml
-40 ml
-1000 ml
-20 ml - ✔✔✔2000 ml
A 55-pound Pit Bull mix "Rocky" was hit by a car and is hospitalized in the emergency ward. The ECG is
showing continuous runs of ventricular tachycardia. The veterinarian asks you to start a constant rate
infusion of lidocaine to be given at 80 micrograms per kilogram per minute (ug/kg/min). The dog is
currently on a fluid rate of 80 mL per hour. Lidocaine is a 2% solution. How much lidocaine will you
add to a liter of LRS?
-5 ml
-26 ml
-19 ml
-75 ml - ✔✔✔75 ml
A 6-year old collie presents after falling out of a moving vehicle. The dog has an open tibial fracture
and pulmonary contusions. What would be the best way to immediately stabilize the fracture?
-Robert-Jones bandage
-Internal stabilization
-Splint
-External stabilization
-Tourniquet - ✔✔✔Robert-Jones bandage
A 6-year old male domestic short hair presents dyspneic with fluid dripping from both nares. The
veterinarian suspects heart failure due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. What type of injection would
most likely immediately be given?
-A sedative
-Intravenous fluids
-An antibiotic
-A diuretic
-A corticosteroid - ✔✔✔A diuretic
A 6.7 kg Chihuahua has been prescribed a 2 mg/kg/day constant rate infusion of metoclopramide. The
metoclopramide is to be added to the intravenous fluids. If the metoclopramide is 5 mg/ml and the
Chihuahua's fluid rate is 17 ml/hr, how many milliliters of metoclopramide should be added to a 250
ml bag of intravenous fluids?
, -0.56 mL
-13.4 mL
-4.6 mL
-1.6 mL - ✔✔✔1.6 mL
A 60 lb Bulldog is to receive intravenous fluids at a maintenance rate. Assuming the maintenance rate
can be calculated as 60 ml/kg/day, what would the fluid rate be per hour? Round answer to the
closest milliliter/hour.
-68
-163
-30
-108
-150 - ✔✔✔68
A 65-pound Golden Retriever "Marley" presents with a history of gastroenteritis over the past 48
hours. He is approximately 5% dehydrated and the attending veterinarian would like to hospitalize
him on IV fluids for the day. Calculate the volume deficit in this patient.
-325 mL
-1500 mL
-480 mL
-3 L - ✔✔✔1500 mL
A 7-year old female spayed domestic short hair previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus presents
to your clinic dull and unresponsive. In addition to obtaining a blood glucose, what other laboratory
test would be important for determining the cat's diabetic status?
-Hematocrit
-Total protein
-BUN
-Urine ketones
-Blood lactate - ✔✔✔Urine ketones
A 7-year-old Lab mix presents to your hospital with a very swollen muzzle. The vet suspects the
swelling is from a rattlesnake bite. How could you support this suspicion?
-Perform a blood smear and look for spherocytes
-Perform a buccal mucosal bleeding time
-Perform a blood smear and look for echinocytes
-Perform an aspirate of the swelling for cytology - ✔✔✔Perform a blood smear and look for
echinocytes
A 9-year old male castrated Westie presents on emergency after being rescued from a house fire. On
presentation, the dog has a respiratory rate of 60 breaths per minute with increased inspiratory effort
and moderate distress. The dog's mucous membranes are bright red. What is the likely cause of the
bright red color of the dog's mucous membranes?
-Carbon monoxide
-Burns
-Ash
-Carbon dioxide - ✔✔✔Carbon monoxide
A Boston terrier puppy presents lethargic and minimally responsive at your clinic. The owner says he
hasn't been eating very well; his gums are a little pale, temperature is 99.1F. What is the likely cause
of his acute symptoms?
-Hypoglycemia
-Intestinal parasites
-Parvovirus
-Head trauma - ✔✔✔Hypoglycemia
A butterfly catheter is most commonly used to:
