VETERINARY EMERGENCY SPECIALIST – ACVECC EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2025|2026 Q&A | INSTANTDOWNLOAD
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1. A dog presents with suspected gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). The most
immediate life-saving intervention is:
A. Induce anesthesia for surgery
B. Administer antibiotics
C. Decompress the stomach
D. Place a urinary catheter
Rationale: Gastric decompression relieves pressure on the caudal vena cava,
improving venous return before surgery.
2. Which of the following best describes the most accurate method to confirm
endotracheal tube placement?
A. Observation of chest rise
B. Auscultation of breath sounds
C. Capnography waveform
D. Fogging in the tube
Rationale: Continuous capnography is the gold standard for confirming correct ET
tube placement.
3. Hypocalcemia in dogs is most commonly associated with:
A. Addison’s disease
B. Eclampsia
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Diabetes insipidus
Rationale: Eclampsia (periparturient hypocalcemia) is a common cause of acute
hypocalcemia in small animals.
,4. The first step in treating suspected anaphylaxis in a dog is:
A. Dexamethasone IV
B. Epinephrine IM
C. Diphenhydramine IM
D. IV fluids only
Rationale: Epinephrine is the first-line treatment to reverse bronchoconstriction
and hypotension in anaphylaxis.
5. Which blood product is most appropriate for treating von Willebrand disease in
a dog?
A. Packed red blood cells
B. Fresh frozen plasma
C. Cryoprecipitate
D. Whole blood
Rationale: Cryoprecipitate is rich in vWF, making it the best choice for vWD.
6. A cat with urethral obstruction is hyperkalemic (K⁺ = 8.5 mmol/L) and
bradycardic. The most immediate treatment is:
A. Insulin and dextrose
B. Calcium gluconate IV
C. Sodium bicarbonate
D. Terbutaline
Rationale: Calcium stabilizes myocardial cell membranes, preventing fatal
arrhythmias.
7. A dog in shock has a high lactate level. Lactate is best interpreted as:
A. Renal dysfunction
B. Marker of tissue hypoperfusion
C. Evidence of sepsis only
D. Marker of hepatic failure
Rationale: Elevated lactate reflects anaerobic metabolism from tissue
hypoxia/hypoperfusion.
, 8. Which fluid has the greatest risk of causing hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis?
A. Plasma-Lyte
B. Normosol-R
C. 0.9% NaCl
D. LRS
Rationale: Normal saline has high chloride, which can induce hyperchloremic
acidosis.
9. Which parameter is most reliable for guiding fluid resuscitation in septic shock?
A. Heart rate
B. Central venous pressure
C. Blood pressure and lactate trends
D. Packed cell volume
Rationale: BP and lactate are validated measures for resuscitation endpoints in
sepsis.
10. In veterinary CPR, the recommended chest compression rate is:
A. 60–80/min
B. 100–120/min
C. 140–160/min
D. 180–200/min
Rationale: RECOVER guidelines recommend 100–120 compressions per minute.
11. The primary mechanism of mannitol in treating cerebral edema is:
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Osmotic diuresis reducing intracranial pressure
C. Blocking sodium channels
D. Decreasing CSF production
Rationale: Mannitol creates an osmotic gradient, drawing fluid from brain tissue
into vessels.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2025|2026 Q&A | INSTANTDOWNLOAD
1. A dog presents with suspected gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). The most
immediate life-saving intervention is:
A. Induce anesthesia for surgery
B. Administer antibiotics
C. Decompress the stomach
D. Place a urinary catheter
Rationale: Gastric decompression relieves pressure on the caudal vena cava,
improving venous return before surgery.
2. Which of the following best describes the most accurate method to confirm
endotracheal tube placement?
A. Observation of chest rise
B. Auscultation of breath sounds
C. Capnography waveform
D. Fogging in the tube
Rationale: Continuous capnography is the gold standard for confirming correct ET
tube placement.
3. Hypocalcemia in dogs is most commonly associated with:
A. Addison’s disease
B. Eclampsia
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Diabetes insipidus
Rationale: Eclampsia (periparturient hypocalcemia) is a common cause of acute
hypocalcemia in small animals.
,4. The first step in treating suspected anaphylaxis in a dog is:
A. Dexamethasone IV
B. Epinephrine IM
C. Diphenhydramine IM
D. IV fluids only
Rationale: Epinephrine is the first-line treatment to reverse bronchoconstriction
and hypotension in anaphylaxis.
5. Which blood product is most appropriate for treating von Willebrand disease in
a dog?
A. Packed red blood cells
B. Fresh frozen plasma
C. Cryoprecipitate
D. Whole blood
Rationale: Cryoprecipitate is rich in vWF, making it the best choice for vWD.
6. A cat with urethral obstruction is hyperkalemic (K⁺ = 8.5 mmol/L) and
bradycardic. The most immediate treatment is:
A. Insulin and dextrose
B. Calcium gluconate IV
C. Sodium bicarbonate
D. Terbutaline
Rationale: Calcium stabilizes myocardial cell membranes, preventing fatal
arrhythmias.
7. A dog in shock has a high lactate level. Lactate is best interpreted as:
A. Renal dysfunction
B. Marker of tissue hypoperfusion
C. Evidence of sepsis only
D. Marker of hepatic failure
Rationale: Elevated lactate reflects anaerobic metabolism from tissue
hypoxia/hypoperfusion.
, 8. Which fluid has the greatest risk of causing hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis?
A. Plasma-Lyte
B. Normosol-R
C. 0.9% NaCl
D. LRS
Rationale: Normal saline has high chloride, which can induce hyperchloremic
acidosis.
9. Which parameter is most reliable for guiding fluid resuscitation in septic shock?
A. Heart rate
B. Central venous pressure
C. Blood pressure and lactate trends
D. Packed cell volume
Rationale: BP and lactate are validated measures for resuscitation endpoints in
sepsis.
10. In veterinary CPR, the recommended chest compression rate is:
A. 60–80/min
B. 100–120/min
C. 140–160/min
D. 180–200/min
Rationale: RECOVER guidelines recommend 100–120 compressions per minute.
11. The primary mechanism of mannitol in treating cerebral edema is:
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Osmotic diuresis reducing intracranial pressure
C. Blocking sodium channels
D. Decreasing CSF production
Rationale: Mannitol creates an osmotic gradient, drawing fluid from brain tissue
into vessels.
