The tragic unexpected loss of a dog is always painful. Most of us dont think of our dogs suddenly dying with no warning, but it does occur. Understanding what happened and how it happened are a significant part of closure to our loss. In a study of autopsies performed at Purdue University Small Animal Diagnostic Laboratory1 over a five-year period, nearly 10 percent (112 cases) had been associated with sudden unexpected death. None of these dogs had a history of existing disease. Dog owners often jump to conclusions in these cases -- Somebody poisoned my dog! -- when in reality malicious poisonings are extremely uncommon and most of those suspected are inadvertent exposures. The causes found by pathologists involved: A similar survey had been published in Canada and resulted in similar figures2. Causes of Death Unfortunately, in spite of all efforts, some causes of death remain undetermined. However, it is always good to pursue a cause of death for your own peace of mind and to protect other pets. General causes of sudden death can be grouped according to the organ system involved: Toxins may also be involved but no one toxin is more likely to have caused a dogs … Continue reading →

A note about pre-requisite learning: A clear understanding of human acid-base physiology is necessary before you begin this learning activity An introduction to acid-base imbalances will facilitate your understanding of the contents within this tutorial. Upon completion of this learning activity, you will be able to orecognize clinical manifestations associated with acid-base imbalances. omatch pH values with acid-base imbalances. oselect the correct answer following the review of each case study. ocompare and contrast the step-wise assessment of determining the acid-base balance of the blood. oidentify the appropriate etiology of metabolic acidosis/alkalosis and respiratory acidosis/alkalosis. odifferentiate between compensatory and non-compensatory ABG changes. Sometimes reading and deciphering Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) can be a challenge! I have provided an interactive online tutorial for your review. Arterial blood gas values reflect ventilation and acid-base balance. The results include the arterial blood pH (concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood) , partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) dissolved in the arterial plasma, and the concentration of sodium bicarbonate (HCO3-) in the blood. Our bodies regulate an acid-base balance through a "buffer system." This buffer system neutralizes acids. There are three buffer systems that exist for the maintenance of our acid-base equilibrium: a buffer system … Continue reading →