CVA Veterinary Practice and Nursing Care 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When placing an IV catheter in a dog's cephalic vein, which hand position is used to raise the vein?
- The assistant applies pressure distal to the insertion site
- The assistant occludes the vein proximal to the insertion site (Correct answer)
- The handler presses on the jugular notch
- No occlusion is needed; the vein is naturally prominent
Correct answer: The assistant occludes the vein proximal to the insertion site
Occluding the cephalic vein proximal (toward the elbow) to the insertion site causes blood to pool distally, making the vein visible and turgid for catheter placement.
Question 2: A veterinary assistant notices a surgical patient's mucous membranes are white and the capillary refill time (CRT) is 3 seconds. These findings suggest:
- Normal perfusion
- Hypovolemia or poor perfusion (Correct answer)
- Hyperoxia
- Adequate anesthetic depth
Correct answer: Hypovolemia or poor perfusion
White or pale mucous membranes combined with a CRT greater than 2 seconds indicate poor peripheral perfusion, often due to shock or significant blood loss.
Question 3: Which disinfectant is considered effective against parvovirus on hard surfaces?
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
- Isopropyl alcohol 70%
- Dilute bleach (sodium hypochlorite 1:32) (Correct answer)
- Chlorhexidine gluconate 2%
Correct answer: Dilute bleach (sodium hypochlorite 1:32)
Parvovirus is a non-enveloped virus resistant to many disinfectants, but dilute bleach (1:32 dilution of household bleach) is effective against it on hard, non-porous surfaces.
Question 4: In the context of anesthesia monitoring, 'ETCO2' refers to:
- Expiratory tidal volume
- End-tidal carbon dioxide (Correct answer)
- Effective total cardiac output
- Estimated tissue oxygenation index
Correct answer: End-tidal carbon dioxide
ETCO2 (end-tidal carbon dioxide) measures the concentration of CO2 at the end of exhalation and reflects ventilation adequacy and cardiac output.
Question 5: When collecting a urine sample via cystocentesis, the needle is inserted into the:
- Urethra
- Bladder directly through the abdominal wall (Correct answer)
- Kidney pelvis
- Ureter
Correct answer: Bladder directly through the abdominal wall
Cystocentesis involves inserting a needle through the ventral abdominal wall directly into the bladder to collect a sterile urine sample.
Question 6: Which behavior in a hospitalized dog most strongly indicates pain?
- Tail wagging when approached
- Eating all meals eagerly
- Guarding or flinching when the affected area is touched (Correct answer)
- Resting quietly in sternal recumbency
Correct answer: Guarding or flinching when the affected area is touched
Guarding (protecting a body region) and flinching upon palpation are reliable indicators of localized pain in veterinary patients.
Question 7: Which type of bandage layer is applied directly against the wound surface?
- Tertiary (outer) layer
- Secondary (intermediate) layer
- Primary (contact) layer (Correct answer)
- Compression layer
Correct answer: Primary (contact) layer
The primary layer contacts the wound directly and may be non-adherent or absorbent depending on wound type and stage of healing.
CVA Veterinary Practice and Nursing Care 4
When placing an IV catheter in a dog's cephalic vein, which hand position is used to raise the vein?