VTNE Medical Nursing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dog is presented with pale mucous membranes, tachycardia, and weak pulses. These signs are most consistent with:
- Shock (Correct answer)
- Polycythemia
- Hypertension
- Hyperthermia
Correct answer: Shock
Pale mucous membranes, tachycardia, and weak pulses are classic signs of shock due to poor tissue perfusion.
Question 2: Which fluid type is considered isotonic and is most commonly used for routine fluid replacement therapy in small animals?
- 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W)
- 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline) (Correct answer)
- 3% Sodium Chloride
- 7.5% Sodium Chloride
Correct answer: 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline)
0.9% NaCl is isotonic with plasma and is a standard crystalloid used for fluid replacement in small animal patients.
Question 3: The normal capillary refill time (CRT) in a healthy dog or cat is:
- Less than 2 seconds (Correct answer)
- 2–3 seconds
- 3–4 seconds
- Greater than 4 seconds
Correct answer: Less than 2 seconds
A CRT of less than 2 seconds indicates adequate peripheral perfusion in dogs and cats.
Question 4: A patient's rectal temperature is 104.5°F (40.3°C). How is this classified in dogs?
- Hypothermia
- Normal
- Mild to moderate hyperthermia (Correct answer)
- Severe hyperthermia
Correct answer: Mild to moderate hyperthermia
Normal canine rectal temperature is 100.5–102.5°F; 104.5°F falls in the mild to moderate hyperthermia range, with severe hyperthermia typically above 106°F.
Question 5: A patient receiving IV fluids develops swelling and coolness at the catheter insertion site. This most likely indicates:
- Phlebitis
- Perivascular fluid infiltration (Correct answer)
- Thrombosis
- Air embolism
Correct answer: Perivascular fluid infiltration
Perivascular infiltration (extravasation) occurs when fluid leaks out of the vein into surrounding tissue, causing local swelling and coolness.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a clinical sign of dehydration in veterinary patients?
- Skin tenting
- Sunken eyes
- Bradycardia (Correct answer)
- Dry mucous membranes
Correct answer: Bradycardia
Dehydration causes tachycardia (compensatory), not bradycardia; the other three are classic signs of fluid deficit.
Question 7: When placing an indwelling urinary catheter in a male dog, the catheter tip should be advanced until it reaches the:
- Proximal urethra only
- Urinary bladder (Correct answer)
- Ureter
- Prostate
Correct answer: Urinary bladder
The catheter must reach the urinary bladder to allow complete urine drainage and accurate sample collection.
VTNE Medical Nursing 1
A dog is presented with pale mucous membranes, tachycardia, and weak pulses.
These signs are most consistent with: