Scott P. Shaw, DVM, DACVECC

This critical care specialist shares 13 lessons he learned the hard way while practicing emergency medicine.

At birth, the autonomic nervous system and the baroreceptor reflexes are immature, with the ANS maturing by day 10 and the baroreceptor system maturing by 4 weeks.

The principles surrounding the initial approach to the patient with abdominal trauma are similar to those in a patient that has sustained any form of trauma. Rapid assessment of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems should be performed, and the presence of shock should be identified.

Dr. Scott Shaw thinks you'll do more good than harm if you don't shy away from this life-saving procedure, especially if it's needed before transporting a patient to a referral center.

At birth, the autonomic nervous system and the baroreceptor reflexes are immature, with the ANS maturing by day 10 and the baroreceptor system maturing by 4 weeks. Due to this immature state, it is difficult for the neonate to respond to changes in blood pressure.

Neurological emergencies are common in small animal practice. As with other body systems, infections, neoplasms, trauma, inflammatory processes, congenital and hereditary diseases all affect the central and peripheral nervous systems causing a range of mild to severe conditions.