A Q&A With Adesola Odunayo, DVM, MS, DACVECC

Adesola Odunayo, DVM, MS, DACVECC, will present “Foundations of Fluid Therapy for Everyday Use,” sponsored by Dechra, on Monday, January 19, at 10:30 AM. She will discuss the principles of fluid therapy as well as fluid prescription to treat patients that are sick or critically ill. To give attendees a sneak peek at her lecture, Odunayo did this Q&A with dvm360®.

dvm360: Starting with your name, can you tell me a little about yourself?

I am a critical care veterinarian at the University of Florida. I did my veterinary training at Oklahoma State University (2005) and finished a residency in emergency and critical care at the University of Missouri (2010). I enjoy all aspects of emergency and critical care, and I am very passionate about fluid therapy; thus, I am excited to do this presentation.

dvm360: What are the key clinical and laboratory indicators you would use to assess a critically ill patient’s volume status and determine their need for fluid resuscitation?

This is a great question. Although there are other complicated ways to determine the intravascular volume status, practitioners can do this easily using the patient’s vital parameters, including heart rate, pulse quality, blood pressure, capillary refill time, and blood lactate concentrations. Point-of-care ultrasound can also be used to assess the intravascular volume status.

dvm360: What is a readily available clinical method you would use to rapidly assess whether a patient is fluid responsive?

Positive changes in the indicators described in question 2!

dvm360: What are 3 specific signs of fluid overload you would actively monitor for in a patient receiving high-rate intravenous fluids, and if you observe these signs, and what immediate steps would you take?

Signs of fluid intolerance may include an increased respiratory rate, nasal discharge, development of pleural/peritoneal effusion, development of pulmonary edema, and/or peripheral pitting edema. The fluid therapy should be stopped, and the patient reevaluated if those signs develop.

dvm360: What are some key takeaways you hope people leave your session with?

Attendees should be comfortable with coming up with a fluid prescription and setting up a fluid plan for veterinary patients. Attendees will also get an opportunity to review the different types of fluids most commonly used in veterinary medicine.

dvm360: Is there anything else you would like to add that I have not asked you?

Fluids are drugs, and their use should be intentional instead of arbitrary!