How to Tailor Fluid Therapy to Individual Patients

Deborah Silverstein, DVM, DACVECC, associate professor of critical care at the University of Pennsylvania, explains how she tailors fluid therapy to individual patients.

First, you need to do a very thorough examination, along with any diagnostic lab work to determine what the disease process is for that particular patient. Then, if they have comorbidities that might affect their response to fluids, you can pick the fluid that is the most appropriate for that patient.