A Retrospective Evaluation of Intravenous Fluid Usage in Animal Patients Treated at Veterinary Teaching Hospital Nsukka, 2005-2015

Abstract

This study evaluated intravenous fluid usage in patients presented for treatment at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nsukka between January 2005 and June 2015. A total of 1854 (1743 medical and 111 surgical) case files were studied. Results showed that of this number, 89 patients received intravenous fluid during treatment. Out of the 89 patients, 86 patients were treated for medical conditions while 3 patients underwent surgery. Out of the medical cases given fluid, 30 were diarrheic, 10 were vomiting while 8 were diarrheic and vomiting. Anorexia, lethargy, salivation, cornea opacity, haematuria and convulsion were observed in 20, 8, 2, 4, 1 and 3 of the patients respectively. Vulval discharge was noted in 1 surgical case while 2 patients had skin wound. The proportion of cases presented with indication for fluid therapy varied significantly (P<0.05) between the species studied. The proportion of medical (4.90%) and surgical (2.70%) cases given fluid were not significantly different (P>0.05). The proportion varied insignificantly (P>0.05) between male (2.10%) and female (2.69%) animals and also between young (3.07%) and older (1.73%) animals. Dextrose saline was used in majority of the patients (63 out of 89). Other fluid used were 50% dextrose (n=10), 5% dextrose (n=5), lactated ringers (n=5), isoplasma (n=3), darrows solution (n=2) and 10% dextrose (n=1). In conclusion, this study revealed that indication for IV fluid usage in VTH, Nsukka was strongly associated with the species and health status of the animals. Also, some choices of intravenous fluid made were not based on the presenting clinical, but on the judgment of the clinician.

Key words: Intravenous fluid, Usage, Animal Patients, Retrospective study.