ABSTRACT
In small animal medicine, it is now considered to be the standard of care to administer intravenous fluids to any patient that has a condition that is associated with a lack of fluid intake or with fluid loss. Some persons may think that the science and thought processes behind fluid administration are mysterious and complex. However, fluid therapy can be simplified a little by first providing information about fluid composition and compartments within the body, describing how fluid moves from compartment to compartment, and how to recognize and treat fluid derangements, including hypovolemia and various degrees of dehydration.
