ABSTRACT
Careful intravenous fluid administration is one of the most important aspects of care of the emergent patient. The placement of an intravenous catheter for the administration of intravenous fluids is important in the correction of acid–base and electrolyte abnormalities, to replace intravascular and interstitial fluid volume deficits, and to treat or prevent dehydration or hypovolemic shock. Vascular access is also important for the administration of drugs, blood products, and parenteral nutrition. For these reasons, the placement and maintenance of intravenous catheters are among the most important techniques to master in any veterinary hospital. Blood samples can be collected from larger bore catheters to prevent the need for uncomfortable repeated venipuncture. The benefits of vascular access are undoubtedly numerous, but are not altogether innocuous, and in some cases can result in complications that can contribute to patient morbidity. Care must therefore be taken to avoid inherent risks associated with intravenous catheterization. In the rare event that an intravenous catheter cannot be placed due to peripheral edema, extreme dehydration or hypotension, thrombophlebitis, generalized skin lesions, or coagulopathies, surgical cutdown to a vessel or placement of an intraosseous catheter may be necessary.
