| Serum K* (mEq/L)
Max
rate*
(ml/kg/hr)
|
KCL (2 mEq/ml) To
Add To
Fluid
Volume* (set
above)
|
|---|---|
| K+
< 2mEq/L 6
mL/kg/hr
|
Add
KCL
|
| K+
= 2.1-2.5mEq/L
8
mL/kg/hr
|
Add
KCL
|
| K+
=2.6-3.0mEq/L
12
mL/kg/hr
|
Add
KCL
|
| K+
= 3.1-3.5mEq/L
18
mL/kg/hr
|
Add
KCL
|
| K+
= 3.6-5.0mEq/L
25
mL/kg/hr
|
Add
KCL
|
Dehydration
Fluid Deficit Formula:
Body weight (kg) × % dehydration = Fluid Deficit (L)
Replace Deficit volumes over 24 hours
- Less than 5% dehydration: No detectable clinical signs
- 5 to 8% dehydration: Subtle loss of skin elasticity and skin turgor, tacky or sticky mucous membranes, normal eyes
- 8 to 10% dehydration: Skin tenting, dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes, dull corneas, tachycardia
- More than 10% dehydration: Considerable loss of skin turgor, severely sunken eyes, tachycardia, weak or thread pulses, hypotension, altered level of consciousness
Calculate the drip rate for a specific volume of fluid to administer over a specific time.
gtt = drops, gtts = drops/sec
IV Drip
Rate(gtt/min) =
Volume to give (mls) x Drop factor (gtts/mL) /
Time (min)
Ongoing Losses
Replace Ongoing Losses within 2–4 hr of the loss
Ongoing losses include excessive urine output in polyuric animals, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, and third spacing. These losses vary by patient and may be difficult to calculate. A general rule is to estimate the amount of ongoing loss in a patient in ml/h and reassess in 2 to 4 hours to determine if the amount needs to be adjusted.
