Pulmonary contusion occurs when there is an injury to the lung parenchyma without the presence of any vascular or lung lacerations. Usually, it is caused by any trauma to the chest or due to a shock wave entering through chest injuries, which leads to the impairment of the exchange of gas and decreased lung compliance, leading to respiratory failure. Small animal fluid therapy is the life-saving treatment for pulmonary contusions in veterinary medicine. Visit Eaton Rapids Animal Health Care for the best small animal fluid therapy.

Small animal fluid therapy for pulmonary contusion: How is it done?

Managing pulmonary contusion in animals by fluid therapy is a bit complicated because if there is an inappropriate administration of fluid, which worsens the pulmonary edema, which can also result in hypotension, which causes poor tissue perfusion, that can cause shock, which will be a very critical condition to manage in case of an injured animal. Some key points to be remembered before and while doing fluid therapy are proper monitoring of the respiratory rate, ventilation, and oxygenation. Urine output and assessment of hemodynamic status are very important to maintain the stability of the animal.

A careful selection of fluids should be used for the therapy. There are different types of fluids available for the therapy, such as colloids, crystalloids, transfusion of the packed red blood cell, or whole blood, which are also sometimes given. Colloids are used for maintaining intravascular volume for a longer duration than crystalloids; they also help to avoid fluid overload or excessive administration of fluid as they can provide better expansion of volume with small fluid volumes.

Are there any risks involved?

There are also some risks, such as anaphylactic or allergic reactions and clotting disorders. Maintaining a proper fluid rate of infusion is also essential; initially, it should be slow, and the reassessment of fluid rate is very important to prevent excessive administration of fluid. The use of diuretics like furosemide is very useful during initial resuscitation, as it helps to remove excessive fluid present in the lungs of the animal. Still, they should be used cautiously, as they can cause a decrease in blood volume, leading to a decrease in blood pressure, which may also lead to shock.

Small animal fluid therapy in animals for pulmonary contusions is a very vital and life-saving treatment option. Still, it is a bit tricky to perform and requires some careful consideration of the severity of the injury and hemodynamic status. The main goal of the therapy is to maintain adequate blood pressure and tissue perfusion and avoid pulmonary edema. That is why small-animal fluid therapy in animals significantly helps to improve the prognosis of animals with pulmonary contusions. 

What are the signs seen in animals having pulmonary contusion?

There are some respiratory signs that can be seen in animals suffering from pulmonary contusion, such as increased respiratory rate, difficult or rapid breathing, coughing, cyanosis, which means bluish discoloration of the mucous membranes,open-mouth breathing, and nasal discharge. Some other signs involved are decreased appetite, lethargy, shock, and tachycardia.

What are the complications pulmonary contusions can cause during fluid therapy in animals?

As we know, pulmonary contusion is a trauma to the lungs resulting in bruising and bleeding within the lung tissue, impairing oxygen exchange and causing respiratory failure. It leads to the development of pulmonary edema, which is the accumulation of fluid in the lungs by increasing the permeability of the lung capillaries. Hence, fluid therapy should be carried out carefully to prevent overwhelming fluid excess to the lungs, which can cause respiratory distress. 

How can I monitor an animal suffering from pulmonary contusions?

Monitoring should be done within the first 24 to 48 hours, followed by regular assessments such as respiratory rate. Heart rate, blood pressure, urine output, and oxygen saturation. If necessary, thoracic radiographs should be done to know whether there is any worsening of pulmonary edema or the presence of any other complications.