Acid/Base

Question 1

What is normal physiological pH for animals?

Answer 1

(~7.4)

Question 2

Give the acid base value that would indicate that following:

• Respiratory acidosis
• Metabolic alkalosis
• Respiratory alkalosis
• Metabolic acidosis

Answer 2

• Respiratory acidosis (High CO2)
• Metabolic alkalosis (High HCO3)
• Respiratory alkalosis (Low CO2)
• Metabolic acidosis (Low HCO3)

Question 3

What are the differentials for metabolic acidosis?

Answer 3

(Diabetic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, uremic acidosis, ethylene glycol toxicity, and aspirin toxicity)

Question 4

What are the differentials for metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 4

(GI obstruction and chronic loop diuretic use)

Question 5

If you have hypochloremia, what value on your blood gas would indicate a GI obstruction?

Answer 5

(High HCO3/metabolic alkalosis)

Question 6

If you have a metabolic alkalosis, what chem value would indicate a GI obstruction?

Answer 6

(Hypochloremia)

Question 7

What are the differentials for respiratory acidosis?

Answer 7

(Anesthesia/drugs (general anesthetics, opioids), neurological conditions (CNS, cervical spinal dz, lower motor neuron dysfunction), and fatigue/failure)

Question 8

What are the differentials for respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 8

(Severe hypoxemia, anxiety/stress (would be a mild alkalosis), CNS disease (rarely causes hyperventilation but possible), severe hyperthermia, and iatrogenic (anesthesia, etc.))