A Technician's Guide to Livestock Blood Gases

This is a one-hour lecture focusing on using venous blood gas to diagnose and manage common livestock emergencies and disease processes for technicians. This presentation will discuss the steps and necessary equipment for obtaining a venous blood gas in the field versus the clinic. We will provide a brief overview of the various aspects of a venous blood gas, including normal reference ranges for various livestock species. Similarly, we will discuss common causes of pH and electrolyte derangements in livestock species. Next, we will focus on the derangements associated with common diseases, including urolithiasis, gastrointestinal diseases (obstructions, displacements), diarrhea, and pregnancy toxemia, among others. By the end of this session, technicians will be able to identify and describe key abnormalities and their potential disease processes, as well as anticipate the next steps in a treatment plan based on venous blood gas.