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One of the most common uses of fluid therapy is for patient support during the perianesthetic period. Decisions regarding whether to provide fluids during anesthesia and the type and volume used depend on many factors.

First, determine the  initial rate and volume  based on whether the patient needs whole body rehydration or vascular space volume expansion. Next, determine the fluid type based on replacement and maintenance needs as described in the following sections.

The physical exam will help determine if the patient has whole body fluid loss (e.g., dehydration in patients with renal disease), vascular space fluid loss (e.g., hypovolemia due to blood loss), or hypervolemia (e.g., heart disease, iatrogenic fluid overload)

Patients with body fluid content changes include those with electrolyte disturbances, blood glucose alterations, anemia, and polycythemia. Patient assessment will dictate patient fluid content needs.

Fluid distribution abnormalities include edema (pulmonary, peripheral, interstitial) and effusions (pleural, abdominal, through the skin of burn patients).

Staffing considerations and a description of useful equipment for delivery of fluid therapy are described below.

Fluid therapy is important for many medical conditions in veterinary patients. The goal of these guidelines is to assist the clinician in prioritizing goals, selecting appropriate fluids and rates of administration, and assessing patient response to therapy.

2013 AAHA/AAFP Fluid Therapy Guidelines for Dogs and Cats references

2013 AAHA/AAFP Fluid Therapy Guidelines implementation toolkit 

Resources for veterinary teams for building infection control, prevention and biosecurity protocols.