Postoperative management of the emergency surgery small animal patient

Hypovolemia, hypothermia, and hypotension are common postoperative findings that predispose the critically ill patient to secondary complications. This patient population is especially vulnerable to sepsis, hypoxia, and immune dysfunction. Careful monitoring is essential for early recognition of potentially life-threatening physiologic derangements. Early and aggressive intervention may help minimize systemic insult before it progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, or multiple organ failure.