Fluid Overload in Small Animal Patients

Fluid therapy is used daily by veterinary practitioners and is an essential part of treatment of many veterinary patients. However, as with all interventions, there is the potential for negative side effects resulting from fluid therapy. Fluid overload is a key side effect that has been increasingly recognized in human medicine as leading to significant negative sequelae. Evidence related to fluid overload in veterinary medicine is sparse but it is likely that the same types of negative sequelae are seen in our veterinary patients. The goal of this review is to present a definition for fluid overload in small animal veterinary patients and ways to both recognize and treat fluid overload. Additionally, ways to avoid the development of fluid overload are described.