“Elevating Veterinary Patient Care Protocols with ICU Cages”

Picture this… Let’s call it scenario 1:

Rocco, a canine patient you’ve come to know and love, comes in for a routine dental.

After completing a pre-anesthetic exam and reviewing his recent lab work, Rocco was led to the treatment area for anesthetic induction and his dental procedure.  

His dental visit was thankfully uneventful. He had a basic cleaning and one minor extraction. He’s ready to move on to recovery!

As Rocco wakes up from anesthesia, he’s thermogenic (his body temperature is below average) and tachycardic (his heart rate is severely elevated).

As veterinary nurses attempt to intervene, Rocco’s anxiety increases, and he begins thrashing and vocalizing. Through the kennel door, one of the nurses notices the color of his tongue slowly change from bright pink to a light pale purple, and they attempt to administer oxygen.

Rocco’s responding fearfully and won’t allow the team to come close. The veterinarian, who’s already started seeing afternoon appointments, is pulled from a room to assist.

Let’s pause here…

A few red flags are going up:

1.       The patient is overly stressed and because of his fearful response, intervention, and treatment are delayed

2.       The Veterinarian is pulled away from appointments, causing delays for other patients needing care

3.       Clients are getting understandably upset due to extended wait times

The snowball effect continues…

So, let’s switch gears and take a look at scenario 2:

Rocco, who you know and love, comes in for his routine dental as scheduled.

The pre-anesthetic exam and labs look good – so he’s off to his procedure.

The procedure goes as planned. A simple cleaning and a single extraction. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Rocco has been moved to the recovery area, where a temperature-controlled ICU cage awaits him. The warm environment helps slowly bring his body temperature back to normal.

The soft-close plastic doors reduce the unfamiliar noises of the hospital, helping keep Rocco’s anxiety at bay. With clear visibility, his veterinary team can keep close tabs on his progress.

After his swallow reflex returns and he’s safely extubated, the treatment technician uses the external control panel to turn on some supplemental oxygen for Rocco as he recovers.

After a short time, Rocco’s vitals are in a healthy range; he’s bright, alert, and ready to head home!

Although your hospital may not offer emergency or ICU services…

ICU cages still bring incredible value to patient care and staff monitoring in general practice.

They increase hospital workflow and efficiency by helping to reduce complications, minimizing unnecessary staff attention, and minimizing disruptions to the daily schedule.  

In our last scenario, having the ICU cages as part of their recovery protocol helped:

·         Improve patient recovery

·         Reduce appointment interruptions

·         Ease observation and monitoring

As time passes, more veterinary practices are investing in ICU cages to enhance their patient care protocols and elevate their standard of care.

Now more than ever, our furry friends are considered family members more than they are “house pets.”

The love and companionship they bring to our lives are unmatched, and as their veterinary care team, we have the exciting opportunity to provide a comfortable and safe experience.

Learn More about ICU cages - https://newvetequipment.com/intensive-care-unit

3 Reasons Why ICU Cages are Critical to Veterinary Recovery

Unsurprisingly, ICU (intensive care unit) cages have gained popularity in veterinary hospitals and are slowly being considered a standard part of inpatient care.  

The rate of pet ownership continues to experience steady growth, resulting in a rising demand for veterinary care and services.

Veterinary ICUs, specialty & emergency hospitals, and general practices have expanded hospital treatment areas to accommodate ICU cages and support the incoming demand.

Market research indicates that ICU cage popularity will continue to grow due to their crucial role in providing intensive care to ill, injured, or post-operative patients.

With a controlled environment for monitoring and supportive care, ICU cages are the ideal stress-free environment for patients to recover comfortably.

Let’s take a look at three main reasons ICU cages are so critical to veterinary recovery.

#1 Convenient Patient Monitoring and Supportive Care for Inpatients

• There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to monitoring and supportive care, and it’s safe to say you can never have too much.

• Age, weight, disease process, pain profile, and other factors can vary the level of supportive care our patients need.

• To be cautious, monitoring should continue even after the patient is considered " normal.”

  ICU Cages offer:

• Soft, close, clear plastic doors for easy visual observation

• 3-1 lighting systems with adjustable brightness for exams, observation, and therapy

• Silent air systems for quiet oxygen therapy

• Built-in IV support and Nebulizer

#2 Comfortable Anesthetic Recovery

Since post-anesthetic recovery isn’t always straightforward, diligent monitoring can reduce the risk of complications.

Anesthesia (and surgical procedures) can profoundly impact a patient’s thermoregulatory system. Small changes in a patient’s body temperature can encourage recovery or harm cellular and tissue function.

Hypothermia following an anesthetic procedure is one of the most common complications found in canines and felines.

ICU cages use an active warming approach in a temperature-controlled environment, which reduces the risk of hypothermia and helps to increase recovery times.

#3: Providing the Best Standard of Care

Now more than ever, pet parents are willing to seek advanced diagnostic and treatment options for the best possible care.

With a growing awareness of advanced veterinary medicine, please ensure your practice has the best supportive equipment for your incoming patients.  

Your patients and clients deserve the peace of mind of knowing your practice offers housing geared toward safety and comfort.

This will allow your team to provide hassle-free observation and monitoring for each patient. 

Learn More - Veterinary ICU Standard Of Care - https://newvetequipment.com/blog/veterinary-icu-standard-of-care

Learn More - When Does Your Patient Need The Extra Support Of A Veterinary Smart ICU? https://newvetequipment.com/blog/when-does-your-patient-need-the-extra-support-of-a-veterinary-smart-icu

Learn More - What Does An ICU Cage Unit Do For A Critical Pet Patient? https://newvetequipment.com/blog/what-does-an-icu-cage-unit-do-for-a-critical-pet-patient

What does an ICU cage unit do for a critical pet patient?

A Safe Haven for Healing: Understanding the Benefits of Veterinary ICU Cages

Care of the critically ill patient can be challenging enough as it is; makeshift oxygen tents, fluctuating room temperatures, and awkward nebulization systems can make it seem like a real uphill struggle.

Vet surgeons and vet techs who have access to the latest innovations in intensive care equipment can focus their time and energy on patients and treatment plans, instead of wasting it battling environmental undesirables.  

So, what are our requirements?

Oxygen Supply

One of the primary features of all our intensive care unit (ICU) cages is the supplementation of oxygen (O2).

Traditional flow-by methods are unreliable, in no small part due lack of patient compliance. With flow-by, not only is it difficult to quantify the amount of O2 being delivered to a patient, but it is also nearly impossible to track and measure the patient’s response to the gradual removal of said supplementation.

The user-friendly control panel on our ICU cages facilitates the delivery of precise proportions of O2 into a patient’s micro-environment.

These levels can be readily adjusted in a manner to suit the patient’s needs, who can be easily viewed and monitored via the clear-view cage doors. O2 concentrators can be utilized with our ICU cages for the highly economical creation of medical-grade O2.

Vet professionals can relax in the knowledge that certain safety functions are in place to protect patients. Not only will an alarm sound should O2 concentration fall below 20%, or carbon dioxide exceed 2000ppm, but they can rest assured that intelligent technology will automatically engage the external circulation of air in these circumstances, and therefore maintain patient safety.

Nebulization

For patients requiring nebulization, our ICU cages offer an extremely exciting feature. Environmental medical nebulization is an inbuilt function, removing the need for awkward, handheld systems that are poorly tolerated by pets, with the potential to induce stress.

What is more, the efficacy of nebulization is dramatically improved and can be achieved without disturbing the patient.   

Warming

Hypothermic patients benefit from our ICU cages through the gentle, reliable, and consistent application of warm air into their environment.

Burns from heat mats and microwaveable wheat bags need to be a risk no more. Instead, it is possible to accurately monitor and adjust environmental temperature at the touch of a button, for safe and effective warming. 

Quiet, calm, and spacious accommodation

Other benefits of ICU cages include the calm, and quiet environment that they create.

There are no clattering metal cage doors. Instead, soft-closing plastic doors make for a peaceful experience for critically unwell patients who may be stressed about their condition.

The impact of anxiety on compromised patients is no secret amongst vet professionals: we all know that it can interrupt and prolong treatments and therefore recovery. For this reason, our ICU cages feature silent air conditioning systems and a 3-in-1 light system.

White light is invaluable for times of patient assessment, whilst gentle, warm light is invaluable for general monitoring, and blue light is available for therapeutic purposes.

Our cages can accommodate larger patients than some since there is a removable divider. When the divider is in place, the control panel is capable of setting individual environmental conditions for each cage, resulting in tailored care for each patient.

Infection control

When a critical patient poses the additional challenges of being either infectious, or immunosuppressed, it can be tricky to know where to house them for their safety, or that of other patients.

Our ICU cages come into their own in these circumstances, with to state-of-the-art photo-hydro-ionization technology which continuously disinfects and deodorizes the cage. An internal air circulation system further bolsters the creation of a safe and sterile environment, reducing cross-contamination between patients. 

ICU cages can have been described as life-supporting pieces of equipment, and it is easy to see why. As veterinary professionals, we not only aim to not harm, but we also strive for the best standard of care when it comes to our patients;

ICU housing facilitates exactly this for many critically unwell pets including neonates, infectious patients, critical care patients, those with cardiopulmonary diseases, those with post-operative complications, as well as geriatrics.

Struggle with makeshift oxygen & unreliable nebulization? Our ICU cages offer:

• Precise oxygen delivery with alarms & safety features.

• Built-in nebulization for improved efficacy & reduced stress.

• Safe & controlled warming to avoid burns.

• Quiet environment with silent AC & calming light options.

• Infection control with photo-hydro-ionization & air circulation.

Ideal for neonates, infectious, critical care, & more!

https://newvetequipment.com/intensive-care-unit

When Does Your Patient Need the Extra Support of a Veterinary Smart ICU?

As a veterinary professional, your priority is always the well-being of your animal patients. For some, surgery, even when necessary, can be a risky and stressful experience.

That's where veterinary Smart ICUs come in, offering an advanced level of care and monitoring to maximize their chances of a smooth recovery. 

But when exactly should you consider utilizing this specialized unit? Here are some key scenarios:

1. Postoperative Care:

Following surgery, even routine procedures, some animals require close monitoring and specialized care. The Smart ICU provides a controlled environment with constant observation, allowing you to:

• Identify and address potential complications early: From pain management to bleeding risks, the ICU's advanced equipment and dedicated staff can intervene swiftly, minimizing setbacks.

• Deliver consistent, precise medication: IV drips, pain relievers and other critical medications can be administered accurately and continuously in the ICU, ensuring optimal effectiveness.

• Promote a comfortable recovery: Temperature control, oxygen therapy, and specialized bedding can create a soothing environment for healing.

2. Critical Care and Emergency Situations:

Animals experiencing severe illnesses, trauma, or life-threatening conditions need immediate and expert intervention. The Smart ICU is equipped to handle:

• Cardiopulmonary issues: Advanced monitoring of heart rate, respiration, and oxygen levels allows for swift action in critical situations.

• Infectious diseases: Isolation rooms within the ICU prevent the spread of contagious illnesses while providing specialized care.

• Severe injuries: From accident victims to animals requiring complex surgical procedures, the ICU offers the necessary equipment and expertise for critical care.

3. Special Needs Patients:

Young pups and kittens, geriatric individuals, and animals with pre-existing conditions require extra attention after surgery. The Smart ICU is ideal for:

• Newborn care: Providing warmth, oxygen, and specialized feeding support is crucial for fragile neonates.

• Elderly care: Monitoring vital signs, managing pain, and ensuring comfort tailored to their unique needs.

• Patients with chronic conditions: Offering a haven with specialized equipment and protocols to address their specific requirements.

Making the Informed Decision:

Deciding whether a Smart ICU is right for your patient requires careful consideration of the individual case.

Factors like the complexity of the surgery, the animal's pre-existing health, and potential recovery challenges should be weighed.

Remember, a Smart ICU is an invaluable tool in your arsenal, offering an extra layer of support and potentially improving recovery outcomes for your patients.

Don't hesitate to consider its benefits when faced with complex cases or animals needing specialized care.