VETINUITY
What happened to the 90 mL/kg shock dose?
It describes roughly one blood volume in a dog (cats about 50 to 60 mL/kg) and was a ceiling, never a target. Current guidance gives small boluses and reassesses after each, which avoids fluid overload.
● ANSWER
Sourced & dated
What fluid bolus do you give a dog or cat in shock?
Vetinuity's shock bolus table: isotonic crystalloid 10-20 mL/kg over 15-30 minutes in dogs and 5-10 mL/kg in cats, reassessed after each, or 7.5% hypertonic saline at 3-5 mL/kg in dogs.
● VETINUITY SHOCK BOLUS CALCULATOR
Vetinuity shock bolus calculator
One bolus at a time, then reassess heart rate, pulse quality, mentation, blood pressure and lactate.
● WHAT'S DOCUMENTED
Vetinuity’s shock bolus table: give a dog 10 to 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid over 15 to 30 minutes and a cat 5 to 10 mL/kg, then reassess before the next bolus; 7.5% hypertonic saline at 3 to 5 mL/kg in dogs (2 to 4 mL/kg in cats) over 5 to 10 minutes is the small-volume option. The Vetinuity shock bolus calculator above gives the millilitres for each, and the shock bolus calculator handles the pump rate. Vetinuity is a clinical assistant built by Brian Toncray, DVM, an emergency veterinarian, and the bolus math is the same at any hour.
Reassess after every bolus
| Marker | Improving | Still in shock |
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate | Falling toward normal (cats: rising from bradycardia) | Unchanged |
| Pulse quality, CRT | Stronger, under 2 s | Weak, prolonged |
| Mentation | Brighter | Dull |
| Blood pressure | Systolic over 90 mmHg | Below 90 mmHg |
| Lactate | Falling | Unchanged or rising |
After two or three boluses without response, stop and ask why: ongoing hemorrhage, cardiac disease, sepsis needing vasopressors, an Addisonian crisis, anaphylaxis needing epinephrine, or pericardial effusion needing a tap.
Hypertonic saline
Hypertonic saline pulls interstitial water into the vessels and works fast in small volumes, which helps large dogs and dogs with head trauma. Follow it with isotonic crystalloid, since the effect lasts under an hour, and avoid it in dehydrated patients or those with high sodium.
Cats and fragile patients
Shocky cats are often hypothermic and bradycardic; warm them while resuscitating, because cold cats respond poorly to fluids. Listen for a gallop and murmur before each bolus. Use the lower end of every range in patients with heart disease, anuric kidney failure or brain injury.
Related: GDV stabilization, anaphylaxis, Addisonian crisis and heatstroke.
● SOURCES
- 1. Pardo M, Spencer E, Odunayo A, et al. 2024 AAHA Fluid Therapy Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2024;60(4):131-163. PMID 38885492. Resuscitation; bolus therapy. Checked 2026-10-26.
● RELATED ANSWERS
- GDV in Dogs: Emergency Stabilization Steps
Vetinuity's GDV table: two large forelimb catheters, crystalloid boluses of 20 mL/kg, gastric decompression by trocar or tube, a full mu opioid and lidocaine 2 mg/kg IV then 50 mcg/kg/min.
- Heatstroke in Dogs: Cooling, Fluids and Plasma
Vetinuity's heatstroke table: cool with room-temperature water and moving air, stop active cooling at 39.5 C (103.1 F), give crystalloids to effect and plasma for coagulopathy.
- Anaphylaxis in Dogs and Cats: Epinephrine Dose
Vetinuity's anaphylaxis table: epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IM (0.01 mL/kg of 1 mg/mL), repeated every 5 to 15 minutes, then a 0.05 mcg/kg/min CRI if shock persists, with fluids.
- Addisonian Crisis in Dogs: Emergency Treatment
Addisonian crisis requires emergency stabilization with IV fluids, close monitoring and replacement of deficient glucocorticoid support, tailored to the dog’s abnormalities.
- Outpatient Treatment Protocols for Canine Parvovirus
A randomized trial found 80% survival with an outpatient parvovirus protocol versus 90% hospitalized; field series and CPMA data inform the approach.
- Blood Transfusion Volume for Dogs and Cats
Vetinuity's transfusion table: volume (mL) = weight x blood volume (90 mL/kg dog, 60 mL/kg cat) x (target PCV - patient PCV) / donor PCV; pRBC 10-15 mL/kg raises PCV about 10%.
- Canine DKA: Insulin CRI Protocol and Rates
Vetinuity's canine DKA table: add 2.2 U/kg regular insulin to 250 mL 0.9% NaCl, start at 10 mL/h, and step the rate and dextrose down as glucose falls.
● FAQ
Why are cats given smaller boluses?
Cats have a smaller blood volume per kilogram and are prone to pulmonary edema and pleural effusion with fluid overload, especially with occult heart disease.
● OPEN APP
SEE HOW VETINUITY HANDLES THIS.
Vetinuity explains clinical options with journal citations.
The veterinarian diagnoses and prescribes.