General principles of fluid therapy in small animal medicine.

The clinician's knowledge about total body water distribution and the appropriate choice of fluids for treatment can have an important effect on the eventual outcome of his or her patients. The ability to calculate fluid deficits and to compute infusion rates appropriately is an essential aspect of top-quality patient care. The principles of fluid therapy that were provided in this article should provide one with a logical and practical means for prescribing fluid treatments.