How to Get an Arterial Blood Gas Sample

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In this VETgirl video, we demonstrate how to obtain an arterial sample for arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis from the dorsal pedal artery. Now, the majority of the time, when we’re using our blood gas analyzer, it’s actually for venous blood gas (VBG) samples. That said, you need to know how to perform an ABG, as it’s the gold standard for assessing oxygenation and ventilation. NOTE: VETgirl rarely performs ABGs in cats, as it’s way too stressful to attempt a femoral artery sample from a dyspneic cat. Instead, use a non-invasive pulse oximeter (to evaluate your SpO2) and a VBG (to evaluate your pCO2) instead! Want more information? Check out this VETgirl podcast by Dr. Lisa Powell on the ABCs of acid-base analysis for more help here!

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