Emergency Medicine Cases
GDV, heatstroke, toxin exposure, and shock scenarios with triage decision points.
NAVLE Study Resource
Clinical Case Studies: Structured Veterinary Reasoning
Case-based learning bridges theory and practice. These structured case studies guide you through data interpretation, differential construction, and treatment planning with explicit reasoning steps.
Last reviewed: February 13, 2026
How to Approach Case Studies
- Signalment and History: Extract risk factors and prior probability from breed, age, sex, and presenting complaint.
- Physical Examination: Prioritize abnormal findings and construct a problem list.
- Diagnostic Data: Interpret lab work and imaging in context; recognize when data is incomplete.
- Differential Diagnosis: Rank possibilities by likelihood and testability; avoid premature closure.
- Treatment Planning: Match interventions to diagnosis while addressing immediate patient needs.
- Monitoring and Follow-up: Define success criteria and contingency plans.
Available Case Study Topics
Cardiology Cases
CHF decompensation, arrhythmia management, and murmur evaluation with staging logic.
Internal Medicine Cases
DKA, renal disease, electrolyte emergencies, and acid-base disorders with calculation practice.
Critical Care Cases
Sepsis, transfusion decisions, and multi-organ dysfunction with monitoring priorities.
Study Recommendations
- Complete topic guides first to build foundational knowledge before attempting cases.
- Read the case completely before looking at answer choices to practice independent reasoning.
- Articulate your rationale for each decision to identify knowledge gaps.
- Review incorrect answers carefully—understanding errors strengthens retention.
- Use the linked tools and calculators for quantitative case components.
Related Content
Sources and Review Notes
- Drug label search (DailyMed)
- IRIS stages
- Normal lab values
- Heartworm treatment protocol
- Lab test protocols
- Microchip lookup
- Vertebral Heart Score
- BCS charts
- ACVIM cardiology consensus guideline references
- Dental charts
- AAHA vaccination guidelines
- Flea/tick product info
- Dog/cat breed search
- RECOVER CPR guidelines
Last reviewed: February 13, 2026
Educational only. These case studies are designed for learning and exam preparation. They do not replace case-specific diagnosis, local protocols, or direct supervision.