Triage of the emergency feline patient.

Triage is the systemic evaluation of patients, derived from the French word trier, meaning to sort. The goal of triage is to identify patients with lifethreatening conditions that require immediate veterinary attention. Critically ill feline patients may present at any time and require rapid identification and lifesaving treatment. This initial triage examination of an emergency patient is a brief assessment of the major organ systems by a veterinary nurse/technician or veterinarian and should take no longer than 2 mins. The following article provides an overview of how to assess these major systems, common emergency presentations and initial stabilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]