Medical Calculations

The metric system is the most widely used system throughout the world. The
system is based on powers of ten. The basic units of measurement are the meter
for length, the liter for volume, and the gram for weight (mass). Prefixes are
added to the basic unit to form multiples and fractions.

Table 1
Decimal System Numerical Meaning Metric Prefix Abbreviation

Thousand 1,000 Kilo- k

Hundred 100 Hecto- h

Ten 10 Deca- dk

Unit 1

Tenth 0.1 Deci- d

Hundredth 0.01 Centi- c

Thousandth 0.001 Milli- m

Millionth 0.000001 Micro- µ

Metric Conversions
There are two commonly used metric unit conversion methods: the step method and proportion equations.

The step method uses movement of the decimal place to the right if converting to a smaller unit, and to the
left if converting to a larger unit.

Example: to convert 500 milligrams (mg) to grams (g)

According to Table 1, one mg is 0.001 of a g
1 g is larger than 1 mg, therefore, the decimal must be moved 3 places to the left.

Answer: 0.5 g

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Metric Conversions (Cont.)

Performing the proportion equation by cross multiplication:

Example: to convert 500 mg to g

According to Table 1, 1 g = 1000 mg
Therefore, x g/500 mg = 1 g/1000 mg (x being the unknown number)
__x g __ = __1g __
500 mg 1000 mg

1000 mg × x g = 500 mg × 1 g
x g = 500 mg × 1 g ÷ 1000 mg
x g = 0.5 g

Converting Metric Mass

As mentioned above, the gram is the standard unit for mass. The non-metric unit is the pound.
The majority of the medication doses are mg/kg, therefore, when this is the case, the technician
must always convert pounds to kilograms before performing the calculation.

1 kg = 2.2 lbs so to convert pounds to kilograms: lbs ÷ 2.2

Example: 45 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 20.5 kg

Dosage Calculations
● The dose is the amount of medication measured (mg, mL)
● The dosage is the amount of medication based on units per weight of the animal
(50 mg/kg, 10 mL/kg)
● The concentration of the drug is calculated by the manufacturer (mg/mL, mg/tablet)

A 20.5 kg mixed breed dog is scheduled for an orthopedic procedure today and the veterinarian in
charge has asked you to give a Cefazolin injection at a dosage of 22 mg/kg. The concentration of
Cefazolin is 100 mg/mL. How many mL of Cefazolin will you administer to the dog?

To calculate the dose in milligrams, use the following formula:

weight (kg) × dosage (mg/mL) = dose

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Dosage Calculations (Cont.)

Example: the patient weighs 20.5 kg and the dosage is 22 mg/kg
20.5 kg × 22 mg/kg = 451 mg (the dose is 451 mg)

To calculate the dose in milliliters, use the following formula;

dose (mg) ÷ concentration (mg/mL) = dose (mL)

Example: the patient needs a dose of 451 mg and the drug concentration is 100 mg/mL
451 mg ÷ 100 mg/mL = 4.51 mL (you will administer 4.51 mL to the patient)

The same patient will be going home with carprofen the following day. The dosage is 2.2 mg/kg
twice daily. The veterinarian would like you to dispense 5 days’ worth. Carprofen comes in 25mg,
75mg, and 100mg chewable tablets. What is the dosage, what size tablet should be used, and how
many tablets will you dispense?

Example: 20.5 kg × 2.2 mg/kg = 45 mg

The dosage is 45 mg twice daily.
You will choose 100 mg tablets and give ½ tablet twice daily, dispensing 5 tablets.

Drugs are manufactured in a variety of concentrations; therefore, it is extremely important to always

record the milligram dosage of the drug given on the patient’s record.

Dilutions and Solutions

● Solution: mixture of substances made by dissolving solids in liquids or liquids in liquids
● Solvent: solution capable of dissolving other substances
● Solute: substance that is dissolved in liquid
● Dilution: reduction of a concentration of a substance.
● Diluent: agent that dilutes

The concentration of the substance is the amount of solute dissolved in the solvent. Concentrations
are expressed as volume per volume (v/v), weight per volume (w/v), or weight per weight (w/w).

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Dilutions and Solutions (Cont.)

When calculating the percent strength of a solution (w/v), use the following formula:

mass (g) ÷ volume (ml) = concentration (g/ml)

Example: What is the concentration of a solution if 1g of powder is dissolved in 200

ml of liquid?

1g ÷ 200 ml = 0.005 g/ml

To find the percent multiply by 100: (0.005 × 100 = 0.5%)

Also calculate what the concentration is per mL (remember, there are 1,000 mg in 1 g):

1000 mg ÷ 200 ml = 5 mg/ml

Since you already calculated that the percent concentration is 0.5%, you can move a decimal place to
the right to know that the concentration is 5 mg/mL.

Percent solution calculations are used to prepare a specific concentration of solution.

Example: The veterinarian has asked you to prepare a 2.5% Dextrose solution
using 1000 ml of Lactated Ringers’ solution (LRS). The dextrose concentration is 50%.

First, take the percent solution you want (2.5%) and multiply it by the amount of liquid you will
be adding it to (1000 ml). Then divide that by the concentration of solution you have (50%).
Remember to multiply or divide by % by moving the decimal. (2.5% is equal to 0.025 and
50% is equal to 0.5).

0.025 × 1000 = 25
25 ÷ 0.5 = 50
50 mL of 50% dextrose will need to be added to 1000 ml of LRS

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The concentration of a solution can also be expressed as a ratio:

1:100 = 1 g / 100 ml = 1% / 10 mg/ml

Example: The veterinarian asks you to give a patient 400 mg of enrofloxacin intravenously.
The concentration of enrofloxacin is 2.27%.

First, convert 2.27% to mg/ml (22.7 mg/ml). To do this easily, simply add a zero to the
percentage (i.e., 20% solution has 200 mg/mL, a 10% solution has 100 mg/mL and so on).
Then divide the dose you want by the concentration.

400 mg ÷ 22.7 mg/ml = 17.6 ml

17.6 mL of enrofloxacin will need to be administered to the patient.

Drip Rates
The following formula is used to calculate a drip rate to deliver solutions:

Drip rate = volume of solution (mL) × drops/mL

time (seconds)

The volume of solution (mL) is the amount of solution to be administered. Drops per mL is the
calibrated amount of the administration set, usually indicated on the packaging. Time (seconds) is the
amount of time that the fluids are to be administered.

Example: What is the drip rate if the volume of solution is 1 L, the drops per mL are 15, and the time
is 1 hour?

Drip rate = 1000 mL × 15 drops/mL

1 hour

Drip rate = 15,000 drops

60 minutes

Drip rate = 250 drops/min

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Example: What is the drip rate in seconds, if the volume of solution to be given is 250 mL,
the drops per mL are 15, and the time is 1 hour?

Drip rate = 250 mL × 15 drops/mL

1 hour

Drip rate = 3750 drops

3600 seconds

Drip rate = 1 drop/sec

Equivalents
● 16 fl oz = 1 pt
● 1 fl oz = 30 ml
● 32 fl oz = 1 qt
● 1 tsp = 5 cc
● 2 tbsp = 1 fl oz
● 2000 lb = 1 ton

References
● Stumpf, E., Fritz, F. & Bradford, W. (2009) Mathematics for Veterinary Medical Technicians.
Durham, North Carolina. Carolina Academic Press. p 135, 197-198, 208-209.

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