Clinical

Nutrition and chronic renal failure

Initially, renal failure was diagnosed with serum concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. However, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) has been shown to detect chronic renal failure...

Zoonotic hookworms and roundworms affecting dogs and cats in Europe

Roundworms reside within the lumen of the small intestine, feeding on nutrients within it. The clinical picture in infected animals depend on different factors related to the host (eg age) or to the...

Anaesthesia in exotics part 1: small mammals

It is important to carry out temperature control measures into the recovery period, with particular care being taken in species that may overheat quickly, such as chinchillas, or those that may lose...

Post-operative nursing of a feline patient after hypophysectomy surgery

The patient (Figure 1) was a 6-year-old male neutered Domestic Short Hair feline that presented to the referral centre with diabetes mellitus. With subsequent testing, he was diagnosed with a...

Managing passive regurgitation in patients under general anaesthesia

In orthopaedic practice, an increase in incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux reported in patients undergoing surgery has been recognised. Possible causes include longer anaesthesia duration, patient...

Nursing a patient with feline urethral obstruction

Feline urethral obstruction is a potentially life-threatening condition. The maintenance and monitoring of the patient's electrolyte levels and fluid balance, and urinary catheter management, as well...

Myasthenia gravis and the role of the veterinary nurse

The antibody titre test is a blood test to detect the presence of autoantibodies against the acetylcholine receptors. These antibodies are thought to be present in around 98% of dogs with myasthenia...

Fluid therapy for emergent and critical cases: hypovolaemia vs dehydration

King and Boag (2018) stated that the average patient's body weight is made up of the weight of dry matter (40%), such as tissues and bones, and also fluid (60%). Fluid can then be further subdivided...

Nutritional management of the critical vomiting canine

Critically ill patients are at an increased risk of gastrointestinal compromise, including those where gastrointestinal compromise is not their primary condition. Gastrointestinal compromise can be...

Rehabilitation following surgical management of canine osteoarthritis

Surgical management of osteoarthritis is indicated for patients severely affected by osteoarthritis for which conservative management alone is not achieving the desired results. The joint(s) of the...

Salbutamol toxicosis in dogs

Salbutamol in often available in a pressurised aluminium cannister which can be easily pierced by a dog..

The importance of peri-anaesthetic temperature management: part 2

Commonly a result of an inability to dissipate heat, increased heat production/provision or a combination of both, hyperthermia can have significant deleterious impacts on the body (Thomson et al,...