Clinical

Figure 2. The Ladder of Aggression (Shepherd, 2002; 2009).

Canine patients and stress: the role of the veterinary team

When a dog displays a behaviour — no matter how inconvenient for us — it is responding to environmental triggers and basing its behavioural decision on genetic/innate influences and the environmental...

The nurse's role in the management of equine limb wounds

A wound is defined as an injury where there is a forcible break in the soft tissues, including open wounds and closed wounds where there is damage below the surface (Ousten, 2011)..

Periodontal probing and charting in veterinary nursing

All teeth comprise enamel, dentine and pulp. Enamel is the hardest tissue in the body and is the external surface of all tooth crowns. Dentine forms the bulk of the tooth crown and root, and is...

Figure 2. Product being offered, shown as a whole capsule as offered in acceptance test.

Methodologies used to test the palatability of nutraceuticals

Palatability tests were originally used in the pet industry to test the palatability of pet food and treats (Payne-Johnson et al, 2006). Palatability has now been used to examine a range of...

The whole rabbit: physical, immunological and psychological health

From their teeth to the end of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the digestive system of rabbits is designed to enable them to get as much nutrition as possible out of high-fibre vegetation of low...

Nurse-led renal clinics

Attendance at nurse clinics for animals that have been newly diagnosed or with suspected renal disease should be instigated as soon as possible (Box 1). All patients should be referred to a veterinary...

Hyperadrenocorticism: the disease, diagnostics, and treatment for dogs

The axis controlling glucocorticoid release is initiated by the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus. The CRH in turn stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to...

Figure 1. Effect of exposure on image quality for digital radiography. a) With an appropriate exposure good bony detail is seen. b) Underexposure results in an image which is grainy or mottled in appearance. Note the brightness and contrast is acceptable but detail is lost.

Using computed radiography — how does it compare to film-screen radiography?

If plain film packets are incorrectly filed it may take a long time to locate them. Films may also get lost, especially if sent in the post or if filed incorrectly. In these cases there is sometimes...

Patient safety in anaesthesia

There is no doubt that the pursuit of patient safety must address the current gap between best practice and the care currently given to veterinary patients (Weller and Merry, 2013). However, when most...

Obesity: understanding the risks and running successful weight clinics

Nurse clinics are sometimes used to support and educate owners with overweight pets. These can be difficult clinics and it is important that they are undertaken in a methodical manner to improve the...

The use of oral nerve blocks

A number of techniques exist to block various parts of the head and muzzle. These blocks are particularly useful in those patients undergoing painful dental procedures, mandibulectomies,...