The kidneys filter approximately 20% of the body’s blood (Aspinall and O’Reilly, 2006). They are responsible for a myriad of tasks, including:.
Packed cell volume (PCV) is used to determine the red blood cell mass as a percentage of blood volume and should always be interpreted in combination with a total protein (TP) measurement to minimize...
Most dogs using hydrotherapy centres in the UK are pedigree breeds, with the Labrador retriever representing 30% of all dogs seen (Waining et al, 2011). This could be because of the breed’s...
Transient (or contaminating) flora do not normally colonize skin. They are acquired by contact with people/animals or the environment. They are generally easy to remove from the skin through the...
It has been stated that the mental wellbeing of patients can effect their quality of life and ultimately their welfare within practice (Yeates, 2012). Yates stresses how important it is to strive for...
Nociceptors are the peripheral sensory nerve endings that respond to a noxious stimulus (thermal, chemical and mechanical). The nociceptive pathway is made up of four processes that transmit...
Weight loss can be theoretically achieved by ensuring that calories consumed are less than energy expenditure. However, achieving the reduction in calories and the increase in energy expenditure can...
Hyperthermia in dogs, which is most common during the summer months, can be caused by a number of things. Risk factors for developing heatstroke include age extremes, thick haircoat, and prior history...
As stated by Carpenter et al (2005), ageing causes a progressive and irreversible decrease in functional reserves of the major organ systems, leading to altered responses to stressors and anaesthetic...
There is a growing body of evidence in human medicine regarding pain management in critically ill people, and this supports the notion that effective pain management in humans decreases morbidity and...
Obesity has been associated with numerous diseases, including pancreatitis (Hess et al, 1999), osteoarthritis (Kealy et al, 2002), dermatologic disease (Scarlett et al, 1998), diabetes (Scarlett et...
The impact of companion animal parasitic zoonoses can be evaluated in a number of ways, one of which is to assess the cost of infection and to compare this with the costs and feasibility of prevention...