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...

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,...

The recovery period

Although relatively new in veterinary medicine, anaesthesia checklists in human medicine have been shown to decrease complications and mortality rates (Hohenfellner, 2009) by reducing the occurrence...

Anaesthetic considerations for a bleeding hemangiosarcoma undergoing splenectomy

On presentation to the practice the patient should have their basic parameters assessed, including heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, mucous membrane colour, capillary refill time and blood...

Capnography for the veterinary nurse

CO2 within the body can be measured either directly via arterial sampling, which gives us the partial pressure of CO2 in arterial blood (PaCO2), or indirectly via capnography. PaCO2 readings are...

Anaesthesia in small rodents

The pre-anaesthetic phase comprises a thorough pre-anaesthetic evaluation to include a clinical history and a physical examination, as well as selecting the appropriate pre-anaesthetic drugs and...

Working towards a greener future in veterinary anaesthesia

The climate crisis is the largest and most prolonged threat to global health ever described (Costello et al, 2009). The rising temperatures documented over recent centuries are attributed largely to...

Endotracheal intubation of small exotic mammals

Small exotic mammals are prone to stress in hospital environments and should be given time to become accustomed to their unfamiliar surroundings. These species have high sympathetic tone that can...

The veterinary nurse's role in the management of acute oropharyngeal injury in dogs

A successful outcome of an emergency patient is more likely where quick and appropriate action is taken. This is dictated by the initial observation and clinical examination. Triage is a way of...

How to reduce anaesthetic risk in geriatric patients

Hospitals should create not only anaesthetic drug protocols for geriatric patients, but also pre and postoperative care instructions for staff and pet owners to ensure high-quality care and monitoring...

Fibroadenomas in rats

Fibroadenomas are known to be under hormonal influence, more specifically it is theorised that high levels of prolactin from prolactin secreting pituitary adenomas influence the development of these...

Anaesthesia for head trauma patients

The veterinary surgeon will decide when anaesthesia is necessary — this may be at the time of injury or may not be until the patient has been stabilised, which may take a few hours or even days.

Pharmacology of opioids and application to practice

Pain is an unpleasant experience providing sensory and emotional components to actual or potential tissue damage (McKune et al, 2015)..