In modern general practice, because of regular use of efficient ectoparasiticides, the main cause of ectoparasite-linked pruritus likely to be encountered is a hypersensitivity to flea saliva, as...
The journey to the veterinary clinic could involve stressful or exciting activity, elevating dogs', and owners', cortisol levels. Negative associations with previous visits experienced as unpleasant...
Veterinary nurses can play an important role in helping to identify animals that might benefit from behavioural help and, potentially, behaviourally-active medication. They are likely to come across...
There are a number of different factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing the most appropriate short-acting behavourally-active drugs for an individual animal. These are outlined...
While behaviourally-active drugs comprise several different classes of medication, they can be divided into two main types: short-acting drugs that can be given as needed (Box 1), and drugs that need...
When the osteoarthritic patient comes into the hospital or facility, they need to be provided with plenty of cushions and bedding suitable for arthritic joints and backs (Figure 1). Geriatric dogs...
Behaviours that the owner may see early during the disease are the dog sporadically reluctant to perform previous tasks or activities, such as jumping into the car, which never posed a problem before....
The term brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS) is used to describe the eye problems, associated with conformation (exophthalmia, shallow orbit, lagophthalmia, euryblepharon, trichiasis, medial lower...
Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis) are cosmopolitan ectoparasites, feeding on dogs and cats, which act as competent vectors for a high number of pathogens (Traversa, 2013). A...
Within private practice a dedicated veterinary nurse, who is well trained, could also set up a nutrition service. The Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians has a board certified training...
It is not the intention of this article to explain the ethology of the dog, but some good books are available (Horwitz and Mills, 2009; Hedges, 2014), and these will assist staff in developing an...
The external ear canal is composed of the ear pinna and the external auditory meatus. There is a wide range in size and conformation of the canine ear pinna, ranging from the short prick ears of the...
During the second half of the 20th and early part of the 21st century, the prevailing theory regarding the social behaviour of the domestic dog was that, when living in groups, canine social...
Most dogs with CAD as their primary cause for ear disease develop otitis between 1 and 5 years of age with 31% presenting with ear disease before 12 months of age (Zur et al, 2011). Breed incidence...
To understand the effect of sensory loss it is first important to appreciate how dogs use their senses. A summary of the key characteristics of the canine senses of smell, hearing and sight is given...