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...
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...
Although signs of ageing vary, there are common changes that are frequently seen (Table 3). Changes are indicative of the declining function of all body organs. Changes in bodily systems determined by...
Home care for patients with cardiac disease which is life-limiting is palliative by nature. Palliative care can be defined as relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease or disorder at any stage...
Preventative medicine (which does not just include nutrition) can be subdivided into three parts:.
The ultimate nutritional goal is to provide cats with complete and balanced nutrition appropriate to the life stage and individual, which would include a thorough nutritional assessment. The screening...
Taking a thorough history is a cornerstone of exotic animal medicine: estimates of the prevalence of husbandry-related diseases vary depending on the study, but it is generally agreed that inadequate...
A brief discussion of nutrients and their role in the herbivore diet will provide the basis for understanding nutritional assessment..
The selected species considered in this article are monogastric hindgut fermenters: they have a single, non-compartmentalised stomach, and a large caecum that is the site of microbial fermentation...
Veterinary professionals are commonly taught that taurine, arachidonic acid and vitamin A cannot be derived from plant material and will need to be chemically synthesised (as with taurine) or be...
Veterinary nurses can play a crucial role in assisting with a full dermatological history to aid the diagnosis of any skin disease. As part of this, obtaining a full dietary history from owners is...
Adipose tissue is an active organ that produces a large range of hormones and protein factors called adipokines. One such hormone is leptin, which plays a pivotal role in reproduction. Leptin levels...
As discussed, rabbits require a source of low-quality roughage, as well as a handful of non-selective pellets, and some fruit/vegetables in small amounts. Ideally, they should receive at least 80% of...
The role of food allergies in canine and feline IBD is unknown. In IBD, the immune system responds incorrectly to environmental triggers, which can include food, that causes inflammation of the...