Clinical

Figure 1. Massage is applied using a gentle compress and release technique to the iliopsoas area.

Rehabilitating the canine hip: a practical guide

There are a number of surgical procedures which have been suggested to assist with the management of issues relating to the hip. The most common surgical procedures performed around the hip include...

Figure 2. Osteoarthritis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for chronic weight loss in pet guinea pigs.

Osteoarthritis in pet guinea pigs: an update on diagnosis, treatment and management

Although there have been significant advances in recent years in the field of pet rabbit medicine, pet guinea pig conditions are unfortunately less well documented and our understanding of their...

Figure 3. Checking for a pulse in a tortoise over the lateral neck using a Doppler monitor

Considerations for humane euthanasia in exotic pet species

The euthanasia of pet animals always poses ethical, emotional and practical challenges. These may be compounded in the case of exotic pet species because of:.

Anaesthesia of the patient with chronic kidney disease

In order to fulfil all its functions, each kidney filters a large amount of water and solutes from the blood, reabsorbing the substances needed and secreting the waste products into the convoluted...

Figure 1. Hair loss on the limb of a cat during recovery following exposure to laundry detergent. The container had fallen from a work surface and spilled on the floor near where cats were sleeping. They had detergent on their legs and feet but were not treated promptly and developed chemical burns. One cat was euthanised with severe respiratory signs and the other recovered.

Poisons affecting the skin

Detergents are very common household chemicals. They are found in a variety of cleaning products such as washing up liquids, toilet cleaners and fabric washing products and come in the form of...

Figure 1. Place cats in a raised location and cover carriers to ease stress (Picture courtesy of Swanbridge Veterinary Hospital).

Dos and don'ts for reducing feline anxiety in the veterinary environment

This article has demonstrated a number of practical strategies that can be easily adopted and implemented within the veterinary environment. By making small changes and anticipating the cat's...

Figure 10. Feline cowpox infection

Diagnosis in canine and feline dermatology

The approach to diagnosis is based upon completing the following steps:.

Figure 3. Contouring. The computed tomography images obtained during treatment simulation are imported by specialised software to contour organs at risk (eg brain – yellow line), and the tumour (red line). The pink line represents the planning target volume (ie the volume of tissue to receive the prescribed treatment dose). This volume includes the tissue affected by the cancer and an additional safety margin to account for potential variation associated with patient setup or internal movement of organs.

Radiation therapy in veterinary medicine: a practical review

Normal tissue cells, similarly to cancer cells, are susceptible to the damaging effects of ionising radiation (Ward, 1988; Stewart and Dorr, 2009; Hill and Bristow, 2013). The risk, type, and severity...

Figure 1. Alopecia and erythema on the ventral aspect of the neck of an English Bulldog. This dog had atopic dermatitis and presented with an acute flare.

Management of canine atopic dermatitis

Treatment of acute flares It is a recognised phenomenon that dogs with atopic dermatitis will suffer acute flares when exposed to an allergen to which they are hypersensitive (e.g. flea saliva,...

Figure 1. Onions and related plants (leeks, garlic, spring onions) can cause haemolytic anaemia in cats and dogs.

Poisons affecting the blood

Anaemia is a reduced number of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood and there are three main causes, blood loss (from trauma, for example), decreased red blood cell production or increased red...

Figure 2. Unless also exposed to an enriched yet not over-stimulating environment, young animals will not benefit from remaining with their mothers for longer periods than would be normal.

COVID-19: implications of self-isolation and social distancing for the emotional and behavioural health of dogs

However, as infected dogs are unlikely to show signs of illness and until more is known about COVID-19, it should be assumed that COVID-19 may be transferrable via animals because of a degree of risk...

Figure 1. Rabbit position for endotracheal intubation. An assistant keeps the head and neck extended dorsally and cranially.

Basic principles of anaesthesia of small mammals: part 2

General anaesthesia in small mammals can be induced with inhalant anaesthetics, either by mask or in an induction chamber, or with injectable agents, particularly propofol and alfaxalone..