Review

Figure 1. The Domains of Quality Veterinary Healthcare by RCVS Knowledge. Adapted from the Institute of Medicine (2001).

Quality improvement frameworks for veterinary practice: getting started

The second article in this series will discuss quality improvement tools. First, it is important to discuss what is meant by quality. The domains of quality in human healthcare have been adapted by...

Importation of dogs: animal and public health risks and possible solutions

In the early 19th century, rabies was widespread, and the quarantine of imported dogs for 6 months was essential to eradicate endemic rabies from the UK. With the increase in pet travel and 93...

Figure 1. Production of cultivated meat-based pet food.

A new protein source for pet food: cultivated meat

The application of cultivated meat for pet food production could significantly mitigate several issues faced by the pet food industry, including meat supply change shortages, environmental...

Canine separation-related problems. Part 5: what if enhancing a sense of safety does not work?

Many initiating factors for separation-related problems have little to do with the intensity of the human–dog bond. Being alone is an unnatural state for a social species such as a dog; yet, for the...

Figure 1. Images available in online stores claiming positive results with the use of ‘cataract eyedrops’ (Amazon, 2024). Note the after photos are not the same patients as the before photos.

Nutraceuticals in veterinary ophthalmology: fact, fiction or both?

One of the most common false claims regarding the use of alternative treatment options is the use of the antioxidant L-carnitine for the treatment of cataracts in dogs.

Non-invasive neurostimulation: an emerging therapeutic modality in veterinary neurology

An increasing number of scientific investigations worldwide are exploring non-invasive neurostimulation techniques, notably repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, for their potential in...

Figure 1. A vivarium enclosure for a royal python (Python regius) showing heat bulb, ultraviolet light, water bowl and ample hides provided by artificial foliage.

Reptile husbandry: the basics

Often, when people think about reptiles, they imagine a vivarium (commonly referred to as ‘viv’ for short). This has historically been a wooden enclosure, varying in size, with a glass front and vents...

Figure 1. Doppler ultrasound device.

Cats are not small dogs: assessment and stabilisation of emergency presentation

The purpose of the cardiovascular triage is to assess perfusion parameters. Identification of abnormalities allows determination of the presence and severity of shock. Shock is defined as the...

Figure 1. Free living nematode contaminating faecal sample.

Routine screening and clinical diagnosis of intestinal helminths in cats and dogs

Tapeworm and ascarid infections are generally well tolerated. Large burdens can lead to intestinal obstruction, and migrating Toxocara larvae can cause respiratory signs in puppies and kittens....

Figure 1. Urine dipstick.

Getting the most from urine and sediment analysis

Complete urinalysis consists of three elements: Gross examChemical examSediment exam.

Figure 1. Buccal capsule of Ancylostoma caninum adult showing the three pairs of teeth.

Anthelmintic resistance in the canine hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum

Typically, when a dog presents to a veterinarian with a faecal examination (Zajac et al, 2002), coproantigen-detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (Elsemore et al, 2017) or real-time...

Figure 1. Gingival hyperaemia associated with early gingivitis.

Feline oral inflammation: diagnosis and options for treatment

Periodontal disease is the most common disease in companion dogs and cats, affecting 80–85% of animals at 2–3 years of age (Stepaniuk, 2019). This disease is caused by subgingival bacterial plaque,...