Vet Times

Tag: Cats

  • Cats versus dogs – the ultimate speciesism?

    Cats versus dogs – the ultimate speciesism?

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    It seems ages ago now, but the August bank holiday brought many treats this year – it was sunny, I didn’t have to pick up a dead cat from the gutter and a special edition of This Morning aired. For anyone who has had to recuperate from surgery like me then This Morning becomes a…

  • Schedule 3 – evidence of our role secured

    Schedule 3 – evidence of our role secured

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    As well as traditional Halloween high jinks, 31 October 2017 marked a truly happy day for veterinary nurses, as the RCVS published results of its survey into VNs and vets‘ knowledge and use of – as well as future wishes for – the VN role under Schedule 3. As the full document is more than…

  • What to do when on call

    What to do when on call

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    When you’re on call during the week, by the time you’ve got home (if you get straight home without being called), eaten and vegged out in front of the TV, you do not have much time to be bored before heading to bed. However, weekends on call have a lot more time to fill between…

  • Aggressive patients

    Aggressive patients

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    I’ve discussed before the massive emotional shift that seems to occur in the transition from a student to a new graduate – namely due to the responsibility – but the transition to being an actual vet also means being on the front line when it comes to aggressive patients. As a student, you are often…

  • Cats reunited

    Cats reunited

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    The day-to-day working life of a vet can be tough for a multitude of reasons, but sometimes it’s the simple things that make it all worthwhile – for example, something as simple as a microchip. While dog microchipping is now compulsory, cat owners retain the freedom to decide whether they wish to chip their beloved…

  • Tale as old as time…

    Tale as old as time…

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    Yes! I’m off to Singalonga Beauty and the Beast next week! I need to learn the lyrics, however, so I’m listening while I write this blog. (Whoever said this writing lark was hard work really hasn’t got a clue *cough* – Oh, and despite my excitement, there is a purpose to my Disney-inspired blog, I…

  • Animal abuse: are we right to be suspicious?

    Animal abuse: are we right to be suspicious?

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    When I was 14, I watched a documentary aired as part of Channel 4’s “Banned” season. Called The Animals Film, the programme was about the way humans use and abuse animals for their own ends, with the emphasis very much on abuse. I didn’t sleep very much that evening and became a vegetarian overnight. The…

  • SNAP FeLV antigen/FIV antibody test

    SNAP FeLV antigen/FIV antibody test

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    The past decade has seen a significant shift in the prevalence of both FeLV and FIV in most European countries. This, coupled with a better understanding of the viral dynamics of FeLV, will influence the interpretation of the results of in-house diagnostics tests of these viral infections. FeLV is an RNA virus that undergoes classic…

  • 10 minutes

    10 minutes

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    I have been doing this for a little while; at a conservative estimate, I have carried out more than 60,000 consultations during my career. Sixty thousand. That makes me feel a little strange (and a lot old). For the majority of my time in practice, my allotted consulting time has been 10 minutes. Sixty-thousand 10-minute slots…

  • Pet hunting criteria – am I neurotic?

    Pet hunting criteria – am I neurotic?

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    It’s been suggested to me recently some of my attitudes to owning a pet might be a bit “weird”. As I have written in previous blogs about Hollie, Little Blue (LB) and general pet ownership issues, you might agree. You might already have thought this. I don’t really mind. I know I’m a little special…