Tag: Cats
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Systemic hypertension, part 1
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Blood pressure monitoring is a standard practice as part of human medicine physical examination. In veterinary medicine, however, this is often omitted due to patient compliance issues, as well as inaccuracy as a result of transient hypertension caused by stress and fear. Systemic hypertension ultimately results in target organ damage – brain, heart, kidneys and…
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Feline aortic thromboembolism
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If a cat comes in unable to walk, consider the three Ps: pain paralysis pulselessness Feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE) should be on top of your differentials. Figure 1 demonstrates the colour change in the paws of an affected cat outlining blood flow: the pink pad is the unaffected cat’s front paw, while the pale pad…
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Nutritional healing power
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Nutrition is a key factor in a patients recovery; in fact, numerous studies show getting patients to eat as soon as possible or providing nutritional support early has several benefits: Patients start to eat on their own earlier. They are less nauseous once they start. Reduced mortality. Improved wound healing. All of these contribute to…
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Are rabbits really ‘exotic’?
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According to PDSA [PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2022], rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK behind dogs and cats. With an estimated 1.1 million pet rabbits in the country, that’s about about a tenth of the population of pet dogs and cats, which hover around the 9 to 10 million mark.…
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Blood gas analysis, pt 3: interpreting pH
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After taking note of the direction of the pH shift – acidaemia or alkalaemia – it is important to determine the primary and secondary causes. If an acidaemia is present (pH less than 7.35), an underlying respiratory or metabolic acidosis, or both, must exist. Similarly, if an alkalaemia is present (pH more than 7.45), an…
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Hyperkalaemia, pt 1: clinical signs and causes
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Hyperkalaemia is a relatively common electrolyte abnormality encountered in the clinic and always requires immediate attention, as myocardial toxicity can occur when serum potassium concentration gets sufficiently high (exceeding 5.5mmol/L). Hyperkalaemia causes clinical signs due to its effect on the resting membrane potential. The increase in potassium causes depolarisation of this potential, which, in effect,…
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pt 5: advanced life support
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Advanced life support (ALS) can only be initiated once basic life support (BLS) has commenced. Where BLS refers to the initial stages of intubation, ventilation and chest compression, ALS is the advanced stage where vasopressors, positive inotropes, anticholinergics, correction of electrolyte disturbances, volume deficits, severe anaemia and defibrillation are performed. This is an important aspect…
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pt3: airway access
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Hypoxia and hypercapnia have both been shown to reduce success in resuscitating human and veterinary patients – highlighting the importance of airway access and ventilation in the early phases of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Although the benefit of early ventilation – within the initial minutes of CPR – is not clear in animals, it appears to…
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pt 2: basic life support
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In the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines, CPR is divided into basic and advanced life support. Basic life support (BLS) involves the act of chest compressions and ventilation. Prior to the CPR guidelines – developed by the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation initiative, based on extensive, systemic veterinary literature reviews – no standardisation existed in CPR…
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Mental health and self-care in our veterinary nursing community
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As Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month nears its end, the appreciation I have as a vet for hard-working nurses worldwide remains endless. You are compassionate and empathetic, counsellors to distressed clients, shoulders to cry on, advocates for pets and a vet’s most reliable comrade. Together, we have the power to save and better the lives of…