Vet Times

Tag: feline

  • Using PDS to “wire” mandibular symphyseal fractures in cats

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    We have now started to use Polydioxanone (PDS) to stabilise symphyseal fractures in cats. We use 4 metric PDS passed under the mandible and around the canines in a figure of 8. In uncomplicated fractures, we have found this to be really effective and the fracture will heal within four to six weeks. If, like…

  • The view from the other side

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    A recent weekend at home comprised a much-needed rest and time spent with my family – which, of course, includes the animals. Tom, my moggie farm-born cat (who is far more scared of any potential prey than it would be of him, so doesn’t really live up to his farm origins), has an allergic skin condition that usually…

  • The uncaring profession?

    The uncaring profession?

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    Outside my professional life I am a member of a dog walking group. However, as Hollie can’t actually walk that far, we usually meet fellow members and join in for about 20 minutes before retiring to a cafe to await their return. It’s a nice, mixed bunch, and we use social media to keep everyone…

  • Intuition works

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    I recently had a male cat presented that was “just a bit quiet” – it wasn’t moving much and, uncharacteristically, had not eaten breakfast that morning. The owner had barely removed our feline friend from the carrier when I thought: “This guy’s got a blocked bladder.” Abdominal palpation confirmed my intuitive diagnosis. I’ve been thinking about…

  • What’s causing the recurrent pyoderma and pruritus?

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    Given my interest in dermatology a lot of itchy canine and feline individuals are passed in my direction. They often have a history of recurrent microbial skin infections either in the form of Staphylococcal pyoderma or Malassezia dermatitis, which is treated as and when it occurs. I’m often surprised to find these individuals are not receiving routine parasite…

  • Early neutering: what are the arguments?

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    Working in education we need to spend time in practice ensuring we are clinically competent, so this week I’m back at one of my favourite charity hospitals. Walking into one of the cat wards, the enormity of the non-neutering of young cats hit home: six kennels full of young mums with at least three kittens…

  • Use of Convenia for treatment of cat bite abscesses

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    OK, a potentially controversial one this… There is a lot of evidence highlighting resistance to antibiotic therapy both in the human and veterinary fields. My understanding is that this is, in part, due to poor compliance. I’ve certainly come across clients who have difficulty giving tablets to their cat, and have also seen cases that “appear” to…

  • Twenty years too late?

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    I recently paused to think about what I was doing (which is always fatal) and realised I was drowning in paper. I was looking after seven in-patients, all in various stages of recovery. Each patient had a set of computer records where the narrative of their stay and invoicing were kept, while the hour-by-hour notes…

  • Immunotherapy in atopic dogs is a valuable tool

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    My colleagues and I use immunotherapy on a fair number of dogs to treat atopic dermatitis. Research tells us it can be a valuable tool in some dogs, but at the same time up to a third of dogs respond poorly. We are lucky in our practice as anecdotally we find the majority of dogs…

  • Only the best will do

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    All too often the deciding factor in an animal’s veterinary treatment is cost. It has to be a factor because there is no NHS for pets. But it is unfortunate that, when undertaking the care of an animal, many people underestimate this cost or even seem to give it no consideration at all – although this is a…