Vet Times

Tag: feline

  • Use spay hooks to reveal pharyngeal foreign bodies in cats

    Use spay hooks to reveal pharyngeal foreign bodies in cats

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    I find retching cats usually present last thing in an evening surgery, leaving you with that tricky choice of whether to anaesthetise and investigate immediately, or delay until the next morning. It also seems to be the ones you delay (because they’ve eaten, of course) that do have a grass blade while, more often than not, the ones…

  • Very blocked feline bladder

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    I had a poor feline with a very blocked proximal urethra, and numerous attempts to pass various kinds of [feline] urinary catheter proved unfruitful. I’m indebted to a young colleague who helped by using two stay sutures through the prepuce to hold the penis in position – this puss was in good body condition, and this…

  • How far is too far?

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    In my interview for Glasgow vet school, I was asked the question “how far is too far?”, and recent episodes of The Supervet on TV had me musing on the topic again, particularly as I had used The Bionic Vet as an example in my answer. At the time I discussed kidney transplants in cats…

  • Delaying investigations can sometimes be beneficial

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    I was called out around 11pm recently to a case of acute onset dyspnoea in a seven-year-old Siamese cat (yes, we do our own out-of-hours work – how weird is that?) Even with my ageing ears, I felt I could hear a crackling over the lung fields and a cardiac arrhythmia. Its mucous membrane colour was a poor grey…

  • Consider low vitamin B12 levels in cats with suspected IBD

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    Cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may have concurrent low vitamin B12 levels (Tams, 2014). A case recently presented with a history of chronic intermittent vomiting, inappetence and mild weight loss. Routine biochemistry, haematology, fPL (feline pancreas-specific lipase) and faecal analysis did not reveal any abnormalities, but having recently acquired the cat, the owners were…

  • Where should we get our pets from?

    Where should we get our pets from?

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    I gave a lovely Clinical Coach training course this week. It’s always lovely to welcome new CCs to the fold and, to add to the good feeling, there were three ex-students on the course, all freshly qualified and ready to train others – I was bursting with pride! I demonstrated our college’s virtual learning environment…

  • Could I have a pet at university?

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    I’ve always had cats at home, and they often played the role of revision buddy/lap warmer. That was one of the things I missed most when I first went to university. Pets aren’t allowed in student halls, but now that I live in a flat with other vet students, pet ownership becomes a possibility (landlord permitting).…

  • PCV and blood transfusions

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    There are no specific packed cell volume guidelines as to when to transfuse an animal with red blood cell containing products. The decision to transfuse is based on the clinical condition of the patient and the chronicity of the anaemia. For example, a cat with chronic non-regenerative anaemia due to bone marrow disease may be…

  • Self-indulgent post

    Self-indulgent post

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    There are lots of things going on in the world of veterinary nursing at the moment: VN council elections have just taken place – congratulations to Hilary Orpet and Amber Richards The RCVS has announced the end of its Awarding Body role for the Level 3 Diploma The final OSCEs for them will take place in summer 2015 Due to this, the…

  • Optimising your reception area

    Optimising your reception area

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    Do you like what’s in your waiting room? Would you buy the items there? Do you know about them, have used them and could advise a client? If the answer to any of these questions is “NO”, then it’s time to re-think what you’re selling. I see many veterinary waiting rooms and most are crammed…