Vet Times

Tag: Pain Management

  • Moving pictures

    Moving pictures

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    There must be something in the air this November, what with a decade of blogs to read through, I seem to be reminiscing quite a lot. This hasn’t been maudlin navel gazing, I promise. It has motivated me on a few fronts. The most obvious one is that there are now new videos on my…

  • Blood gas analysis, pt 6: compensatory response

    Blood gas analysis, pt 6: compensatory response

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    Simple acid-base disorders are compensated by predictable compensatory changes. The primary disorder shifts the pH, while the compensatory mechanisms aim to normalise the pH and bring it back to neutral. This is achieved by attempting to normalise the bicarbonate (HCO3-) to partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) ratio in a paralleled manner. For example, an increase…

  • Blood gas analysis, pt 4: respiratory acidosis and alkalosis

    Blood gas analysis, pt 4: respiratory acidosis and alkalosis

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    Assessing the respiratory component is simple. A quick glance at the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) level can tell you whether a respiratory acidosis or alkalosis is present. If the PCO2 level is elevated (respiratory acidosis) then either a primary respiratory acidosis is present, or it is the result of a compensatory response to…

  • Urinalysis

    Urinalysis

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    I’m hoping we all survived the recent heatwave. Sadly, at the height of it, I was confined to my bedroom with a suspected kidney infection and a 38°C temperature. So, no lounging on the beach and swimming for me; more a case of lying in a darkened room and wondering, could you get a positive…

  • Globetrotting RVN takes to the streets

    Globetrotting RVN takes to the streets

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    Vets Now RVN Katherine Alexander has used her skills in Africa and China, the South Pacific and now Glasgow. She’s cared for bears and pumas, elephants and jaguars, as well as ministering, more routinely, to domestic pets. The common link is that, in all those places, her time has been given freely – outside of…

  • Euthanasia (part 2): caring for the patient

    Euthanasia (part 2): caring for the patient

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    Last month we discussed the importance of caring for clients during the process of euthanising their much-loved pet. This month, we focus on your patient. The goals of euthanasia are always to make it as painless, fearless and stress-free as possible for the patient. Pain relief Most patients presented for euthanasia are either suffering from…

  • Euthanasia (part 1): caring for the client

    Euthanasia (part 1): caring for the client

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    Euthanasia is a big part of our work as veterinarians. Working in an emergency setting, it is something I have to face on every shift. It doesn’t get any easier no matter how many times I have to do it, but I have fine-tuned my approach over the years so each euthanasia process runs as…

  • Focus on GDV, part 4: the recovery

    Focus on GDV, part 4: the recovery

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    Postoperatively, gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) patients remain in our intensive care unit for at least two to three days. Monitoring includes standard general physical examination parameters, invasive arterial blood pressures, ECG, urine output via urinary catheter and pain scoring. I repeat PCV/total protein, lactate, blood gas and activated clotting times (ACT) immediately postoperatively and then every…

  • Focus on GDV, part 3: surgery tips

    Focus on GDV, part 3: surgery tips

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    Following on closely from the first two parts of our February focus on gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) – which covered IV fluid resuscitation, pain relief and gastric decompression – we turn to surgery. Here, I offer a few tips to help ensure the procedure runs as smoothly as possible. Abdominal incision Make the abdominal incision large…

  • Focus on GDV, part 2: releasing the pressure

    Focus on GDV, part 2: releasing the pressure

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    Last week we covered IV fluid resuscitation and pain relief. This week we will go into more detail about gastric decompression. Gastric decompression can be achieved in two ways: trocarisation stomach tube (orogastric tube) placement The decision on which method to use depends on many factors – personal preferences, past experiences and clinical protocols, to…