Tag: Panleukopenia
-
Highlighting oesophageal foreign bodies on radiographs
—
by
QUICK TIP: Need to know if there is an oesophageal foreign body but can’t be certain on radiographs? We have all been in the scenario where we are unsure whether there is an oesophageal foreign body on the radiographs we have just taken. You might think of using a contrast medium to help, and the…
-
Ionised hypocalcaemia, pt 4: controversies and prognostic indications
—
by
Ionised hypocalcaemia (iHCa) is a well-known electrolyte abnormality in critical human patients, which is also beginning to be recognised in our critical feline and canine patients. The exact mechanism for the development of iHCa is still unknown – making prevention difficult, if at all possible. Controversy also exists as to whether treating iHCa is of…
-
Ionised hypocalcaemia, pt 3: acute treatment and management
—
by
Treatment of ionised hypocalcaemia (iHCa) is reserved for patients with supportive clinical signs, then divided into acute and chronic management. Since the most common cases of clinical hypocalcaemia in canine and feline patients are acute to peracute cases, this blog will focus on the acute treatment and management of hypocalcaemia. Clinical signs The severity of…
-
Ionised hypocalcaemia, pt 1: introduction
—
by
Low ionised calcium (iCa) is a widely recognised electrolyte disturbance in critically ill human patients who have undergone surgery, are septic, have pancreatitis, or have sustained severe trauma or burns. Similar changes occur in our critical canine and feline patients, though less well documented. Calcium plays a vital role in a myriad of physiological processes…
-
Blood transfusions, pt 2: what do I give?
—
by
To make the most of a precious resource, donated blood is often separated into two components: red blood cells (packed red cells) and plasma (fresh frozen plasma, most commonly). This not only extends the life span of plasma component, but it also means you can pick and administer which component you need the most as…
-
Pancreatitis, pt 2: treatment and prognosis
—
by
Last week we covered diagnosing pancreatitis and the challenges associated with doing so. This week we look at management. The treatment of pancreatitis largely involves supportive care and monitoring for potential complications. Here, we recap the fundamentals. IV fluids IV fluids are critical in the acute phase to restore perfusion to core organs and correct…
-
Pancreatitis, pt 1: diagnosis
—
by
Pancreatitis is one of the most common exocrine conditions seen in small animal practice. It is caused by premature activation of enzymes (zymogens) within the pancreas leading to autodigestion, and can result in severe morbidity with the potential to lead to mortality. To this day, the diagnosis of pancreatitis remains a challenge – especially in…
-
Feline aortic thromboembolism
—
by
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…
-
Hyperkalaemia, pt 1: clinical signs and causes
—
by
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,…
-
Temporary catheters in obstructed FLUTDs: buying time with a blocked cat
—
by
Obstructive feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a common presentation in both general practice and emergency settings. Every clinician has his or her own approach to treating and managing a cat with obstructive FLUTD signs. Working in an emergency setting, once I have confirmed an obstructed bladder via palpation, I focus on trying to…