Vet Times

Tag: Panleukopenia

  • Oh, what a month

    Oh, what a month

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    From the banning of puppy and kitten sales in pet shops to outlawing electric shock collars, Holly Kernot summarises the spate of notable victories for animal welfare that took place in August.

  • The only way is ethics part 2: inequality

    The only way is ethics part 2: inequality

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    I’ve written about one particular coincidence before on this blog. It’s not much of an anecdote, but it stuck with me because, in many ways, it gets to the root of one of the peculiar hypocrisies that pepper our relationship with animals. I had just finished my consultation with a long-standing feline patient – a…

  • Cat cafes – a pawsitive or negative?

    Cat cafes – a pawsitive or negative?

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    Cat cafes are popping up all over the UK and, while they may seem like a novelty for cat lovers, I had to wonder how ethical these feline havens really are. As vets, we believe cats are inherently solitary animals, and often become stressed when multiple cats are in the same household or when new…

  • Veterinary aromatherapy: the good, the bad and the ugly

    Veterinary aromatherapy: the good, the bad and the ugly

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    Don’t run away! I’m not entering into the complementary and alternative medicine debates… I’ve just been thinking about the lovely smells of the vet world that make me feel good. Following a Twitter conversation with fellow blogger Nick Marsh back in 2017, I’ve been keeping a little list – a secret list. But I’m now…

  • Home visits: improving lives for vets, owners and pets

    Home visits: improving lives for vets, owners and pets

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    We were disappointed to read Nick Marsh’s recent assessment of home visits as “frustrating and scary”. As the UK’s largest home visit service provider, we are concerned about owners who cannot easily take their animals to the vet. As we are all too familiar with, travelling to the vet can be a traumatic experience for…

  • Anti-science

    Anti-science

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    I gently squeeze the cat’s abdomen. There isn’t much to feel, but the muscles tense and the cat looks at me reproachfully. A tiny bead of bloody urine appears at its vulva and drips on to the consult table. “I think we’re dealing with cystitis here,” I said. Of course, technically it’s probably feline lower…

  • Borrowed time

    Borrowed time

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    I’m hoping to get through writing this without crying. Our beloved Little Blue (or “LB”) is entering the stage beyond the twilight years – she’s firmly in borrowed time territory. Although G (the husband) thinks she’s been on borrowed time for the last five years, she’s really just been a bit more aged-looking than usual.…

  • No harm infection control

    No harm infection control

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    Like most RVNs, I like a good clean. This is never at home though, obviously – it’s all about a sparkling work place. I love to smell disinfectant and have everything shiny – especially a ward. Once all the patients are medicated and calm, curled up sleeping, it’s not unusual to find me quietly ensuring…

  • Volunteering in Malawi

    Volunteering in Malawi

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    Last year I spent three months in Blantyre, Malawi. My visit mainly focused on helping Mission Rabies set up its vaccination campaign. Twelve months on and Mission Rabies has done an amazing job; its teams have not only vaccinated more than 70% of the dogs in the city of Blantyre, but also in the entire…

  • RVN debate: nurse or not?

    RVN debate: nurse or not?

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    As Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month draws to a close, I wonder where we are when it comes to informing the public about RVNs – our level of training, our expertise, our standing within the profession, or that we even exist at all. I realise we are a drop in the ocean in terms of numbers…