Clinical

Owner compliance in veterinary practice: recommendations from a roundtable discussion

All medicines are prescribed for a reason and if they are not administered then the patient will derive no benefit. Poor compliance has a devastating impact on human health; in the USA it is estimated...

CPD article: Sedation and general anaesthesia of the portosystemic shunt patient

A portosystemic shunt connects the portal circulation to the central circulation, bypassing the liver (Watson, 2014 a). The normal liver receives blood leaving the digestive tract via the hepatic...

Figure 14. Photograph of a pug immediately before combined medial canthoplasty and Hotz-Celsus surgery. Note the medial entropion, large nasal folds, exoptropia, and large amount of visible sclera.

Brachycephalic ocular syndrome in dogs

The cornea, tears and eyelids are a functional unit. A good analogy would be the windscreen of a car, which relies on wipers and washer water and additives to stay clear and functional. There are...

Alternative drugs to phenobarbital in canine epileptic patients

Several drugs have been studied as possible anti-epileptic medications. Further studies are warranted to confirm their efficacy as alternatives or adjunctives in dogs affected by epilepsy. Moreover,...

Figure 1. Two ventrodorsal views of the pelvis of a one-year-old Domestic Medium Haired Cat presenting with acute onset left hind limb lameness. Note that on the hip extended view on the left, the slipped capital femoral epiphysis is difficult to appreciate with very mild displacement and slight widening of the physis (green arrow), while on the frog-leg view on the right the displacement of the L-shaped physis is moderate and easily observed (yellow arrow).

CPD article: Fractures of the femur

Radiographic assessment should include, as a minimum, mediolateral and craniocaudal views of both femurs. The craniocaudal view can be obtained either by extending the limb with the animal in dorsal...

Figure 1. Red blood cells coated with antibodies and complement can a) undergo direct intravascular lysis or b) be uptaken by mononuclear phagocytic system macrophages.

Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, part 1: pathophysiology and diagnosis

Normally, canine red blood cells have a life span of 100–120 days (McCullough, 2003) while feline red blood cells remain in circulation for approximately 72 days (Eibert and Lewis, 1997). Once...

Figure 2. Canine, transthoracic, 2-dimensional, right parasternal long-axis view. Visible dilation of right atrium and concentric hypertrophy of the right ventricle, especially the right ventricular free wall (*).

Pulmonary hypertension in dogs: an overview

The systemic circulation consists of veins, venules, arteries, arterioles and capillaries, and is a high-pressure system. There is a significant pressure difference between the arterial and venous...

Figure 1. Grapes and dried fruit can cause renal failure in dogs.

Poisons affecting the kidney

Poisoning can result in adverse effects on the kidney through a variety of mechanisms, including formation of toxic metabolites, interference with normal physiological process and, in some cases,...

Figure 2. Toxocara cati egg showing pitted shell.

Role of cats in human toxocarosis

The two ascarid species that can produce patent infections in domestic cats are Toxocara cati (Schrank, 1788) (syn. Toxocara mystax, Fusaria mystax, Ascaris felis, Ascaris cati, Belascaris mystax, and...

Figure 1. One-year-old crossbreed, non-ambulatory paraparetic, with decreased anal and tail tone, absent perineal reflex. Laterolateral (a and b) and ventrodorsal (d and c), pre- and postoperative radiographs of the L4 vertebral body fracture with luxation of the L4–L5 articular process joints on both sides, representing disruption of all three vertebral compartments.

Vertebral fractures and luxations in dogs and cats part 2: treatment and surgery options

Minimal neurological deficits, medically manageable spinal pain and lack of spinal instability in cases of vertebral fractures and luxations usually do not require surgical intervention and can be...

Figure 2 Hamster with everted right cheek pouch.

Approaches to common conditions of the gastrointestinal tract in pet hamsters

Hamsters’ dental formula is 2 I1/1, C0/0, P0/0, M3/3. Their incisors are continuously growing and coloured yellow because of iron deposits in the enamel. The crowns of the molar teeth can retain food,...

Histopathology: how to get the best from gastrointestinal biopsies

It is beyond the scope of this article to provide a detailed discussion on appropriate case selection for gastrointestinal biopsy. Gastrointestinal signs are a common presentation and reaching a...