Clinical

Figure 1. Flowchart for interpreting Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnare scores.

Osteoarthritis in small animals: tools for diagnosis and monitoring

There are many available, validated, client metrology instruments for canine patients. The most readily accessible in the UK are the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire, the Helsinki...

Figure 2. Port positions for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The head is to the left of the image.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the dog

Figure 3. A picture demonstrating the ventral abdominal vein (red line) and the proposed paramedian skin incision (black line).

A surgical approach to the reptile patient

The reproductive physiology of reptiles varies depending on the order to which the reptile belongs (Lock, 2000). Oviparous reptiles, such as chelonia, produce eggs, whereas squamates can be oviparous...

Figure 1. Superficial incisional surgical site infection after exploratory laparotomy.

CPD article: Biofilms and surgical site infections

A surgical site infection is a nosocomial infection temporally associated with a particular surgical procedure. A bacterial wound infection can be defined as the presence of more than 105 bacteria per...

Figure 1. Mouldy food such as bread and particularly dairy products, such as cream cheese, are common and readily accessible sources of tremorgenic mycotoxins in dogs.

Tremorgenic mycotoxicosis in dogs

Mouldy foods, particularly mouldy dairy products (Figure 1), are common sources of tremorgenic mycotoxins (Box 1), but any food waste, including composted waste (Figure 2), rotting, fallen fruits and...

Figure 1. Many determined female birds may sit for prolonged periods of time on clutches of infertile eggs. Brooding behaviours are stimulated primarily by prolactin

Avian reproductive disorders

Reproductive disease is common in birds. Medical management, such as the use of GnRH agonists can be useful in the treatment of some disorders. However, a considerable amount of further research is...

Figure 2. Example of a consultation being conducted outside in the owner's car.

Stress-free vet visits: considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

The process starts at reception when the patient is booked in. Information about the animal's previous behavioural history at the practice should be logged, alongside a relevant medical history. The...

Understanding and managing pain in the arthritic synovial joint: an update

It is well-recognised that synovial joints are innervated by pain-transmitting nerves (nociceptors). These nociceptors are thinly myelinated Aδ-fibres or unmyelinated C-fibres, with their cell bodies...

Figure 1. A veterinary medicines dispensary.

Reducing medication errors in practice: part 2

Where possible, configuring the practice management system to block dispense certain products to certain patients, for example paracetamol to a cat, could be a worthwhile consideration. Pop-up alert...

Figure 1. Blood pressure measurement using Doppler methodology.

Feline blood pressure measurement: when is it needed?

Systemic hypertension is a potentially life-threatening condition and four body systems are especially vulnerable to the damaging impact of high systemic blood pressure. These so-called target organs...

Figure 2. Egg of Capillaria aerophile.

CPD article: Felid lungworms: from complete strangers to major parasites

The cat lungworm A. abstrusus remains the most important respiratory nematode affecting cats, although T. brevior and C. aerophila are gaining attention in feline clinical practice..

Figure 1. Nutrition should be discussed at every opportunity during growth to ensure that the puppy is receiving adequate nutrition. Photo of the author's dog at a puppy check appointment.

CPD article: Puppy nutrition: weaning and beyond

Weaning is an important life stage for puppies. It is a high-risk time for them (Grellet et al, 2012) and must be managed carefully. At 4 weeks of age, the dam's milk no longer provides all the...