Clinical

Figure 1. Percentage of reported error categories

Why do medication errors occur in veterinary practice?

The data available on medication errors in veterinary practice come from systems such as the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) adverse event reporting system or the Veterinary Defence Society...

Figure 1. The progression of osteoarthritis.

Incorporating a rehabilitation ethos into the management of canine osteoarthritis

Incorporating rehabilitation into a multimodal management plan requires a clear understanding of the dog's overall physical health and a comprehensive neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis..

Figure 2. Simulation of euthanasia in a consultation room. The heavily sedated dog is cradled by his owner while the veterinary team access the lateral saphenous vein on the hind limb for the injection of pentobarbital. Note the soft blanket for the dog to rest on.

Advocating sedation pre-euthanasia in small animal practice

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) guidelines for euthanasia recommend injection of an overdose of a barbiturate solution, using pre-medicants for frightened or vicious animals...

Figure 1. A flow chart depicting how many articles were included or excluded in the search for adverse drug events associated with the use of ectoparasiticides analysed in the present study.

A snapshot of the adverse effects of companion animal ectoparasiticides

The primary search engine used for finding veterinary literature for this study was PubMed, covering the period from 1993 to 2017. ScienceDirect was also used for further papers if required, once the...

RSPCA staff at Millbrook Animal Centre bathe one of a litter of Lurcher puppies found abandoned with a skin condition.

The impact of COVID-19 on rescue shelters

During the COVID-19 pandemic, RSPCA National Centres have been shut to members of the public. Only staff and volunteers have been on site to care for the animals and rehoming has mainly been done...

Understanding the pharmaceutical approach to pain management in canine osteoarthritis

Identifying the ‘type’ of pain requiring management will enable an appropriate choice of analgesia. Inflammatory nociception is always present in osteoarthritis. Indicators of pain and pathology will...

Figure 2. Right parasternal long axis echocardiographic view with colour flow Doppler showing regurgitant flow through the compromised mitral valve. LA=left atrium, LV=left ventricle.

Anaesthetic management of dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

This disease is progressive and degenerative, causing distortion of the mitral valve structure and consequent disruption to the normal haemodynamic function of the heart. In a normal heart, the two...

Figure 1. Massage is applied using a gentle compress and release technique to the iliopsoas area.

Rehabilitating the canine hip: a practical guide

There are a number of surgical procedures which have been suggested to assist with the management of issues relating to the hip. The most common surgical procedures performed around the hip include...

Figure 2. Osteoarthritis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for chronic weight loss in pet guinea pigs.

Osteoarthritis in pet guinea pigs: an update on diagnosis, treatment and management

Although there have been significant advances in recent years in the field of pet rabbit medicine, pet guinea pig conditions are unfortunately less well documented and our understanding of their...

Figure 3. Checking for a pulse in a tortoise over the lateral neck using a Doppler monitor

Considerations for humane euthanasia in exotic pet species

The euthanasia of pet animals always poses ethical, emotional and practical challenges. These may be compounded in the case of exotic pet species because of:.

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...