Current insights into feline osteoarthritis

While there is no doubt that osteoarthritis is a very common problem in older cats, it is difficult to put an accurate figure on its prevalence. This difficulty arises in part because of the lack of...

Figure 1. Example of several experts evaluating the area to be biopsied at the same time.

Minimally invasive laparoscopic methods of biopsy in small animal practice

From a technical point of view, laparoscopic exploration is especially interesting when clinicians require a direct, real and magnified view of the less accessible abdominal structures; such as...

Figure 1. Example of several experts evaluating the area to be biopsied at the same time.

Minimally invasive laparoscopic methods of biopsy in small animal practice

From a technical point of view, laparoscopic exploration is especially interesting when clinicians require a direct, real and magnified view of the less accessible abdominal structures; such as...

Figure 2. Severe crusting and small erosions on the nasal planum and bridge of the nose in a cat with pemphigus foliaceus.

Pemphigus foliaceus in cats

Pemphigus foliaceus is an antibody-mediated autoimmune skin disease. Autoantibodies belonging to the IgG subclass attack and destroy the desmosomes, the special structures connecting one keratinocyte...

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...

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 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. Approximate distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis in the fox in Europe.

Parasite risks from raw meat-based diets for companion animals

Every owner is aware that fresh meat is appreciated by most dogs and cats, but so are many wet commercial foods. The smell, taste and shape of meat probably meets the instinctual need. In general,...

Figure 1. Mediolateral and plantarodorsal views of the tarsus of a 5-year old Labrador Retriever that presented after a road traffic accident non-weight bearing on the hind limb. The calcaneal tuber is fractured transversely at its base with moderate proximal and plantar displacement. Many pinpoint bone fragments are present at the fracture site dorsally. There is mild swelling of the plantar tarsal region.

Tarsal fractures: part 2

The calcaneus is the largest and longest bone of the tarsus (Evans, 1993). The distal half of the bone is wide transversely and possesses three facets and two processes whereby it is fitted with the...

Figure 4. Infraorbital nerve block in a rabbit. Needle inserted at the level of the infraorbital foramen.

Cuffed endotracheal tubes in cats

Laryngoscopy is invaluable when performing endotracheal intubation in the cat, whether using a cuffed or uncuffed tube. A cuffed ET tube may be more difficult to pass into the trachea than an uncuffed...

Figure 3. Ocular thelaziosis by Thelazia callipaeda in a cat living in central Italy (courtesy of Mariasole Colombo).

Vector-borne disease distributions and risks to the UK

Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis) are cosmopolitan ectoparasites, feeding on dogs and cats, which act as competent vectors for a high number of pathogens (Traversa, 2013). A...

Anaesthetic complications and emergencies preparedness part 2: intraoperative and recovery period complications

Hyperthermia is a relatively uncommon complication of anaesthesia, with overall frequency of 1.4% in dogs and cats, according to McMillan and Darcy (2016). Thick-coated dogs are more at risk for this...

Tarsal fractures: part 1

The canine tarsus is a complex anatomical structure composed of seven tarsal bones. The term also applies collectively to the several joints between the tarsal bones, as well as the region between the...