Despite a marked increase in the number of pet rabbits kept in the UK, our ability to interpret the behaviour of this prey species is still lacking. This chapter provides guidance on recognizing and treating pain in rabbits. Case examples: Reduced gastrointestinal motility (gut stasis); Fractured limb; Dental abscess.

Cardiac disease is commonly encountered in small animal practice and is usually an acquired condition in middle-aged and older dogs and cats. A proportion of patients with heart disease will show clinical signs related to congestive heart failure or arrhythmias and will require supportive care. This chapter reflects on Supportive care for dogs with heart disease; and Supportive care for cats with heart disease. Case examples: Acute heart failure in a dog; Chronic heart failure in a dog; Pericardial effusion in a dog; Aortic thromboembolism in a cat; Patent ductus arteriosus in a puppy.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas in dogs and cats can occur separately or concurrently. The most important considerations for supportive care in all of these diseases are: fluid and electrolyte balance; nutrition; and, particularly for pancreatic disease, analgesia. There are also nursing, homecare and infection control considerations for the dog or cat with vomiting and diarrhoea. Case examples: Acute parvovirus infection in a puppy; Inflammatory bowel disease in a dog; Acute sever pancreatitis in a dog; Chronic pancreatitis in a dog; ‘Triaditis’ in a cat; Chronic hepatitis in a dog.

Disorders of the nervous system include a wide range of conditions with very different needs in terms of rehabilitation, support and palliative care. This chapter covers Principles of treating neurological cases; Managing recumbent dogs and cats; and Changes in demeanour. A variety of case scenarios in dogs and cats will be presented to illustrate the considerations to be made and the options available within a specific clinical setting. Case examples: Tail pull injury in a cat; Brain tumour in a dog; Cervical disc herniation in a dog; Cervical myelopathy in a dog; Discospondylitis in a dog; Refractory epilepsy in a dog; Thoracolumbar disc protrusion in a dog.

A wide range of problems affect the oral cavity, involving – either individually or in combination – the teeth, soft tissues and bone. Such problems include infections (e.g. periodontal disease, caries, osteomyelitis), trauma, neoplasia, congenital and developmental abnormalities and a variety of immune-mediated and ulcerative conditions. This chapter considers The oral cavity; Surgical principles; Pain management and palliative care; and Nutrition. Case examples: Right mandibular fracture in a puppy; Chronic gingivostomatitis in a cat.

Although often chronic in nature, respiratory disease commonly presents, in an emergency setting, as an acute exacerbation of disease. Patients in respiratory distress require immediate attention and therapy. These patients often present a challenge to the clinician, who has limited time to perform a physical examination and make a rapid assessment. Case examples: Asthma in a cat; Haemothorax in a dog; Chronic bronchitis in a dog; Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome in a dog; Tracheal collapse in a dog.

Local transposition of a muscle flap is a useful and simple technique and does not require any special instrumentation. However, it does require a good knowledge of anatomy, an understanding of the indications and limitations of the technique, and careful dissection. A muscle flap is indicated when the specific benefits of transposed muscle tissue are needed. This is particularly the case when closing defects that are ischaemic, infected or irradiated, or when muscle bulk or physical support is needed. This chapter discusses Indications; Types of muscle flap; Using muscle flaps; Complications; and Myocutaneous flaps. Case examples: Repair of a perineal hernia hernia with a semitendinosus muscle flap; and Reconstruction of a thoracic wall deficit (following tumour resection) with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. Operative techniques: Raising a muscle or myocutaneous flap; Humeral head of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle flap; Ulnaris lateralis muscle flap; Superficial gluteal muscle flap; Internal obturator muscle flap; Cranial sartorius muscle flap; Caudal sartorius muscle flap; Rectus femoris muscle flap; Semitendinous muscle flap; Cranial border of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle flap; Cranial tibial muscle flap; Temporalis muscle flap; Cranial portions of the sternocephalicus, sternothyroideus and sternohyoideus muscle flaps; Caudal portions of the sternocephalicus, sternothyroideus and sternohyoideus muscle flaps; Cervical portion of the trapezius muscle flap; Deep pectoral muscle flap; Latissimus dorsi muscle flap; Cranial portion of the external abdominal oblique muscle flap; Rectus abdominis muscle flap; Cutaneous trunci myocutaneous; Latissmus dorsi myocutaneous flap; Trapezius myocutaneous flap; and the Gracilis myocutaneous flap.