BSAVA Foundation Collection

In most small animal practices true emergencies will be relatively uncommon, but with the increase in emergency centres within the UK there will be practices where emergency cases are in the majority, Although emergency medicine can be stressful it can also be extremely satisfying. This chapter focuses on telephone triage, preparation, hospital triage, cardiovascular abnormalities - assessment and management, respiratory abnormalities - assessment and management, neurological assessment and management, monitoring during stabilization, secondary assessment and ongoing management. Quick Reference Guide: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Simon Tappin on the key points associated with the emerging disease, angiostrongylus vasorum.

Recent cases in The Netherlands and France have raised the profile of the disease but many countries have to contend with rabies on a daily basis. The symposium identified seven key recommendations for progress.

Although cats and dogs are physiologically similar in many respects, and dosing regimens recommended for dogs can frequently be extrapolated to cats, there are some important differences in drug disposition between the two species that can have a profound influence on dosing recommendations. This chapter covers the following: medication compliance, antibacterials, glucocorticoids, effective feline analgesia and effective sedation and anaesthesia. Quick reference guide: Giving oral medications to cats.

The terms sterilization, disinfection, asepsis and antisepsis are often used interchangeably and frequently incorrectly. Sterilization is the process of destruction of all forms of microbial life. This includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and protozoans. The term also implies the complete elimination of dormant bacterial spores, which are highly resistant to environmental changes and can survive within the environment for many years. This chapter looks at Disinfection; Methods of sterilization; and Preparation and handling of surgical packs.

This chapter provides the need-to-know information on lizards:

• Biology
• Husbandry
• Handling and restraint
• Diagnostic approach
• Common conditions
• Supportive care
• Anaesthesia and analgesia
• Common surgical procedures
• Euthanasia
• Drug formulary.

This chapter provides the need-to-know information on Primates - callitrichids, cebids and lemurs:

• Biology
• Husbandry
• Handling and restraint
• Diagnostic approach
• Common conditions
• Supportive care
• Anaesthesia and analgesia
• Common surgical procedures
• Euthanasia
• Drug formulary.

First aid is defined as the immediate treatment of injured animals or those suffering from sudden illness, with a view to preventing worsening of disease or death. Although veterinary nurses do not have greater legal powers than lay people, in situations requiring first aid they will have far greater knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and of the specific emergency first aid techniques required. In practice, nurses may be faced with emergency situations requiring evaluation and stabilization until the arrival of the veterinary surgeon. This chapter is designed to give information on the Definition of the term first aid and its limitations; Reasons for patient evaluation; Obtaining good case history and what should be included; Emergency procedures that may be performed to maintain life; Basic resuscitation techniques; and Emergency procedures for common first aid situations.

This chapter is designed to give information on; the history of the cat and its association with humans; how a client should select a suitable cat; recognition of different breeds of domestic cat; basic genetics, including coat colours and patterns; general care and everyday management; routine veterinary care; basic nutrition; breeding from cats; and basic understanding or normal behavioural characteristics. Routine veterinary attention includes: vaccination, control of internal and external parasites, neutering, pet identification (tattooing, microchip implantation).

This chapter is designed to give information on how to set up and run an emergency room/treatment area, including planning for emergencies; evaluation of the emergency patient (triage; primary survey; major body systems assessment), immediate treatment of life-threatening emergencies, and nursing and monitoring the emergency patient.