Companion collection - How to...

  In this article, Tom Dutton, of Great Western Exotics, summarizes his approach to a number of emergency avian presentations.

 Helen Rooney, the Pet Blood Bank UK Training and Induction Manager, notes that the transfusion of red cell and plasma products is realistic and achievable in a general practice setting. In this article she explains the safe way of administering blood products to dogs.

 Alexandra Taylor, ‘The Cat Nurse’, discusses how and why cats should be handled so carefully in veterinary clinics.

  Why is up-skilling in poultry medicine important? Have you buckled at the knees on seeing the word ‘chicken’ flash up on the appointment system? Rest assured – subsequent experience in the poultry industry has made clear these cases are often straightforward. Henrietta Kodilinye-Sims from the University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine and co-authors Kannan Ganapathy from the University of Liverpool, and Alex Schock and David Welchman from the Animal Plant and Health Agency offer some welcome guidance.

  Have you experienced impostor syndrome as a vet or nurse? Recovered impostor syndrome sufferer Katie Ford has written this article to raise awareness of impostor syndrome to help fellow veterinary professionals understand the phenomenon in themselves and others, know how to approach and identify the signs and when they may arise, and be clear on where and when to seek further help. To move forward it is important to start with explaining its origins, history and how it might present. Katie explains…

  Sally Polson and David Yates work together at the Bolton RSPCA Clinic. They are both graduates from Liverpool University and have common interests in anaesthesia, pre-pubertal neutering and improving patient welfare using tight charity budgets. In this article, they provide supporting evidence that PPN is a safe and humane procedure and one that could be considered more often in private veterinary practice.

 Matthew Green of Dovecote Veterinary Referrals discusses a challenging presentation when funds are limited.

  The management and prevention of thrombosis was recently the subject of evidence-based guidelines. One of the authors, Robert Goggs, explains how to prevent and manage this challenging problem.

 Sarah Eddon of Burscough Vets4Pets in West Lancashire discusses how to handle these tricky avian patients.