Companion collection - How to...

Membrane pallor can have very different causes and therefore treatments. Laura Holm and Kit Sturgess describe how to establish the cause in the first few critical hours, and the treatment strategies to follow.

Hypercalcaemia can be an unexpected abnormality on a biochemistry profile and is a challenging presentation. Kirsty Roe describes how to approach it.

IV fluid therapy is essential in many cases but its use requires attention for maximum effectiveness. Simon Tappin describes why fluid therapy might be needed, how much to administer, and which fluid and administration routes to use.

Local anaesthetic blocks are potentially the most effective form of analgesia for small animals but are seldom used. Nicki Grint describes how to change that.

Anorexia is very common in the rabbit and is invariably a sign of an underlying problem. Richard Saunders explores the causes.

The nose is a difficult site to image or access and surgical rhinotomy is both invasive and painful. Rhinoscopy remains the gold standard and techniques for visualising lesions, taking biopsy samples and removing foreign bodies are described.

Haematology analysers should always be used in conjunction with a blood film examination. Elizabeth Villiers describes this simple and rewarding technique.

Once a vet gets over the ‘fear factor’, collecting a bone marrow sample isn’t difficult explains Kate Murphy.

A gastropexy is the surgical attachment of the stomach to the abdominal wall, usually to prevent gastric volvulus. John Williams describes the procedure.