American Association of Feline Practitioners releases new anesthesia guidelinesJuly 11, 2018The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) released the first feline-specific anesthesia guidelines to the veterinary community, which are published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. General anesthesia is an essential component of feline practice, without which surgery and certain other treatment modalities and diagnostic procedures would be impossible, the AAFP stated. Due to their unique physiology and small size, cats undergoing anesthesia are at a relatively greater risk of complications and mortality than many other species; empirical evidence shows that cats undergoing anesthesia have a higher mortality rate compared with dogs.1,2 The new guidelines address specific causes of disparities and ways of avoiding perioperative complications associated with monitoring, airway management, fluid therapy, recovery, perianesthetic anxiety and stress, perianesthetic monitoring by physical and electronic means, the role of underlying diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the correct use of anesthesia equipment, and total injectable anesthesia. An associated client brochure provides cat caregivers with digestible information that enables them to understand anesthesia, what to expect, properly prepare their cat for a procedure, and care for them during recovery (catfriendly.com/anesthesia). "By proactively developing an individualized anesthetic plan that considers the uniqueness of each feline patient and recognizing …
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4 scientific articles to use in everyday practiceJune 25, 2018What would you consider to be the definition of a classic scientific article? In my mind, it is an article that changes the way you think. It is an article that changes the status quo. That changes the way you practice—the very next day.
Why an oral tumor diagnosis isn't always straightforwardJune 6, 2018When I was in veterinary school, my naïve impression of the process for obtaining a histopathologic diagnosis of tumors was this: fix the specimen in formalin, section and stain the tumor, look into the microscope, and obtain a definitive diagnosis.
A deeper look into endoscopyJune 4, 2018One of the first things veterinarians learn in school about endoscopes is how gastrointestinal endoscopy (GI) can be used to aid in the diagnostic evaluation of clinical signs referable to the esophagus, stomach, as well as proximal small intestine.
How to fix oronasal fistulasMay 4, 2018This month’s column discusses the surgical approach to treatment of the most common manifestation of oronasal fistulas: those that occur in the area of the maxillary canine tooth in dogs.
Avoid the dangers of spring-loaded mouth propsFebruary 12, 2018Have you ever had a patient wake up blind after anesthesia? Although it’s rare, anyone who’s been in practice for a number of years knows of a case either directly or indirectly.
Megacolon can be curable when handled the right wayFebruary 1, 2018Garfield, a 12-pound, 8-year-old domestic shorthair cat, had become constipated in the past few months. His family veterinarian initially prescribed psyllium fiber (Metamucil). Then, a few weeks later, the vet prescribed methylcellulose fiber (Citrucel). Then a few weeks later, lactulose.
10 mistakes to avoid after surgeryJanuary 16, 2018Just because surgery is over doesn’t mean that your care of the patient should be, too. Most people (clients included) mistakenly believe that the riskiest part of the entire surgical process is the procedure or the anesthesia.
Minimally invasive: Less is moreJanuary 5, 2018If you have had a medical procedure performed using minimally invasive techniques, you are well aware of the benefits: less time under anesthesia, less pain, less time in the hospital, and quicker recovery.
A Humerus PuzzleJanuary 4, 2018 Presentation: Radiograph of an 11 year old male Labrador. Questions: What's your presumptive diagnosis? How would you confirm your suspicion? What else should you do?
