in Practice最新文献

Background: Transfusion therapy has been used in both human and veterinary medicine for many years. As veterinary transfusion medicine has progressed, it has highlighted the intricate nature of blood products and their administration. Ongoing research challenges conventional practices, uncovering complexities related to compatibility, storage, administration and the nuanced profiles of potential adverse reactions. This expanding body of evidence emphasises the necessity for evidence-based guidelines while also highlighting the need for continued research and awareness regarding the safe and effective use of blood components in veterinary patients.

Aim of the article: This article – the second in a two-part series – provides a practical approach to canine transfusion medicine in the UK, discussing the relevance of canine blood groups and establishing when crossmatching is required. The practical aspects of collecting blood from a donor and performing blood transfusions in practice are also covered, alongside the risks, relevant monitoring, and the identification and management of transfusion reactions.

Infusion devices are commonly used in veterinary practices or referral hospitals. Research shows that 30 per cent of recorded patient safety events are medication errors, and while drug error reduction software (DERS) was developed two decades ago as a means to reduce these errors, it is yet to be adopted in the veterinary profession. This article explores DERS and discusses how it works and how to implement it in a veterinary setting. It follows on from two previous articles on human factors and medical devices, and incident investigations.

Background: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are a group of insidious, invariably fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by infectious agents known as prions. This includes scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle, feline spongiform encephalopathy in felids, chronic wasting disease in cervids, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in people. BSE became a notifiable disease in 1988 with scrapie following in 1993. However, much is still unknown about the origins, pathogenesis or properties of prions. As custodians of animal welfare and public health, veterinarians must be able to recognise signs of the disease and continue to play a critical role in the surveillance and control of prion diseases, both known and unknown.

Aim of the article: This article provides an overview of prion disease in various species to guide clinical veterinarians in diagnosis where they suspect transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). It also informs veterinarians of TSE threats on the horizon, such as chronic wasting disease and camelid prion disease.

The surge in corporate ownership of veterinary businesses over the past decade has brought about a new phenomenon in the veterinary world – the accidental landlord. The traditional system of practice ownership meant that many vets invested in their practice property often in place of a more conventional pension fund. After many years of hard work at the coalface of veterinary practice, they hoped to rely on rental income to provide for them in retirement. In other cases, a bereaved spouse or offspring may suddenly find themselves trying to negotiate with a large corporate at a rent review or lease renewal. This article covers just two aspects of being a commercial landlord – what to look for in a lease and rent reviews. There are many other areas a landlord needs to be familiar with, such as insurance, lease renewal, interest rates, dilapidations, repossession and selling your rental property with a sitting tenant. Some of these considerations will be covered in a later article.

Background: The management of periparturient emergencies in mares is particularly challenging as the health and wellbeing of both the mare and the fetus/foal must be considered and balanced. The clinician must make a judgement on whether a case should be managed medically or surgically. Many emergency situations will require surgical intervention and careful monitoring.

Aim of the article: This article provides an overview of the most commonly encountered conditions in periparturient mares and outlines approaches to their management.