in Practice最新文献

Background: Pigeons and collared doves (from the family Columbidae) are two of the most frequent species of wildlife casualty in the UK. Common reasons for admissions include injury, including being caught by cats, and being ‘orphaned’. In a 10-year study of bird admissions to a UK wildlife hospital, 41.3 per cent were due to human-related causes (such as cat or dog attacks, poisoning, or pollution), while 26.9 per cent were the result of being orphaned. Despite the frequency of admission, knowledge of how to triage and provide care for wildlife is inadequate because wildlife veterinary care is often not included in veterinary education.

Aim of the article: Part one of this article will look at triage, assessment, handling, housing, first aid and euthanasia of pigeon species admitted to veterinary practice. Part two will focus on basic diagnostic techniques and common clinical conditions. Wound cleaning and fracture immobilisation is also first aid but will be covered in part two.

In the evolving veterinary landscape, effective pricing is critical to balancing clinical excellence, client satisfaction, team wellbeing and business sustainability. With heightened scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority, veterinary practices must adopt transparent, well-researched pricing strategies. This article explores the importance of pricing in covering operational costs, funding reinvestment and maintaining profitability. It examines common pricing approaches including value-based, cost-based, competitive and bundle pricing, and highlights their advantages, risks and implementation considerations. It also outlines various pricing models for client communication, such as pay-as-you-go, tiered and subscription-based plans. The article emphasises the need for alignment between pricing strategy, marketing positioning and client expectations. By selecting appropriate strategies and regularly reviewing them, practice leaders can ensure sustainable growth, improve client trust and enhance patient outcomes. Clear team communication around pricing is essential and a follow-up article will further explore this topic.

Background: There is limited research on toxin risks in exotic animals compared to dogs and cats. Toxins may be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through contact, with ingestion being most common – except in birds, where inhaled toxins are a major concern. Risk varies by environment, with free-range animals and indoor birds (especially those near kitchens) being more vulnerable due to increased exposure. Enclosed housing reduces this risk.

Aim of the article: This article reviews common toxins and toxicities seen in exotic animals, based on clinical cases and author received case advice. While not exhaustive, it includes general treatment guidance and specific antidotes where relevant.

Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are common in cats, with varying levels of aggressiveness – some are easily removed surgically, while others are harder to treat. Recent research suggests that adjuvant radiotherapy can offer effective long-term control when microscopic disease remains. Feline injection-site sarcomas (FISS) highlight the unique nature of feline cancers. While prognosis was once difficult, a new histological grading system has been proposed to help assess these tumours.

Aim of the article: This article will examine the importance of feline STS and the complications FISS introduces. It will examine the long-standing histological grading system routinely applied to canine STS and its origin as a system for human STS. It will then discuss the proposed histological grading system for feline STS and possible future directions research into and the prognostication these tumours may take.

Background: Bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease are Orbivirus diseases of ruminants that have been increasingly encountered in Europe. While epizootic haemorrhagic disease has not yet been reported in the UK, recent bluetongue outbreaks affecting domestic ruminants have led to the implementation of control zones across parts of the UK. Wild deer (Cervidae) are susceptible to the diseases, but are not governed by movement restrictions placed on domestic livestock; wild deer populations present surveillance challenges compared with farmed species. Clinical signs in deer may differ from those seen in other ruminant species, clinicians should be aware of this as part of their responsibilities in the identification and reporting of notifiable diseases.

Aim of the article: This article provides information on bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease in deer so that veterinarians may be aware of the clinical presentations compared with other ruminants, and of both the similarities and differences between the two diseases.

Background: All veterinary surgeons undertaking any level of clinical work with small ruminants should be confident and competent at performing a detailed clinical examination of the individual animal. Moreover, they should be familiar with the ‘normal’ and standard reference ranges, to be able to interpret any deviations from the norm that warrant further consideration and/or investigation. Before any examination, a thorough, up-to-date and detailed history should be taken, and approaches to this are well documented in the literature.

Aim of the article: This article discusses the clinical examination of the adult sheep, including special considerations for adult males. Future articles will consider the clinical examination of lambs and kids at both the neonatal and growing stage.