September 2022

Bristol veterinary student Eleanor Goad considers the raft of difficult choices she and her peers face from the moment they decide on their chosen career path.

12 mins

Tip of the Week author Gerardo Poli explains how to determine whether a true compensatory response is present and how to rule out the presence of a secondary disorder.

8 mins

In the fifth part of this extended focus on blood gas analysis, Gerardo Poli explains how to rule out the differential causes of either respiratory or metabolic acidosis/alkalosis.

8 mins

Twelve months after her greyhound’s unfortunate squirrel-chasing accident, Jane RVN reflects on complications that arose in the following year and the incredible support offered by her local practice.

8 mins

August 2022

Continuing his focus on blood gas analysis, emergency veterinary surgeon Gerardo Poli discusses PCO2 levels and explains how to determine the cause of respiratory acidosis and alkalosis.

6 mins

In the third part of this series, Gerardo Poli explains how the direction of pH shift helps determine the primary disease process and whether a secondary disorder is also present.

9 mins

Gerardo Poli follows last week’s introduction of blood gas analysis by looking at acid-base disturbances – discussing acidaemia and alkalaemia, their clinical signs and buffering systems that help maintain normal blood pH levels.

5 mins

A visit to her local GP reminds a poorly Jane Davidson about the dubious collection of unsuitable containers provided by clients when asked to obtain a urine sample from their pet.

8 mins

As she continues her delve through the RCVS archives, RVN and veterinary historian Jane Davidson discovers a long-forgotten tradition of using classical lanuguages in veterinary publications.

7 mins

In the first of a new series, Gerardo introduces the uninitiated to blood gas analysis, a point-of-care test that can help assess the severity of a patient's condition and help guide your diagnostic plan.

8 mins

Following last week’s introduction on the effects and causes of hyperkalaemia, Gerardo Poli focuses on management options available.

6 mins

July 2022

Eleanor Goad looks at how the cost of living crisis and, specifically, spiralling fuel costs are likely to affect student vets’ ability to attend their mandatory EMS placements.

8 mins

In a new series, Gerardo Poli explores the common causes of hyperkalaemia and how to manage this using fluid therapy and medications.

8 mins

RVN and veterinary historian Jane Davidson reveals how a single customer complaint in 1703 helped pave the way for animal health professionals by combining the roles of surgeon, medic and apothecary.

8 mins

Gerardo Poli discusses how to find the caudal vena cava – and interpret whether it is “fat”, “flat” or “bouncy” – to assess a patient’s fluid volume. Features video content.

3 mins

As Jane Davidson continues to dive into the RCVS archives, she unearths the history of its annual general meeting, which dates back to the 1800s, when, it seems, singing was not unusual among proceedings.

9 mins

In the fifth and final part of this series, Gerardo Poli turns to advanced life support and discusses vasopressors and vagolytic agents, both of which are widely used in veterinary CPR.

10 mins

June 2022

Vet student Eleanor Goad explains why bigger truly is better, and how equine EMS placements offer the perfect opportunity to practise your catheter placement and blood sampling.

13 mins

Part four of Gerardo Poli’s series discusses how, of the numerous monitoring modalities examined, only ECG and end tidal carbon dioxide monitoring are associated with positive CPR outcomes.

12 mins

In part three of his series on CPR, Gerardo Poli discusses the use of endotracheal intubation, and, when this cannot be immediately achieved, the other ventilation techniques required.

7 mins