Fall 2018

56SharesPAIN MANAGEMENT Monitoring acute pain is a continuous process throughout the pre-, intra-, and postoperative periods. The first step in addressing pain is to understand what it is and how to recognize it. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential …

Whether you are a part of the 81% who supported or remained neutral on the title change to “registered veterinary nurse” (RVN) or the 19% who preferred “veterinary technician” on the 2017 National Credential Survey, almost everyone agreed that standardizing of the profession’s credential requirements is important. In fact, of the 20% of respondents who …

As with life, change is constant. For me, life’s changes bring retirement and a “changing of the guard” as the Editor in Chief of Today’s Veterinary Nurse. I am thrilled to pass over the reins of this journal to Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition), VTS-H (Internal Medicine, Dentistry), who assumed the position …

SELF-CARE Taking care of yourself is not selfish; it’s a must to maintain emotional and physical health. Balance is the key! What is work-life balance? Why is it important? Is my work-life balance the same as my coworker’s work-life balance? These are some of the questions that a majority of workers in the United States …

PREVENTING SIDE EFFECTS Prevention of chemotherapy-induced side effects begins with appropriate dosing. Administration of any drug, supplement, or treatment can result in side effects, or adverse events. Chemotherapy is no exception. Although the goal of chemotherapy in veterinary patients is to extend the life of the patient without the harsh side effects seen in human …

65SharesMEETING NUTRITIONAL NEEDS Nutrition is an important component of the hospitalized patient’s treatment plan. Nutrition is vitally important to the hospitalized patient. Unfortunately, the nutritional needs of hospitalized patients are often overlooked. Doctors’ orders might not include specific feeding instructions. Patients may be unwilling or unable to eat or may not be consuming adequate calories …

7SharesUTI IN A CAT WITH CKD Nurses need to know how comorbidities interact and how treatment for one disease can affect another. Katmandu was a 9-year-old spayed female Bengal cat with a history of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and restrictive cardiomyopathy. She was brought to the clinic for re-examination of a recurrent urinary tract infection …

REDUCING ANESTHESIA RISK New program helps ensure anesthesia care is safe, effective, and efficient. From the Field shares insights from Banfield Pet Hospital veterinary team members. Drawing from the nationwide practice’s extensive research, as well as findings from its electronic veterinary medical records database and more than 8 million annual pet visits, this column is …

4SharesAN EXAMPLE OF COMPOST The contents can vary significantly, potentially leading to a wide range of clinical signs. Welcome to Practical Toxicology, brought to you in partnership between Today’s Veterinary Practice and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) (aspcapro.org/poison). This column provides practical clinical information about diagnosing and treating pets that have been exposed …

PERFORMANCE STRESS Most performance horses develop ulcers. Having a dedicated healthcare team to care for these horses is essential to recovery. When considering gastrointestinal problems of horses, colic is probably the first thing that comes to mind. However, one of the most common problems affecting nearly all performance horses globally is gastric ulceration. Recent advances …

LITTERBOX AVOIDANCE Consider Pandora syndrome as the diagnosis rather than feline idiopathic cystitis. Practicing Cat Friendly The articles presented by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) focus on feline-specific information on cats’ unique behaviors; diagnosis and evaluation of disease and conditions; better approaches and techniques for cats; and strategies to decrease stress associated with …

REDUCING WMSD FACTORS Participatory ergonomics ensures both the operator and patient are comfortable. Participatory ergonomics has been defined as “the involvement of people in planning and controlling a significant amount of their own work activities, with sufficient knowledge and power to influence both processes and outcomes in order to achieve desirable goals,” according to Higgnett …