Veterinary Clinical Podcasts

In and amongst all the science and medicine that are at the centre of veterinary practice, it is essential that we don't overlook the overarching principles and considerations relating to Ethics and Animal Welfare. After all, they have to be a guiding light for what we do in clinical practice. This is the first in a two-part mini-series of podcast episodes featuring Martin Whiting, Lecturer in Vet...

This is the second part in the two-part mini-series on corneal ulceration in dogs and cats with   Màrian Matas Riera   who is a lecturer in   Ophthalmology   here at the RVC. If you haven't listened to   Part 1   yet it is highly recommended that you listen to that episode first as we dive right back in here in the second part. In this two-part podcast min...

Finally some Ophthalmology! Corneal ulceration (ulcerative keratitis) is a problem that is encountered commonly in small animal practice and the approach to treatment depends on a good understanding of the severity of the problem in the individual patient. In this two-part podcast mini-series we start with a refresher of the anatomy of the eye and more specifically the anatomy and function of the...

This is the second part of my discussion on blocked cats with  Dr Rosanne Jepson , Lecturer in   Small Animal Internal Medicine  and   Dominic Barfield , Lecturer in   Emergency   and   Critical Care ; and in absentia with   Nicola Kulendra , Lecturer in   Small Animal Surgery . And of course like in the first episode I can't help but chip in as we...

Tomcats with urethral obstruction are sadly a common small animal emergency population; this problem is one of the 'classics' no doubt, and with the potential to be fatal. Survival rates in the short-term can be extremely high with the right approach to stabilisation and management, medium-to-long term the prognosis can be more guarded. In a slightly roundtable fashion I am joined to discuss this...

All veterinary students have to undertake extramural studies (EMS) as part of their undergraduate training. How can they go about making the most of these experiences? Many veterinary practices and other organisations offer EMS placements to students. What steps can they take to ensure that not only do students get the most from their placement but also that the practice benefits from having stude...

Angiostrongylosis is a horrible disease affecting dogs not just in the UK but in many other countries besides. The two most commonly reported clinical presentations are associated with spontaneous bleeding or respiratory signs due to verminous pneumonia! In this podcast we discuss this parasitic infection in some depth and I am joined once again by   Karen Humm   who is a Lecturer i...

So you've made it through vet school, landed your veterinary degree, now what? It's the start of another phase in your lifelong journey! There are many things to consider as a new grad vet starting life in practice. In this podcast we discuss issues such as choosing your first job, coping with those early days seeing cases, sources of support and advice, the PDP (UK), internships and specialisatio...

Dogs - and cats - with chronic intermittent gastrointestinal signs are a common population in small animal practice! What's to be done? How should we approach these patients? In this podcast I discuss these questions with   Dr Karin Allenspach , Associate Professor and Reader in   Small Animal Internal Medicine   and Head of the   Clinical Investigation Centre (CIC)  ...

Anyone for some blood? Or how about some plasma? Transfusion medicine is a developing field in small animal practice as access to blood products increases - at least in some countries - and no doubt this trend is set to continue. In this podcast we discuss topics such as what transfusion medicine is and what the main indications are as well as some of the practical considerations with respect to a...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common problem in cats and dogs, especially as they get older. In the first podcast on CKD we discussed topics such as the anatomy and function of the kidney, why the kidney may become dysfunctional and what the consequences are, some terminology, and causes of kidney disease. In this second part we will look at clinical aspects of CKD in terms of patient approach...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common problem in cats and dogs, especially as they get older. In this first of two podcasts on CKD we discuss topics such as the anatomy and function of the kidney, why the kidney may become dysfunctional and what the consequences are, some terminology, and causes of kidney disease. In the second part we will look at clinical aspects of CKD in terms of patient ap...

Everyone knows that the nurses are really in charge!!...Having already undergone some substantial changes over the last two decades or so, veterinary nursing in the United Kingdom remains in the midst of changing times as nurses continue to work for greater recognition, endorsement and accountability. This podcast features   Hayley Carne BSc (Hons) RVN Grad Dip, Assistant Lecturer in Veterina...

Portosystemic shunts (PSS) are a relatively common problem in small animals and are the subject of this next podcast in our series. The podcast features   Vicky Lipscomb   who is Head of the   Soft Tissue Surgery service   at the QMHA and has a particular interest in these troublesome vessels! Some of the things we discuss in this podcast include the different types of PSS, whe...

Over the last 18 months or so a number of dogs in the United Kingdom have been affected by a disorder which causes skin lesions initially followed within a few days by signs of acute kidney injury. Histopathology in these cases has shown cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy consistent with changes seen in a condition known as Alabama Rot, described in North America but not previously report...

Heart disease is relatively common in domestic cats and these patients form a significant part of the caseload for many companion animal veterinary practices. In this podcast we discuss feline cardiomyopathy in general terms touching on issues such as classification of types, screening for subclinical cardiomyopathy, the relevance of dietary taurine, arterial thromboembolism, and prognostication....

What are human factors, non-technical skills and professionalism? Human factors, non-technical skills and professionalism are concepts whose importance in clinical practice is increasingly being recognised and appreciated. So far more attention has been paid to these concepts in the field of human medicine but some discussion is now occurring in veterinary medicine too. In this podcast which featu...

Healthcare-associated infection is an extremely important consideration both in veterinary and human medicine. In this podcast we discuss issues such as what terminology we should use, why we should care about HAI, and prevention and monitoring. The podcast features   Dan Chan   who is Head of the   Emergency   and   Critical Care   services and also a member of the I...

Many, many dogs and cats undergo general anaesthesia daily around the world. It is such a common intervention that being prepared and confident is vital and knowing how to maximise safety essential. In this podcast featuring   Ian Self   we discuss aspects such as patient assessment, preparation, induction, maintenance and recovery. We also touch on what the published data about peri-ana...

Cruciate disease is one of the most common orthopaedic problems in dogs. In this podcast we review the anatomy and function of the cruciate ligaments and then go on to discuss the ways in which they can become diseased, how the diagnosis is made, and what the various treatment options are including surgical versus conservative management. The podcast features   Richard Meeson   who is a...

Oncology is a relatively young speciality in small animal veterinary medicine but one that is exciting and continually evolving. In this latest podcast we discuss this area with   Chiara Leo   of the   QMHA Small Animal Oncology service . Some of the things we talk about include what cancer is and general principles of the approach to and treatment of cancer. Chiara also offers her...

There are many potential ways in which dogs and cats can poison themselves! In this latest podcast we discuss some of the more well known 'classic' poisons such as chocolate, ethylene glycol (antifreeze) and anticoagulant rodenticides, as well as some more recently identified ones such as grapes/raisins/currants/sultanas and xylitol in dogs. We also chat about neuromuscular toxins such as metaldeh...

"Every month is diabetes month in my mind!"   (Stijn Niessen, 2013). Diabetes mellitus is a common and very important hormonal disease in both dogs and cats. And while not reported in dogs, it has been known for some time that cats can go into diabetic remission. In this podcast featuring   Stijn Niessen , Lecturer in   Internal Medicine   at the QMHA, we start by discussing di...

Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and rehabilitation therapies are gaining increasing recognition as being an important part of veterinary healthcare and these services are increasingly available. In this podcast we discuss the emergence, uses and potential benefits of these therapies with Holly Smith, Head Nurse for Neurology and   Rehabilitation   in the QMHA. If you have any comments or sug...

A quick update on how the podcasts are going and a BIG THANK YOU to you the listeners for your interest and support! Please do feel free to get in touch including with questions about current podcasts and suggestions for future topics: Email Shailen at   sjasani@rvc.ac.uk Post on our   Facebook page Tweet   @RoyalVetCollege   hashtag #saclinpod IF YOU LIKE THIS PODCAST SERIES P...