• This new addition to the BSAVA Foundation Manual series serves to provide an easily accessible source of practical advice on the management of common feline problems encountered in first-opinion practice. It begins with an introduction to important general issues in effective feline practice, including handling techniques, principles of examination and how to ensure a cat-friendly practice. Gold-standard preventive healthcare guidelines focusing on a life-stage approach and a discussion on therapeutics including antibiotic use, analgesia and anaesthesia follow. The main part of the Manual comprises problem-oriented sections that focus on the investigation and initial management of, first, emergencies and then other common presentations such as alopecia, polydipsia and seizures. The final systems-based section gives more detailed information on the management of the disorders commonly seen in general practice.

    The Manual gives enough information for any vet to deal very competently with commonly seen feline problems, also providing guidance on where to go for further information if required. Where appropriate, guidelines are also given for when referral should be considered, and for situations where financial limitations may exist.

    A unique feature of this Manual are the many ‘Quick Reference Guides’ (QRGs) provided throughout , which present practical techniques and treatments in easy-to-follow step-by-step guides, with clear colour photographs illustrating each step whenever possible.

    The international panel of authors were carefully chosen for their practical expertise and passion in different areas of feline practice. The practical and easy-to-follow advice provided in this Manual makes it essential reading for all new graduates and first-opinion vets who see feline cases, as well as veterinary students and veterinary nurses worldwide

  • Foreword

    Preface

    SECTION 1: Effective feline practice

    1. The cat-friendly practice
    Margie Scherk

    2. Preventive healthcare: a life-stage approach
    Susan Little

    3. Practical therapeutics
    Jill E. Maddison and Jo Murrell

    SECTION 2: Common presenting complaints

    4. Feline emergencies

    4.1 Collapse
    Angie Hibbert

    4.2 Dyspnoea, tachypnoea and hyperpnoea
    Angie Hibbert

    4.3 Hypercalcaemia
    Samantha Taylor

    4.4 Hypocalcaemia
    Samantha Taylor

    4.5 Hypoglycaemia
    Samantha Taylor

    4.6 Hypokalaemia
    Samantha Taylor

    4.7 Seizures
    Laurent Garosi

    4.8 Sudden-onset blindness
    Natasha Mitchell

    4.9 Toxins – common feline poisonings
    Martha Cannon

    4.10 Trauma and wound management
    Geraldine Hunt

    4.11 Urethral obstruction
    Danièlle-Gunn Moore

    5. Other common feline problems

    5.1 Abdominal effusion
    Myra Forster-van Hijfte

    5.2 Abdominal masses
    Myra Forster-van Hijfte

    5.3 Alopecia
    Natalie Barnard

    5.4 Anaemia
    Séverine Tasker

    5.5 Anorexia
    Samantha Taylor and Rachel Korman

    5.6 Ataxia
    Laurent Garosi

    5.7 Azotaemia
    Kathleen Tennant

    5.8 Cat bite abscesses
    Martha Cannon

    5.9 Constipation
    Albert E. Jergens

    5.10 Coughing
    Angie Hibbert

    5.11 Dehydration
    Samantha Taylor

    5.12 Diarrhoea
    Albert E. Jergens

    5.13 Haematuria
    Danièlle-Gunn Moore

    5.14 Hairballs
    Margie Scherk

    5.15 Head shaking and/or ear scratching
    Natalie Barnard

    5.16 Head tilt
    Laurent Garosi

    5.17 Heart murmur
    Kerry Simpson

    5.18 Hypertension
    Sarah Caney

    5.19 Hyphaema
    Natasha Mitchell

    5.20 Inappropriate defecation
    Andrea Harvey

    5.21 Inappropriate urination, dysuria and pollakiuria
    Samantha Taylor

    5.22 Jaundice
    Andrea Harvey

    5.23 Lameness
    Sorrel J. Langley-Hobbs

    5.24 Mentation and behavioural changes
    Laurent Garosi

    5.25 Ocular discharge
    Natasha Mitchell

    5.26 Overgrooming and pruritus
    Natalie Barnard

    5.27 Pica
    Samantha Taylor

    5.28 Polyphagia
    Darren Foster

    5.29 Polyuria and polydipsia
    Sarah Caney

    5.30 Pyrexia and hyperthermia
    Mike Lappin

    5.31 Raised liver parameters
    Kathleen Tennant

    5.32 Regurgitation
    Myra Forster-van Hiijfte

    5.33 Skin masses, nodules and swellings
    Natalie Barnard

    5.34 Sneezing and nasal discharge
    Richard Malik and Andrea Harvey

    5.35 Vomiting
    Albert E. Jergens

    5.36 Weight loss
    Samantha Taylor

    SECTION 3: Management of common disorders

    6. Managing skin disorders
    Natalie Barnard

    7. Dental disorders and their management
    Lisa Milella

    8. Management of eye disease
    Natasha Mitchell

    9. Management of cardiovascular disorders
    Luca Ferasin

    10. Management of respiratory disorders
    Angie Hibbert

    11. Management of gastrointestinal disorders
    Albert E. Jergens

    12. Management of hepatic and pancreatic disorders
    Andrea Harvey

    13. Management of urinary tract disorders
    Samantha Taylor

    14. Management of endocrine disorders
    Nicki Reed

    15. Management of reproduction and related disorders
    Susan Little

    16. Management of fractures and orthopaedic disease
    Sorrel J. Langley-Hobbs

    17. Management of neurological and neuromuscular disorders
    Laurent Garosi

    18. Management of behavioural disorders
    Vicky Halls

    19. Infectious diseases
    Vanessa Barrs and Julia Beatty

    20. Management of haematological disorders
    Séverine Tasker

    21. Management of commonly encountered feline cancers
    Mark Goodfellow

    Appendix

    Suture patterns
    Geraldine Hunt

    Index

    Quick reference guides

    QRG 1.1 Calculation of energy requirements for ill cats
    Marge Chandler

    QRG 1.2 Handling techniques for simple procedures
    Suzanne Rudd

    QRG 1.3 Examining the eye
    Natasha Mitchell

    QRG 1.4 Examining the mouth in a conscious cat
    Lisa Milella

    QRG 1.5 Thoracic examination and auscultation
    Kerry Simpson

    QRG 1.6 Performing a neurological examination
    Laurent Garosi

    QRG 1.7 Blood sampling: practical tips
    Martha Cannon

    QRG 2.1 Calculation of energy requirements for life stages and weight management
    Marge Chandler

    QRG 2.2 Prepubertal neutering of kittens
    David Yates

    QRG 2.3 Prepubertal neutering of males: castration
    David Yates

    QRG 2.4 Prepubertal neutering of females: ovariohysterectomy
    David Yates

    QRG 2.5 Compassionate euthanasia
    Martha Cannon

    QRG 3.1 Giving oral medications to cats
    Martha Cannon

    QRG 4.1.1 Intravenous catheterization
    Samantha Taylor

    QRG 4.1.2 Approach to hypotension
    Angie Hibbert

    QRG 4.1.3 Intravenous fluid therapy
    Samantha Taylor

    QRG 4.1.4 Recording and interpreting an electrocardiogram
    Luca Ferasin

    QRG 4.2.1 Immediate management of severe dyspnoea
    Angie Hibbert

    QRG 4.2.2 Oxygen therapy
    Angie Hibbert

    QRG 4.2.3 Emergency thoracic radiography
    Esther Barrett

    QRG 4.2.4 Thoracocentesis
    Angie Hibbert

    QRG 4.2.5 Inserting a chest drain
    Geraldine Hunt

    QRG 4.2.6 Inserting a small-bore wire-guided chest drain
    Dan Lewis

    QRG 4.4.1 Treatment of hypocalcaemia
    Samantha Taylor

    QRG 4.5.1 Treating hypoglycaemia
    Samantha Taylor

    QRG 4.6.1 Treatment of hypokalaemia
    Samantha Taylor

    QRG 4.7.1 Emergency management of the seizuring cat
    Laurent Garosi

    QRG 4.10.1 Abdominal rupture and hernia management
    Geraldine Hunt

    QRG 4.10.2 Bladder rupture repair
    Geraldine Hunt

    QRG 4.11.1 Approach to hyperkalaemia
    Angie Hibbert

    QRG 4.11.2 Relief of urethral obstruction in a tomcat
    Danièlle-Gunn Moore

    QRG 4.11.3 Urinalysis
    Kathleen Tennant

    QRG 4.11.4 Cystocentesis
    Margie Scherk

    QRG 5.1.1 Abdominocentesis
    Myra Forster-van Hijfte

    QRG 5.3.1 Wood's lamp examination
    Natalie Barnard

    QRG 5.3.2 Hair plucks
    Natalie Barnard

    QRG 5.3.3 Skin biopsy
    Natalie Barnard

    QRG 5.4.1 Making and examining a blood smear
    Séverine Tasker

    QRG 5.4.2 Haematological assessment
    Kathleen Tennant

    QRG 5.4.3 Obtaining bone marrow samples
    Séverine Tasker

    QRG 5.5.1 Enteral assisted nutrition
    Rachel Korman

    QRG 5.5.2 Placement of a naso-oesophageal feeding tube
    Rachel Korman

    QRG 5.5.3 Placement of an oesophagostomy feeding tube
    Rachel Korman

    QRG 5.10.1 Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
    Angie Hibbert

    QRG 5.15.1 Ear flushing
    Natalie Barnard

    QRG 5.15.2 Ear cytology
    Natalie Barnard

    QRG 5.18.1 Measuring blood pressure
    Sarah Caney

    QRG 5.18.2 Treatment of hypertension
    Sarah Caney

    QRG 5.21.1 Radiographic contrast studies of the lower urinary tract
    Myra Forster-van Hijfte

    QRG 5.26.1 Coat brushing
    Natalie Barnard

    QRG 5.26.2 Skin scrapes
    Natalie Barnard

    QRG 5.26.3 Skin cytology
    Natalie Barnard

    QRG 5.33.1 Fine-needle aspiration
    Kathleen Tennant

    QRG 5.34.1 Evaluating the nasopharynx
    Andrea Harvey and Richard Malik

    QRG 5.34.2 Nasal flushing and biopsy
    Andrea Harvey and Richard Malik

    QRG 6.1 Dietary trial for cutaneous adverse food reaction
    Natalie Barnard

    QRG 7.1 Dental examination, scaling and polishing
    Lisa Milella

    QRG 7.2 Tooth extraction
    Lisa Milella

    QRG 8.1 Enucleation
    Natasha Mitchell

    QRG 10.1 Inhalant asthma treatment
    Angie Hibbert

    QRG 11.1 Gut biopsy
    Geraldine Hunt

    QRG 12.1 Liver biopsy
    Geraldine Hunt

    QRG 13.1 Increasing water intake
    Samantha Taylor

    QRG 13.2 Subcutaneous fluid therapy
    Samantha Taylor

    QRG 14.1 Intracapsular thyroidectomy with preservation of the cranial parathyroid gland
    Geraldine Hunt

    QRG 14.2 Ear vein sampling for blood glucose determination
    Nicki Reed

    QRG 15.1 Diagnosing and managing dystocia
    Susan Little and Geraldine Hunt

    QRG 17.1 Tail-pull injuries and tail amputation
    Geraldine Hunt

    QRG 20.1 Feline blood types and blood typing methods
    Suzanne Rudd

    QRG 20.2 Blood transfusion
    Suzanne Rudd

    QRG 21.1 Lymph node excision
    Geraldine Hunt

    QRG 21.2 Chemotherapy for lymphoma
    Mark Goodfellow

    QRG 21.3 Pinnectomy
    Geraldine Hunt

  • Andrea Harvey BVSc DSAM(Feline) DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
    Andrea graduated from the University of Bristol in 2000 and, after some time in small animal practice, returned to Bristol to undertake a 3-year residency in feline medicine, funded by the Feline Advisory Bureau, remaining as FAB Clinical Fellow in Feline Medicine from 2005 to 2010. She has since continued to work closely with FAB and the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) on various initiatives, particularly the ISFM Cat Friendly Practice Accreditation scheme. In 2012 she moved to Australia, where she works as a feline clinician in the Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Sydney. Andrea is also the ISFM representative for Australasia, and a tutor on the CVE/ISFM distance education course in feline medicine. She lectures widely internationally and has written numerous articles and book chapters. Andrea is passionate about all aspects of feline medicine, health and welfare, and about supporting and inspiring colleagues in practice to provide the best care for their feline patients.

    Séverine Tasker BSc BVSc(Hons) PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA PGCertHE MRCVS
    After graduation from Bristol Veterinary School in 1994, Séverine spent time in practice working for the PDSA before moving to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh to take up an FAB Residency in Feline Medicine. She returned to Bristol in 1999, completing her PhD on feline haemoplasma infection in 2002. She is now a Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine at Bristol. Working in the Feline Centre and on the molecular side of the diagnostic services of Langford Veterinary Services, she is interested in all aspects of feline medicine, especially infectious diseases and haematological disorders. Séverine adores all things feline and particularly enjoys teaching veterinary students, nurses and colleagues a holistic approach to feline cases. She has authored over 100 papers and book chapters and has been an invited speaker at conferences in Europe, USA and Australasia. In 2008 she was awarded the BSAVA Woodrow Award for outstanding contributions to small animal medicine.

Veterinary Clinics of North America
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