EDITOR / INDEX
Editor’s Note
Reducing patient fear in our practices
seems a self-evident concept - yet
many small adjustments which could
change things radically for the patient
are not being made. Purely I think,
because we are used to things in a
certain way. Think out of the box. See
things from a dog or cats perspective.
Put yourself in your patients’ position
and then see how small changes can
make a great impact on your staff and
your clients.
The CPD article in this edition is a real marathon - the A-Z of
the practical diagnosis and treatment of canine atopy. We all
have these animals in our practices and I know the sense of
futility felt when the poor dog just cannot stop itching and
scratching no matter what we try. Persevere, read the article.
The trick is in being thorough…not something impatient vets
are always good at! Advances in the evaluation of the barrier function of the skin as well as new immunomodulating
agents other than cortisone are highlighted.
Index:
• 5 Ways to Get Started with Fear-Free Practice
4
• Dial it DOWN
6
• Decontaminating the Poisoned Patient
9
• Emesis & Activated Charcoal
12
• Canine Atopic Dermatitis
A Practical Approach A to Z
14
• Cobalamin (Vit B12) Deficiency in Longstanding
Intestinal Disease
27
• Journal Update
28
• Thyroid Hormone: Interpretation of
Assay Results in Dogs
30
• Thoracostomy Tube Placement
32
• An Approach to The Anorexic Rabbit
36
Again - thank you to those who contributed to this edition.
Regards
PREVIOUS EDITION: July 2015
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• Managing Diabetes Mellitus (CPD)
• Scrotal Urethrostomy in the Dog
• Canine Urinary Tract Infections
NEXT EDITION: November 2015
• Orthopaedic Implant Infections
• Interpretation of Adrenal Gland Function Tests
• Canine Adverse Food Reaction (CAFR)
Shaping the future of animal health
Advisory Board
VET360 aims to be a leader in the field of continuing veterinary development
in Southern Africa by providing veterinary professionals from diverse disciplines
with tools to help them meet the challenges of private practice. The magazine
aims to make information accessible, both paper and electronic, and provide
clinical, business and other veterinary information in a concise form to enable
the practitioner to rapidly acquire nuggets of essential knowledge.
Editor
Dr. Liesel van der Merwe BVSc MMedVet (Med) Small Animals
Practitioners Advisory Board
Progressive practitioners to keep our content practical and relevant
Dr Lindsey Cox (Squires) BSc (Hons), BVSc (Hons)
Dr Natli Rouvoet, BVSc
Dr Richard Smith, BVSc Hons
Editorial Advisory Board
Vet360 is a source of current, relevant educational material for
practising veterinary professionals in Southern Africa.
Published Bi-monthly in hard copy and electronically on
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Distribution: Southern Africa, 3 500 copies. Copyright reserved.
Disclaimer: Expressions of opinion, claims and statement of
supposed facts do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or
publisher. Whilst every effort is made to report accurately, the
publisher or the editor does not accept any liability with regard to
any statement, advertisement, fact or recommendation made in this
magazine.
Editor: Dr Liesel van der Merwe BVSc (Hons) MMedVet (Med)
Small Animals.
Production: Michelle Jordaan Advertising: Madaleen Schultheiss
Layout and design: Riana Grobler
Publisher and Owner: Vetlink Publications
Other Publications by Vetlink: Vet360 Mobile App, Livestock Health
and Production Review, Hooo-Hooo, Equine Health Update
Specialists evaluating the content, ensuring editorial quality and integrity
Dr Lynette Bester, DVN, BVSc, MMedVet (Anaes)
Dr Marlies Bohm, BVSc, DSAM, MMedVet (Small Animals) Dipl. ECVIM(CA)
Dr Michael Gray, BVSc MMedVet (Surg) Small Animals
Dr Stephen Hughes BVSc MMedVet (Therios)
Dr Rick Last BVSc, MMedVet (Path) MRVSC
Prof Fred Reyers BVSc (Hons) MMev Vet (KLD)
Dr Tanya Schoeman BVSc, MMedVet, Dipl. ECVIM (CA)
Dr Sunelle Strydom BVSc MMedVet (Large Animals)
Dr Willemien van Wyk, BVSc
Dr Anthony Zambellli BVSc, MMedVet
We welcome any comments, contributions, topic suggestions
and letters for publication. Send them to:
The Editor, PO Box 232, GROENKLOOF, 0027
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Cover Photo: Salome Botha; Photography
Cat adopted from Garden Route SPCA
vet360
Issue 05 | SEPTEMBER 2015 | 2
Issue 05 | SEPTEMBER 2015 | 3