Cover
Table of Contents
Half title page
Title page
Copyright page
List of contributors
Acknowledgements
About this book
Introduction: Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in small animal general practice
Section 1: Health checks and vaccinations
1 The new puppy or kitten
Pre-purchase advice
The first consultation
The clinical examination
General findings
Vaccination
Antiparasitic treatment
Further advice
Additional recommendations
2 The annual health check
Problems that might be raised by owners
The clinical examination
Recommending treatments and procedures
Vaccination
Other forms of preventative medicine
3 Advising on spaying and castration
Reasons for neutering
Disadvantages or complications associated with surgical neutering
Recommended age for neutering
Chemical control of breeding
Overall recommendations
Section 2: General signs and illnesses
4 Inappetence and anorexia
Common differential diagnoses
5 Weight loss
Common differential diagnoses
6 Polydipsia and polyuria
Common differential diagnoses
7 Pyrexia
Common differential diagnoses
8 Anaemia
Common differential diagnoses
9 Jaundice
Common differential diagnoses
10 Collapse
Common differential diagnoses
11 Abdominal distension
Common differential diagnoses
12 The FeLV-positive cat
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
13 The FIV-positive cat
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
14 The cat with FIP
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Section 3: Skin problems
15 The itchy dog
Common differential diagnoses
16 The itchy cat
Common differential diagnoses
17 Diagnosing and treating skin diseases caused by ectoparasites
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
18 The dog with demodicosis
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
19 The dog with pyoderma or Malassezia dermatitis
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
20 The atopic dog
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
21 The dog with a hot spot
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
22 The dog with acral lick dermatitis (lick granuloma)
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
23 Anal sac problems
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
24 Ear infections
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
25 Pododermatitis
Common differential diagnoses
26 The dog or cat with a cutaneous lump or swelling
Common differential diagnoses
27 The dog with urticaria or angioedema
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Differential diagnoses
28 The cat-bite abscess
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
29 Lipomas
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
30 The dog with a histiocytoma
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
31 Mast cell tumours
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
32 Sebaceous adenomas and follicular cysts
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
33 The dog that is losing hair
Common differential diagnoses
34 Dermatophytosis
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
35 Skin problems in non dog/cat species
Common skin diseases and symptoms in rabbits
Common skin diseases and symptoms in hamsters
Common skin diseases and symptoms in Guinea pigs
Common skin diseases and symptoms in caged birds
Section 4: Gastrointestinal problems
36 Dental disease
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
37 Retching and gagging
Common differential diagnoses
38 Vomiting
Common differential diagnoses
39 Diarrhoea
Common differential diagnoses
40 The dog with haemorrhagic gastroenteritis
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Important differential diagnoses
41 Colitis
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Important differential diagnoses
42 Liver disease
Aetiology and pathogenesis
Common differential diagnoses
43 The dog or cat with pancreatitis
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Important differential diagnoses
44 The dog with gastric dilatation and volvulus
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Important differential diagnoses
45 Obstipation and megacolon
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Section 5: Musculoskeletal problems
46 Orthopaedic problems in young and growing dogs
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
47 Forelimb lameness
Common differential diagnoses
48 Hindlimb lameness
Common differential diagnoses
49 Cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
50 Advising on osteoarthritis
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
51 Initial fracture diagnosis and management
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
52 Spinal pain and intervertebral disc herniation
Common differential diagnoses
Section 6: Cardio-respiratory problems
53 Coughing
Common differential diagnoses
54 The dog with kennel cough
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
55 Sneezing and nasal discharge
Common differential diagnoses
56 The puppy or kitten with a heart murmur
Aetiology and pathogenesis
Common differential diagnoses
57 The dog with heart failure
Aetiology and pathogenesis
Common differential diagnoses
History and clinical signs
58 The dyspnoeic cat
Common differential diagnoses
Section 7: Eye problems
59 Eyelid problems
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
60 Conjunctivitis
Common differential diagnoses
61 Corneal ulcers
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
62 Cataracts
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
63 Blindness
Common differential diagnoses
Section 8: Urinary tract problems
64 The dog with signs of cystitis or haematuria
Common differential diagnoses
65 The cat with signs of cystitis or haematuria
Common differential diagnoses
66 The blocked cat
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Important differential diagnoses
67 The dog with urinary incontinence
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
68 Chronic renal failure
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Important differential diagnoses
69 The dog with prostatic disease
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Section 9: Reproductive tract problems
70 The bitch with pyometra
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
71 Pregnancy and whelping
General advice about pregnancy
Complications during pregnancy
Preparations for whelping
The normal parturition process
Dealing with the umbilical cord
Checking the puppies
Complications of parturition requiring veterinary intervention
Caesarean section
72 Oestrus control, misalliance and false pregnancies
Oestrus control
Misalliance (Mesalliance)
False pregnancy
Section 10: Endocrine problems
73 The dog with hypothyroidism
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Important differential diagnoses
74 The dog with hyperadrenocorticism
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Important differential diagnoses
75 Diabetes mellitus
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
76 The cat with hyperthyroidism
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Common differential diagnoses
Section 11: Emergencies and trauma
77 The road traffic accident
78 The pharyngeal foreign body
Aetiology and pathogenesis
Differential diagnoses
History and clinical signs
79 Problems associated with grass seeds
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
80 Burns
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Section 12: Cancer
81 The dog or cat with cancer
Aetiology and pathogenesis
Common tumours of dogs and cats
82 The dog with a mammary tumour
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
83 The dog with multicentric lymphoma
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Section 13: Neurological problems
84 The dog having seizures
Differential diagnoses
85 Hindlimb ataxia and weakness
Common differential diagnoses
86 Vestibular disease
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Section 14: Behavioural problems
87 The aggressive dog
Risk assessment
Common differential diagnoses
88 The frightened dog
Common differential diagnoses
89 Separation problems in the dog
Common differential diagnoses
90 House-soiling and elimination problems
Common differential diagnoses
Section 15: Poisonings
91 Dealing with suspected poisoning
92 Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning
Aetiology and pathogenesis
History and clinical signs
Important differential diagnoses
Section 16: Problems in non dog/cat species
93 The sick rabbit
Common presentations and conditions affecting rabbits
94 The sick hamster
Common presentations and conditions affecting hamsters
95 The sick Guinea pig
Common presentations and conditions affecting Guinea pigs
96 The sick bird
Common presentations and conditions affecting birds
97 The sick tortoise
Common presentations and conditions affecting tortoises
Section 17: Miscellaneous
98 The post-surgery check-up
Dealing with common complications
Managing dressings
Monitoring progress
99 Illnesses in animals that have travelled abroad
Common differential diagnoses
100 Elective euthanasia
Reasons for euthanasia
Permission for euthanasia
Techniques for euthanasia
Owner involvement in euthanasia consultations
Euthanasia of aggressive dogs
Euthanasia of aggressive or feral cats
Euthanasia when no help is available
After the event
Section 18: Appendices
Appendix 1 – Rational use of antibiotics
Are the animal’s clinical signs likely to be caused by a bacterial infection?
Which antibiotic will be effective?
What patient factors might influence the choice of antibiotic?
How long a course should be given?
What route and frequency of administration should be used?
What cost is involved?
Appendix 2 – Rational use of glucocorticoids
Indications
Potency and formulations
Anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory therapy
Immunosuppressive therapy
Adverse effects of glucocorticoids
Appendix 3 – General principles of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain
Indications
General treatment principles
Adverse effects
Appendix 4 – Weight loss and obesity control
Diagnosis
Management
Appendix 5 – Interpretation of haematology and biochemistry profiles
Haematology (complete blood count)
Biochemistry (clinical chemistry)
Abbreviations
Index