Dear Rural Vets The first World Antibiotic Awareness Week took place between 16 and 22 November 2015. This campaign is being lead by the World Health Organization (WHO, www.who.int) and their slogan is “Antibiotics: Handle with Care”. Antibiotics are a precious resource that must be managed carefully. The animal health industry is an important area… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: Dec 2015
Abstract Column Efficacy of Oral Meloxicam in Lambs Being Castrated and Tail Docked
Summarised by Robyn Hamman Small, A., Belson, S., Holm, M. and Colditz, I. (2014), Efficacy of a buccal meloxicam formulation for pain relief in Merino lambs undergoing knife castration and tail docking in a randomised field trial. Australian Veterinary Journal, 92: 381–388. doi: 10.1111/avj.12241 Why they did it It is well documented that routine procedures… Continue Reading
Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (Pinkeye) – A Review of Treatment Options
Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK or Pinkeye) is a common ocular condition of cattle, with prevalence peaking in young stock during the summer months. While all breeds are susceptible, those with light heads, such as Hereford and Simmentalers have a higher incidence of the disease. Clinical signs of IBK include corneal ulceration, corneal oedema, photophobia, blepharospasm,… Continue Reading
GOOD THINGS GONE BAD: The Unintended Consequences of Dairy Consulting in TMR Herds
Dr ML van der Leek Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria. On the face of it, most veterinary interventions and/or recommendations are justified. In isolation they might be both executable and profitable, yet all of the consequences may not have been considered. Knowledge and understanding thereof might explain the… Continue Reading
How to Invest Your Hard-Earned Savings Personal Finance For The Busy Rural Veterinarian
Dr Francois van Niekerk Humansdorp Veterinary Clinic RATIONALE FOR THIS ARTICLE Many veterinarians, especially rural veterinarians, are so busy that they neglect to spend time educating themselves about how best to invest their hard-earned money. It is indeed hard-earned, with much sweat and many injuries, which often result in physical inability to continue production animal… Continue Reading
Employee Relations Within A Vet Practice
Andrew Christie BComm (Industrial Psychology) This article is the first in a series of three which deal with maintaining positive and mutually fulfilling employee relations within a Vet Practice. The articles are sequential in that the first deals with the start of the employment relationship (recruitment, selection and appointment), the second explores the… Continue Reading
Dealing With Incidental Adrenal Tumours
Dr Frank Kettner BVSc MMedVet(Med), DipECVIM(CA), Tygerberg Animal Hospital – Bellville, Cape Town medicine@tah.co.za, Tel (021) 919 1191 An adrenal “incidentaloma” is an adrenal mass, found as an incidental finding during ultrasound or CT examination of the abdomen, where adrenal pathology is not initially suspected In humans the incidence varies from <1% to 7%, and… Continue Reading
Diagnosis of Hyperadrenocorticism
Sandy May BVSc (Hons),MMed Vet (Clin Path) Vetdiagnostix. Cape Town Branch. Tel: 021 910 2243 Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) occurs as a result of hyperplasia or neoplasia (Adrenal dependent hyperadrenocorticism – ADH) of the zona fasiculata of the adrenal cortex resulting in overproduction of cortisol. Hyperplasia of the adrenal gland results from an adenoma of the pars… Continue Reading
Ultrasonographic Assessment Of The Adrenal Glands In Dogs And Cats
Dr Nicki Cassel BSc BVSc MMedVet (Diagnostic Imaging) DipECVDI VET IMAGING SPECIALISTS nicky@vetimagingspecialists.com Introduction Although ultrasound is less sensitive than computed tomography (CT) in assessing the adrenal glands it is the preferred primary method of assessment due to its accessibility in veterinary practice. The indications to ultrasound the adrenal glands are largely to support… Continue Reading
Treatment Options for Pituitary Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism
By Dr L L van der Merwe , BVSC (MMedVet(Med) And by dr Marlies Bohm, BVSc DSAM MMedVet(Med) DipECVIM-CA PDH is the most common (82%) form of canine hyperadrenocorticism. Any treatment whether surgical or medical will require life-long medication and some hormone monitoring A. Surgical resection of the pituitary tumour (trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy) Surgery is… Continue Reading
