Feline Medicine for Veterinary Technicians

A comprehensive overview of feline medicine in a clinical setting for the veterinary technician Feline Medicine for Veterinary Technicians is a complete, specialty reference guide, written by veterinary technician specialists, for the veterinary technician to use in a feline medicine clinical setting. Covering everything from the pathophysiology of common feline diseases, current therapies and nursing care, diagnostic techniques, unique history taking methods, and nursing care in every major body system. It is a critical tool for anyone preparing for a specialty exam or the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). Feline Medicine for Veterinary Technicians readers will also find: Coverage of cutting-edge diagnostics, treatment options, and more Detailed discussion of topics including feline friendly interactions, life stage considerations, client communication, pharmacology, and many more A team of contributors with decades of combined veterinary technician experience A comprehensive review of diseases in all major body systems including endocrinology, cardiology, renal and urinary systems Feline specific considerations for behavior, anesthesia, analgesia, transfusion medicine and nutrition The companion website includes study questions for all chapters, as well as client education materials, dental positioning guidelines and educational handouts Feline Medicine for Veterinary Technicians is ideal for students as well as anyone preparing for a specialty exam or as a veterinary technician in feline clinical practice.

List of Contributors xxiii Preface xxv Acknowledgment xxvii About the Companion Website xxix Section 1 The Cat and Special Considerations 1 1 Feline Behavior 3 Monique Feyrecilde BA, LVT, VTS (Behavior), Elite FFCP Veterinary 1.1 Sensation and Perception 3 1.2 Feline Body Language 5 1.3 Community Behavior in Cats 7 1.4 Sexual Behavior in Cats 8 1.5 Elimination Behaviors 8 1.6 How Cats Learn and Modifying Behaviors 8 1.7 Functional and Applied Behavior Analysis 13 1.8 Common Unwanted Behaviors 16 1.9 Behavior Emergencies 20 1.10 Incorporating Behavior into Everyday Veterinary Practice 20 2 Feline-Friendly Interactions 23 Ellen M. Carozza, LVT, VTS (CP-Feline) 2.1 Understanding Cat Emotions and Their Motivations 24 2.2 Be Respectful, Remain Professional; Words Matter 25 2.3 Feline Emotions: Engaging and Protective - Both Are Normal! 26 2.4 Sensory Communication Cats: How Cats Gather and Interpret Information 27 2.5 Interpreting Feline Behaviors at the Clinic and Modifying Our Techniques to Prevent Escalation 28 2.6 Setting Yourself Up for Success 31 2.7 Stressor Stacking: Understanding Stressors that Contribute to Difficult Visits 31 2.8 Making Changes at the Clinic 33 2.9 Know Your Cats: They Are Communicating! 35 2.10 Handling Techniques 36 2.11 Sedation 38 2.12 Tips for Safe and Feline-friendly Life Stage Handling: A New Way to Approach Cats 40 3 Preparing the Veterinary Hospital for the Feline Patient 43 Jan Yaroslav RVT, VTS (Dentistry), VTS (CP-Feline) 3.1 General Clinic Preparation for a Feline Visit 43 3.2 The Reception Area 45 3.3 The Exam Room 46 3.4 The Treatment Room 48 3.5 The Surgical Suite 49 3.6 The Hospitalization Ward 49 3.7 Training the Team 51 3.8 How to Become a Cat Friendly Practice® 52 3.9 Resources for Veterinary Professionals 52 3.10 Resources for Clients 53 4 Life Stage Considerations 55 Ann Wortinger BIS, LVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM) (Nutrition), Elite FFCP 4.1 Kitten 55 4.2 Junior 57 4.3 Prime 59 4.4 Mature 60 4.5 Senior 62 4.6 Geriatric 62 4.7 Body Condition Scoring 64 4.8 Body Condition Score Uses 66 4.9 Diagnostic Techniques 66 5 Client Education and Communication Topics for the Feline Owner 69 Christina M. Daigle, LVT, VTS (CP-C/F) 5.1 Types of Communication 69 5.2 Obtaining a Medical History 70 5.3 Home Environmental Factors 71 5.4 Preparing for the Veterinary Visit 75 5.5 Nutrition 77 5.6 Nursing Care for the Feline Pet Owner 78 5.7 Client Communication and Feline Disease Management 83 6 Anesthetic Considerations for the Feline Patient 97 Lanette Jordan, BS, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia) 6.1 Preanesthetic Phase 99 6.2 Anesthetic Phase 101 6.3 Recovery Phase 122 7 Analgesic Considerations for the Feline Patient 125 Lanette Jordan BS, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia) 7.1 The Pain Pathway 127 7.2 Types of Pain 128 7.3 Negative Effects of Pain 128 7.4 Assessment of Pain 129 7.5 Pain Scoring Instruments 130 7.6 Treatment of Pain 135 8 Introduction to Feline Pharmacology 147 Ann Wortinger BIS, LVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM) (Nutrition), Elite FFCP 8.1 Unique Pharmacokinetics for the Feline Patient 147 8.2 Metabolism 147 8.3 Acetylation 150 8.4 Methylation 150 8.5 Renal Excretion 150 8.6 Medications with Unique Pharmacokinetics in the Feline Patient 150 8.7 Introduction and Current Guidelines of Antimicrobial Stewardship 162 9 Feline Immunology and Current Vaccination Guidelines 165 Ellen M. Carozza, LVT, VTS (CP-Feline) 9.1 Vaccine History 166 9.2 How Vaccines Work 166 9.3 Natural Immunity: Maternal Derived Antibodies 166 9.4 Feline Injection Site Sarcoma 166 9.5 Vaccination Administration Sites 168 9.6 Vaccine Site Monitoring 168 9.7 Vaccine Hypersensitivity 168 9.8 Vaccination Types 169 9.9 Routes of Administration 169 9.10 Feline Core Vaccines 170 9.11 Feline Noncore Vaccinations 175 9.12 Vaccines No Longer Recommended 176 9.13 Feline Patient Populations That Need Protection: What and When to Provide Vaccination 176 9.14 Vaccination and Age 178 9.15 Lifestyle Vaccinations: When Vaccination Plans Have the Possibility of Changing 178 9.16 Postvaccination Serological Screening: The Debate on Over-vaccination 180 9.16.1 Serology Testing is Useful for Assessment of Immunity: Antibody Testing 180 9.17 Staff Compliance: Who Is Responsible for What? 181 Section 2 Feline Patient Care 185 10 Critical Thinking and Kirby’s Rule of 20 187 Courtney Waxman, MS, CVT, RVT, VTS (ECC) 10.1 Veterinary Medical Error Background 187 10.2 Patient Care Checklist Background 188 10.3 Kirby’s Rule of 20 188 10.4 Critical Thinking 203 11 Interpretation of Common Diagnostics Test Results 207 Ann Wortinger, BIS, LVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM) (Nutrition), Elite FFCP 11.1 Use of a Microscope 207 11.2 Care and Maintenance of a Microscope 208 11.3 Interpretation of Common Diagnostic Tests 209 11.4 Diagnostic Techniques 220 12 General Feline Nutrition 225 Ann Wortinger, BIS, LVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM) (Nutrition), Elite FFCP 12.1 Feeding Behaviors 225 12.2 Anatomic Adaptations 226 12.3 Physiologic Adaptations 226 12.4 Metabolic Adaptations 227 12.5 Fixed Taste Preferences and Food Aversions 229 12.6 The Association of American Feed Control Officials Life Stages 229 12.7 Reproduction and Neonatal Nutrition 230 12.8 Orphaned Kitten Nutrition 230 12.9 Kitten Nutrition 232 12.10 Young Adult Nutrition 233 12.11 Mature Adult Nutrition 235 12.12 Geriatric Nutrition 235 12.13 Feeding Tubes: Uses, Indications, and Placement 236 12.14 Diagnostic Techniques 239 13 Feline Wound Care and Bandaging 243 Kelly M. Foltz, BA, AAT, CVT, LVT, RVT, VTS (ECC) 13.1 Etiology of Feline Wounds 243 13.2 Wound Physiology 244 13.3 Wound Classification 245 13.4 Wound Healing 246 13.5 Approach to the Feline Trauma Patient 247 13.6 Wound Care and Management 251 13.7 Bandage Techniques 254 13.8 Wound Drains 257 13.9 Emerging Wound Management Techniques 258 13.10 Burn Care 259 Section 3 Feline Systems, Diseases, and Conditions 263 14 Cardiology/Cardiovascular Diseases 265 Kristie Garcia, LVT, VTS (Cardiology) 14.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 266 14.2 Clinical Signs 267 14.3 Physical Examination Findings 268 14.4 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 269 14.5 Cardiovascular Diseases 270 14.6 Cardiomyopathy Prognosis 274 14.7 Comorbidities to Consider 275 14.8 Cardiovascular Emergencies 276 14.9 Diagnostic Techniques 278 15 Dentistry 285 Jan Yaroslav RVT, VTS (Dentistry), VTS (CP-Feline) 15.1 Feline Dental Anatomy 285 15.2 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 286 15.3 Dental Equipment 286 15.4 Ergonomics 289 15.5 Dental Radiography 290 15.6 The Feline Oral Exam 293 15.7 The Professional Dental Cleaning 293 15.8 Dental Charts 294 15.9 Tooth Numbering Systems 294 15.10 Nomenclature and Abbreviations 294 15.11 Oral Pathology 294 16 Dermatology and Auricular Conditions 301 Amanda Friedeck, BS, LVT, VTS (Dermatology) 16.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 301 16.2 Clinical Signs 301 16.3 Physical Examination Findings 302 16.4 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 302 16.5 Basic Feline Dermatology 302 16.6 Allergic Reaction Patterns 303 16.7 Hypersensitivity Reactions 306 16.8 Facial Dermatosis 311 16.9 Feline Auricular Anatomy and Conditions 313 16.10 Diagnostic Techniques 318 17 Emergency and Critical Care 321 Kelly M. Foltz, BA, AAT, CVT, LVT, RVT, VTS (ECC) 17.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 321 17.2 Feline Interactions in the ER 322 17.3 Clinical Signs 322 17.4 Physical Examination Findings 322 17.5 Triage 323 17.6 The Feline Inpatient 324 17.7 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 325 17.8 Common Emergencies by Body System 327 17.9 Diagnostic Techniques 344 18 Endocrinology 351 Paula Plummer, LVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM, CP-fe) 18.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 351 18.2 Clinical Signs 352 18.3 Physical Examination Findings 353 18.4 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 354 18.5 Endocrine Disorders 354 18.6 Diagnostic Techniques 365 19 Gastroenterology 371 Chastity Ketchum, LVT, VTS (Internal Medicine-SA) 19.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 372 19.2 Clinical Signs 373 19.3 Physical Examination Findings 375 19.4 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 376 19.5 Gastrointestinal Disease in the Feline Patient 377 19.6 Diagnostic Techniques 386 20 Gestation, Lactation, and Pediatrics 391 Ellen M. Carozza, LVT, VTS (CP-Feline) 20.1 Breeding in Cats: So Many Kittens in Such Little Time 391 20.2 Pregnancy and Birth 393 20.3 Dystocia 396 20.4 Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration Scoring in Neonates: Know Their Vitality Early on! 397 20.5 Nursing and Lactation 400 20.6 Kitten Mortality 400 20.7 Postpartum Complications in the Queen 401 20.8 Kitten Care 401 20.9 Bottles and Tube Feeding; What Can Be Used for Orphaned Kitten Feeding and How to Perform Tube Feeding When Necessary 402 20.10 Milestones 403 20.11 Kitten Nutrition 404 20.12 Weaning the Kitten 404 20.13 The Critical Neonate 405 21 Hematology 411 Camille Kelly, CVT, VTS (ECC) 21.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 414 21.2 Clinical Signs 414 21.3 Physical Examination Findings 414 21.4 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 415 21.5 Red Blood Cell Conditions 415 21.6 White Blood Cell Conditions 419 21.7 Coagulopathies 420 21.8 Diagnostic Techniques 422 21.9 Feline Blood Donors 426 21.10 Blood Component Processing 431 22 Hepatobiliary 435 Paula Plummer, LVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM, CP-fe) 22.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 437 22.2 Clinical Signs 437 22.3 Physical Examination Findings 438 22.4 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 438 22.5 Diseases of the Liver 439 22.6 Diseases of the Gallbladder and Bile Duct 443 22.7 Diseases of the Exocrine Pancreas 446 22.8 Triaditis 448 22.9 Diagnostic Techniques 448 23 Feline Infectious Diseases 453 Paula Plummer, LVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM, CP-fe) 23.1 History-gathering Questions 453 23.2 Clinical Signs 453 23.3 Physical Examination Findings 455 23.4 Nursing Care Considerations 455 23.5 Bacterial Infectious Diseases 456 23.6 Systemic Fungal Infectious Diseases 457 23.7 Protozoal Infectious Diseases 461 23.8 Viral Infectious Diseases 463 23.9 Diagnostic Techniques 469 24 Oncology 473 Jaci Christensen, BAS, LVT, VTS (Oncology) 24.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 473 24.2 Clinical Signs 474 24.3 Physical Examination Findings 474 24.4 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 474 24.5 Treatment Modalities 474 24.6 Common Feline Neoplasms 478 24.7 Diagnostic Techniques 484 24.8 Chemotherapy Administration 486 25 Respiratory 491 Paula Plummer, LVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM, CP-fe) 25.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 493 25.2 Clinical Signs 494 25.3 Physical Examination Findings 494 25.4 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 495 25.5 Oxygen Supplementation 498 25.6 Respiratory Diseases 499 25.7 Diagnostic Techniques 504 26 Urinary and Renal 507 Rhonda South-Bodiford, LVT, VTS (SAIM) 26.1 Patient History and "History Gathering Questions" 507 26.2 Clinical Signs 508 26.3 Physical Examination Findings 508 26.4 Specific Nursing Care Considerations 509 26.5 Renal and Urinary Diseases 509 26.6 Diagnostic Techniques 516 References 524 Index 525