BASIC PATIENT CARE Animal nursing practice

OBJECTIVES Discuss provision of comfort safety and hygiene Identify optimum temp humidity light level and ventilation Identify bedding and litter materials and their attributes List ways to provide warmth and discuss adv and disadv. Discuss exercise and contraindications Describe and justify bathing, grooming, nail clipping, hoof trimming and dental care List common ectoparasites and simple control measures Discuss owner visits

BASIC NECESSITIES FOR HOSPITALISED ANIMALS  A clean, comfortable, warm environment, as free of stress as possible.  Food and water at all times unless restricted for medical reasons.  Adequate exercise and grooming care unless restricted for medical reasons.  Suffering should be relieved promptly and humanely.  Every patient should be treated humanely and with dignity at all times.  What have you observed in clinics that meets these needs???

HYGIENE AND SAFETY  Why is a high standard of hygiene important in the hospital?  How often should the cages stalls and housing of the following species be cleaned as a routine. Dogs, cats, horses, birds and reptiles.  How do the toileting needs of hospitalised dogs and cats differ ?  What causes COPD (heaves) in horses  What should be done for a cat with snuffles who has discharges from eyes & nose, and is dribbling and crusty because of mouth ulcers

 Provides warmth  Provides comfort  Provides protection from injury eg pressure sores & scald BEDDING  What are the adv and disadv of the following types of bedding Newspaper Polar fleece blanket Wool blanket Towel Vet bed

 Good ventilation reduces odour and aerosoled pathogens  Would you use bright light or dark to encourage rest in the following patients: a dog, a horse, a morepork, a hawk? VENTILATION & LIGHTING

 What are the advantages and disadvantages of the following ways of keeping patients warm Blankets and towels Vet beds Heat lamps Hot water bottles Heat pads incubators  How close can a heat lamp be placed near a patient? WARMTH  Optimum temperatures for kennels and catteries:  Healthy adults should not drop below 7 0 C  Whelping pups C up to one week of age C 0ne to two weeks of age 20 C 0 two weeks to weaning

 Benefits of exercise Reduced peripheral odema Encourages urination and defecation  What are the precautions and contraindications for exercising hospital patients EXERCISE GROOMING AND BATHING  How often should an inpatient be groomed?  What are 3 key reasons for normal grooming (and bathing)  Why would medicated shampoos be used?  Which breeds is it particularly important to obtain owner permission to clip…and why?

 Reasons nails need clipping Soft ground or indoor pets Geriatric Immobilised Abnormal gait and wear due to prior injury Puppies still suckling Long nails more likely to be torn or cause abnormalities of gait or become ingrown Horses re-shoe or trim/6wks

OWNER VISITS Clinic protocol, benefits and problems?