Veterinary Medicine - February 2008 - (Page 82) Idea Exchange tips from the trenches Put the date where it can’t be missed Writing an expiration date on a fleaand-tick collar helps ensure that it will be replaced in a timely manner. Dr. David Tanaglia Rockford, Ill. A quick tip for intubating small patients A simple solution that prevents pulled hair When muzzling a longhaired dog, place a paper towel over the back of its neck to prevent the hair from getting stuck in the buckle. Stephanie Laney, veterinary assistant Salina, Kan. To intubate our small patients, we use a polypropylene urinary catheter as a stylet, extending beyond the end of the tracheal tube by ½ in. This technique is especially helpful in cats. Dr. Amit Lancet Granada Hills, Calif. A wag-proof tail protector To help heal and protect a patient’s tail when it is being banged against the cage wall, cut a section of foam pipe insulator to size and secure it to the tail with tape or elastic. The insulator is lightweight but is unlikely to be wagged off. Nancy Wigglesworth, veterinary assistant Land O Lakes, Wis. Keep staff members on time Since all our employees are responsible for keeping up with their duties in a timely fashion, each employee has a stopwatch with an alarm. During the busiest hours of the day, it’s easy to forget to check a heartworm test at the appropriate time or to remember that a blood glucose measurement is due, for example. But when your stopwatch beeps, it alerts you to these small but important, timesensitive events. Dr. Nicole N. Aponte Stone Mountain, Ga. D.I.Y. free-catch urine sample catcher To make it easier to obtain freecatch urine samples, especially from low-squatting female dogs, we screwed a stainless steel ladle to the end of a broomstick. Now our technicians don’t have to bend down or get urine on their hands. Dr. Suzanne Ellis Xenia, Ohio Minimize catheter-pulling discomfort To minimize discomfort, cut the tape holding a cat’s catheter in place while the cat is still recovering from anesthesia. It will make it easier and less painful to pull the catheter later on. The staff at Ingersoll Veterinary Services Ingersoll, Ontario 82 February 2008 VETERINARY MEDICINE ©iStockphoto.com/Susan Trigg, Robert Pepper
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