Veterinary Medicine - February 2009 - (Page 71) Idea Exchange tips from the trenches Clients can improve their pets’ health during “A word from our sponsors” To encourage better teeth-brushing compliance, I advise my clients to keep their pets’ toothbrushes and toothpaste near the television set since a commercial break is a perfect opportunity to devote that time to improving their pets’ dental health. Dr. Shannon Bennett Turner, Maine A little lidocaine diminishes the sting of euthanasia I routinely place intravenous (IV) catheters when owners are present for a pet’s euthanasia. With an IV catheter in place, clients don’t have to be moved away from a pet to allow a technician and me to perform the mandatory venipuncture. If an animal has an IV catheter in place for several days before the decision to euthanize is made, some phlebitis will typically be present. Because of this inflammation, euthanasia solutions can be irritating when administered, and the animal may exhibit some discomfort. Instead of placing a new IV catheter in a different vein, for comfort reasons I typically administer a very slow infusion of a dilute lidocaine mixture (one part 2% lidocaine and three parts of an isotonic crystalloid) at the low end of the dose range for each species shortly before the euthanasia is performed. This injection desensitizes the vein proximal to the catheter tip for up to two hours. I have not had a patient object to the euthanasia solution when I use this technique. Dr. Todd Duffy, DACVECC Madison, Wis. A slicker way to remove animal hair from fasteners We have always had trouble removing animal hair from Velcro® (Velcro Industries B.V.) brand fasteners on cat restraint bags and x-ray protective clothing, so I remove the hair using a slicker brush. It works great! The brush easily removes the hair and doesn’t damage the fastener’s function at all. Amanda Nelson, veterinary assistant Wolfeboro, N.H. Intubation made easier with a catheter Intubating cats has always been a challenge for me, especially getting the endotracheal tube between the arytenoid cartilage. So now I use a 10-ga, 10 ½-in bitch catheter (Jorgensen Laboratories) as a stylet with the lubricated end sticking through the tube about ½- to 1-cm. Compared with an endotracheal tube stylet, the curve of the catheter is more conducive to proper alignment, and passing the end of the catheter into the trachea is less traumatic. Plus, the catheter is stiffer than most stylets, which usually do not reach the end of the tube. The catheter end is smooth enough to slide through atraumatically, even if the patient is lightly anesthetized and receiving no lidocaine. Dr. Keith Longhofer Tonganoxie, Kan. The cost of keeping a pet healthy priceless To encourage clients to purchase heartworm tests and preventives, we placed posters throughout the clinic that list the price of a heartworm test, the price range of heartworm preventives, and the price of heartworm treatment if a pet becomes infected. The posters also illustrate the severity of heartworm disease. Clients can clearly see the health and cost advantages of prevention over treatment. We’ve had clients comment on the posters and then ask for a heartworm test. Angie Carroll, office manager Sedalia, Mo. Getty Images VETERINARY MEDICINE February 2009 71
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