Veterinary Medicine - December 2008 - (Page 647)

Idea Exchange tips from the trenches A leash trick so your patients don’t disappear We’ve all seen dogs with big necks and small heads get loose by slipping their collars over their heads. In a pinch, you can quickly turn a dangerous collar into a safer harness by wrapping the leash under a dog’s chest and locking it under the leash clasp. It works best with a 6-ft leash. Dr. Carol Macherey Nashville, Tenn. Everyone needs a little help from friends Hamper self-inflicted trauma with a hobble A patient we were treating for extensive burns over its shoulders and back was using its hindlimbs to scratch the wound, making it worse. So we used 2-in tape to make a loose hobble that went between the hindlimbs, allowing the dog to walk and run but not lift a paw to the wound. The patient even wore the hobble home. We gave the owners careful instructions to remove the hobble if it got wet or bothered the dog. However, the dog didn’t seem to mind the hobble at all, and the wound healed well. Dr. Angela Spar Oceanside, N.Y. We once had a cluster of renal failure patients that received maintenance ﬂuids twice a week. We scheduled all the patients at the same time, and the clients became a support group. They discussed diets, medications, and play times. Eventually, they persuaded us to check all of the pets’ blood samples on the same Tuesday in case one of the pets needed three days of intravenous ﬂuids and in-hospital care. Because this support system worked so well, we are thinking of scheduling our patients that receive Slentrol (Pﬁzer Animal Health) together. They could go for a group walk, and we may see better compliance if clients are supporting each other. Dr. Martha Mattocks Graham, N.C. Help clients practice dental home care When discussing dental procedures and home care with a client before a dental appointment, I give the client an OraVet (Merial) brochure with a packet of swabs and an insert on how to introduce the swabs to pets. Then on the day of the dental procedure, the client can accept or decline the in-clinic OraVet application based on his or her success (or lack of success) at home. Dr. Julie Platt Rockford, Ill. Keep a muzzle on without any muscle To prevent a difﬁcult dog from removing its muzzle during an exam, I thread one of the muzzle straps under the dog’s collar and then snap the muzzle clip closed. If the dog’s collar is a good ﬁt, the dog cannot remove the muzzle. Dr. Judith Schwartz New York, N.Y. Send us your great idea, and we’ll send you $50! E-mail us at vm@advanstar.com, send a fax to (913) 871-3808, or write to Idea Exchange Editor at 8033 Flint, Lenexa, KS 66214. Getty Images VETERINARY MEDICINE December 2008 647

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - December 2008

Veterinary Medicine - December 2008 Contents Letters Thanking Our Valued Reviewers Practical Matters Idea Exchange Why Do Dogs and Cats Eat Grass? Managing Atypical and Critical Cases of Primary Hypoadrenocorticism in Dogs Behaviors Suggestive of Postoperative Pain in Cats What to Consider When Considering Digital Radiography Avoid Common Bandaging Mistakes in Dogs and Cats IMHA: Diagnosing and Treating a Complex Disease CE Form/Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - December 2008

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