Veterinary Nursing

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 35548

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3 Ikoino-oka, Imabari, Ehime, Japan
Interests: veterinary anesthesia and analgesia; veterinary nursing; sedation; relief from anxiety or fear; alpha2-adorenoceptor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Veterinary nursing is an essential part of veterinary practice and its role varies widely. In veterinary nursing fields, veterinary paraprofessionals termed veterinary nurses or veterinary technicians are dedicated to keeping animals healthy, encouraging their recovery from disease, or preventing their suffering using approaches that differ from those of veterinarians. While veterinary nursing researchers are working hard to advance the relevant knowledge and technologies, such efforts have not yet been fully recognized by the most prestigious international journals. Hence, we are pleased to announce this Special Issue of Animals, which serves as a dedicated platform providing such an opportunity for veterinary nursing researchers to showcase their latest findings. For this Special Issue, we are inviting submissions of original manuscripts that address any aspect of veterinary nursing. Veterinary nursing studies in not only companion animals but also food, working, laboratory, and exhibition animals are all welcome.

Topics of particular interest are as follows:

  • Issues involving stress, quality of life, welfare, and infection in animals that visit or are hospitalized at veterinary hospitals;
  • Nursing care or prevention for complications associated with specific examinations, or treatments including surgery and anesthesia;
  • Rehabilitation or care to encourage recovery from disease, dysfunction, surgery, and anesthesia;
  • Clinical nutrition management and its guidance for clients;
  • Pain assessment and relief (excluding study of analgesics);
  • Advanced techniques and technologies that veterinary nurses and technicians perform in general;
  • Nursing case report/series which indicate new findings or experiences in veterinary nursing and include insightful discussion.

Dr. Teppei Kanda
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • veterinary nursing
  • animal welfare
  • stress, anxiety, fear, and pain assessment and relief
  • rehabilitation
  • clinical nutrition

Published Papers (8 papers)

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13 pages, 3267 KiB  
Communication
Effects of Multimodal Analgesic Protocol, with Buprenorphine and Meloxicam, on Mice Well-Being: A Dose Finding Study
by Kayo Furumoto, Kumi Ogita, Tomomi Kamisaka, Asami Kawasumi, Koushi Takata, Noritaka Maeta, Takamasa Itoi, Masakatsu Nohara, Kaori Saeki and Teppei Kanda
Animals 2021, 11(12), 3420; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123420 - 30 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2740
Abstract
The anesthetic or analgesic agent of choice, route and frequency of anesthetic or analgesic administration, and stressors induce distress during the perioperative period. We evaluated a multimodal analgesic protocol using buprenorphine and meloxicam on the well-being of mice. Twenty-four Slc:ICR male mice were [...] Read more.
The anesthetic or analgesic agent of choice, route and frequency of anesthetic or analgesic administration, and stressors induce distress during the perioperative period. We evaluated a multimodal analgesic protocol using buprenorphine and meloxicam on the well-being of mice. Twenty-four Slc:ICR male mice were divided into control, anesthesia + analgesia, and surgery + anesthesia + analgesia groups. Tap water (orally: PO) and water for injection (subcutaneous: SC) were administered to the control group. Buprenorphine was administered twice (SC, 0.1 mg/kg/8 h) and meloxicam was administered thrice (PO, 5 mg/kg/24 h) to the anesthesia + analgesia and surgery + anesthesia + analgesia groups. The mice were subjected to laparotomy and assessed for several parameters. Even in absence of surgical pain, the anesthesia + analgesia group presented the same negative effects as the surgery + anesthesia + analgesia group. This multimodal analgesic protocol for mice was expected to have an analgesic effect on pain associated with laparotomy but was not sufficient to prevent food intake and weight decrease. This does not negate the need to administer analgesics, but suggests the need to focus on and care not only about the approach to relieve pain associated with surgery, but also other types of distresses to minimize negative side effects that may interfere with postoperative recovery in mice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Nursing)
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10 pages, 859 KiB  
Article
Effect of a Corset on the Gait of Healthy Beagle Dogs
by Takamasa Itoi, Shuji Kawata, Yoshiyuki Fukuda and Saori Maejima
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2650; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092650 - 09 Sep 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2291
Abstract
The prognosis for intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), a common neurologic disease in dogs, varies, with some cases requiring long-term rehabilitation. Corsets are used as part of the physical rehabilitation of dogs, and one of these, the Anifull Dog’s Corset Pro, is manufactured and [...] Read more.
The prognosis for intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), a common neurologic disease in dogs, varies, with some cases requiring long-term rehabilitation. Corsets are used as part of the physical rehabilitation of dogs, and one of these, the Anifull Dog’s Corset Pro, is manufactured and sold by Daiya Industry Co., Ltd. This corset is used to relieve pain caused by spinal cord and vertebral diseases, and to prevent neurological conditions from worsening, by limiting spinal movement. However, the effect of the Anifull Dog’s Corset Pro on gait has not yet been clarified. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effects of this corset on the gait of dogs using kinematic and kinetic analyses. Five healthy beagle dogs wearing corsets were trotted, kinematic and kinetic parameters were measured using motion capture and force plates, and the results were compared to those obtained when the dogs were not wearing a corset. The range of motion of the angle formed by the 13th thoracic vertebra and the 7th lumbar vertebra at the apex of the 7th cervical vertebra was significantly reduced in the corset-wearing dogs. Thus, the Anifull Dog’s Corset Pro may improve trunk stability without affecting gait. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Nursing)
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13 pages, 222 KiB  
Article
Dental Problems and Prophylactic Care in Cats—Knowledge and Perceptions among Swedish Cat Owners and Communication by Veterinary Care Staff
by Kristin Oskarsson, Louise Axelsson Puurtinen and Johanna Christina Penell
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2571; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092571 - 31 Aug 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3925
Abstract
Dental problems are increasingly recognised in cats although many problems are preventable by tooth brushing. However, the knowledge level and preventive measures performed by owners are unclear. Additionally, there is a shortage of information on the communication by veterinary care staff to owners [...] Read more.
Dental problems are increasingly recognised in cats although many problems are preventable by tooth brushing. However, the knowledge level and preventive measures performed by owners are unclear. Additionally, there is a shortage of information on the communication by veterinary care staff to owners on dental health and prophylaxis in cats. The aim was to describe the knowledge and perceptions among Swedish cat owners and the communication by veterinary care staff on dental problems and prevention in cats. We distributed two electronic surveys; to cat owners and care staff, respectively. Of the cat owners, n = 407, 2/3 stated that they have knowledge about dental disease, listing modified eating behaviour as the most common sign followed by gingivitis, halitosis, pain and dental calculus. The main source of information was the internet followed by veterinary care staff, and 47% of the owners reported that they perform preventive oral health measures. The single most frequently stated preventive measure was tooth brushing, which was applied by 28% of the cat owners but with low frequency (daily n = 15, every second day n = 14). Veterinary care staff, n = 179, reported that they inform (47%) or sometimes inform (42%) cat owners on prophylactic dental care, daily or 3–7 times a week (combined 39%) most frequently by oral communication, with tooth brushing as the most common measure recommended. This study suggests that cat owners have relevant knowledge on dental health in cats, but the performed preventive measures are too infrequent to support good oral health in cats. There is room to develop strategies such as improvement in education and communication to increase welfare in cats. This includes consideration of the motivation and practical options for owners of cats who may not tolerate tooth brushing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Nursing)
16 pages, 2370 KiB  
Article
Improved Oral Health and Adaptation to Treatment in Dogs Using Manual or Ultrasonic Toothbrush or Textile of Nylon or Microfiber for Active Dental Home Care
by Lena Olsén, Anna Brissman, Sara Wiman, Fanny Eriksson, Camilla Kaj and Karolina Brunius Enlund
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2481; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092481 - 24 Aug 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 9015
Abstract
Poor oral health is a common problem in dogs causing pain and impaired welfare. The gold standard to maintain good oral health and prevent periodontitis is daily tooth brushing. However, many dog owners find it difficult, and dogs often show aversive behavior. There [...] Read more.
Poor oral health is a common problem in dogs causing pain and impaired welfare. The gold standard to maintain good oral health and prevent periodontitis is daily tooth brushing. However, many dog owners find it difficult, and dogs often show aversive behavior. There are several different tools available, and in this intra-subject study, four different active dental home care treatment options were examined: manual and ultrasonic toothbrush, a nylon glove, and a microfiber finger cloth. The treatments were evaluated for efficacy against gingivitis, plaque, and calculus in beagle dogs. Each dog received two treatments on the buccal sides of the teeth once daily, either two types of toothbrushes (N = 10) or two types of textiles (N = 11), on separate sides of the mouth. The dogs’ teeth were assessed before and after the five-week treatment period, with the assessor blinded by additional, similar dogs (N = 7). The study also assessed the dogs’ stress levels during treatment using a fear, anxiety, stress (FAS) protocol. All four treatments improved dog oral health, reducing gingivitis and plaque. Furthermore, the amount of calculus also decreased in some individuals. Adaptation to dental care occurred in the dogs over time. This information can be used to encourage dog owners to brush their dogs’ teeth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Nursing)
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10 pages, 2208 KiB  
Article
Effect of an Insulation Device in Preventing Hypothermia during Magnetic Resonance Imaging Examinations for Dogs and Cats under General Anesthesia
by Eri Onozawa, Daigo Azakami, Seri Seki, Yuji Hamamoto and Katsumi Ishioka
Animals 2021, 11(8), 2378; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082378 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3509
Abstract
Dogs and cats under general anesthesia may develop hypothermia. When performing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, it is not possible to place a magnetic material in the MRI room, and MRI equipment requires a low room temperature. This study investigated the effectiveness [...] Read more.
Dogs and cats under general anesthesia may develop hypothermia. When performing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, it is not possible to place a magnetic material in the MRI room, and MRI equipment requires a low room temperature. This study investigated the effectiveness of a heat insulating device that prevented hypothermia during MRI examinations in dogs and cats. The animals that underwent MRI examinations under general anesthesia were divided into control groups (no covering) and heat insulating groups (wearing bubble wrap and down cloth blankets), and their body temperatures were measured before and after the MRI examinations. The changes in body temperatures were as follows: control dogs (n = 17), median of −1.0 (from −2.5 to 0.3) °C; heat insulated dogs (n = 7), −0.3 (from −0.8 to 0.2) °C; control cats (n = 14), −1.85 (from −2.7 to −0.6) °C; and heat insulated cats (n = 12), −0.8 (from −1.5 to −0.1) °C. These results revealed that the bubble wrap and down cloth blanket significantly prevented hypothermia and heat loss from the body surface during MRI examinations of dogs and cats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Nursing)
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14 pages, 1608 KiB  
Article
Bacterial Contamination of Equine Dentistry Equipment—Effect of Cleaning and Disinfection
by Todd Alsing-Johansson, Anja Pedersen, Karin Bergström, Susanna Sternberg-Lewerin, Johanna Penell and Anna Bergh
Animals 2021, 11(8), 2320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082320 - 05 Aug 2021
Viewed by 4858
Abstract
Equine dentistry has developed immensely and human dental equipment, such as handpieces, are often used. Measures to avoid the spread of infectious microorganisms are important, but this is challenging since handpieces are difficult to decontaminate. Thus, it is necessary to develop effective IPC [...] Read more.
Equine dentistry has developed immensely and human dental equipment, such as handpieces, are often used. Measures to avoid the spread of infectious microorganisms are important, but this is challenging since handpieces are difficult to decontaminate. Thus, it is necessary to develop effective IPC measures in equine dentistry. The aim of this study was to contribute to the evidence needed for future evidence-based guidelines on IPC by investigating hygiene in equine dentistry. Used handpieces and dummies (i.e., handpieces not used during dental procedure, reflecting environmental bacterial contamination) and the head support were sampled each day before the first patient, for each patient after treatment, and after decontamination. All equipment was sampled with 3M TM Swab Samplers and the head support additionally sampled with dip slides. After dental procedures, the detected bacterial load was often high on used handpieces, dummies, and the head support. After decontamination, handpieces did not meet the criteria for high-level disinfected equipment. In all but one case decontamination of the head support resulted in a lowered bacterial load. There is a great need for evidence-based guidelines on hygiene in equine dentistry, including IPC measures, to decrease the risk of spreading infectious microorganisms between patients, facilities, and stables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Nursing)
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13 pages, 821 KiB  
Article
Effects of Pre-Anesthesia Anxiety on Propofol Induction Dose in Cats
by Yuki Shimizu and Teppei Kanda
Animals 2021, 11(7), 2126; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11072126 - 17 Jul 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4194
Abstract
In humans, peri-anesthesia anxiety reportedly increases the anesthetic requirements for anesthesia induction. However, no studies have been conducted on cats regarding the effects of anxiety on anesthesia induction or anesthetic-mediated physiological changes. Therefore, we intended to investigate the effect of pre-anesthesia anxiety in [...] Read more.
In humans, peri-anesthesia anxiety reportedly increases the anesthetic requirements for anesthesia induction. However, no studies have been conducted on cats regarding the effects of anxiety on anesthesia induction or anesthetic-mediated physiological changes. Therefore, we intended to investigate the effect of pre-anesthesia anxiety in healthy cats on the propofol dose required for anesthesia induction, and its impact on behavioral and physiological evaluations. The cats were placed in either a calm (CAL) or tense (ANX) environment. We performed physiological and behavioral evaluations before and after each environmental acclimatization period. Anesthesia was induced using propofol. We recorded the total dose of propofol administered for each clinical sign observed during anesthesia induction. The post-acclimatization behavioral evaluation score was significantly higher in the ANX group than the pre-acclimatization score. However, there was no significant difference in the propofol dose required for each clinical sign in the ANX or CAL groups. There were also no significant differences in the physiological evaluations between the ANX and CAL groups. Therefore, pre-anesthesia anxiety felt by cats did not affect propofol-mediated anesthesia induction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Nursing)
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9 pages, 1890 KiB  
Case Report
Noninvasive Thermographic Photographing as an Assessment of the State of Discomfort in a Dog Receiving Radiation Therapy
by Kaori Saeki, Kenji Kutara, Eri Iwata, Masahiro Miyabe, Yuki Shimizu, Yuko Wada, Akihiro Ohnishi, Akira Matsuda, Takako Shimokawa Miyama and Taketoshi Asanuma
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2496; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092496 - 25 Aug 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2483
Abstract
In humans, radiation induces dilation of capillaries and inflammatory reactions to raise skin temperature. Thermography is used to detect abnormalities after radiation therapy (RT). However, in veterinary nursing, objective evaluation of the condition of dogs after RT using thermography has not been reported. [...] Read more.
In humans, radiation induces dilation of capillaries and inflammatory reactions to raise skin temperature. Thermography is used to detect abnormalities after radiation therapy (RT). However, in veterinary nursing, objective evaluation of the condition of dogs after RT using thermography has not been reported. We investigated the nasal irradiation temperature, behavioral changes, and post-irradiation pain scores in a dog receiving RT for intranasal tumors. The temperature of the nasal planum gradually increased after irradiation, reaching a significantly higher value at 120–240 min. The highest temperature was 42.3 °C and the average temperature increased by 4.4 °C. Behavioral analysis pre- and post-RT did not vary significantly. Post-RT pain levels evaluated by the pain scale ranged from 0 to 1 throughout. No veterinary treatment was provided. In humans, increased skin temperature after radiation causes psychological stress, i.e., pain and discomfort, but no such behavioral changes were observed in this case. Given individual differences in stress-related behaviors, such as pain and discomfort, assessing a dog’s painfulness using only subjective methods, such as appearance and behavioral evaluation, is limited. We used thermography to assess changes in conditions not detectable by routine monitoring alone. This method is non-invasive, objective, and indispensable for providing appropriate care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Nursing)
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