The vet/nurse team: In-hospital and at home management of the unwell small mammal

This session will cover hospitalisation, case management and subsequent home care of the sick small mammal. We will cover some common presentations and discuss how to get the most out of the whole team in the care of these patients. Cases will include stabilisation and nursing care of the rabbit with gut stasis and parameters to monitor for intestinal obstruction and potential liver lobe torsion. The session will also include an approach to guinea pigs and rats in hospital. We will discuss how owners can be supported in ongoing home management post discharge and provide some tips to make your discharge appointments run smoothly, leaving owners feeling reassured. The session is aimed at all general practicing vets and vet nurses seeing small mammal cases and wishing to develop a logical and collaborative team-based approach to their care.

• -How to triage the sick small mammal patient and formulate a working diagnosis.
• -How formulate an appropriate nursing care plan taking into account species specific needs.
• -Understand how to house and hospitalise small mammals appropriately to reduce stress.
• -How to support owners during the discharge appointment and with ongoing home management of their pet