Feline Nursing

Key Learning Objectives

• Describe the normal behaviour of cats, to include their ancestry, development and non-domestication
• Recognise signs of fear, anxiety and defensive “aggression” in cats
• Describe feline communication techniques and normal social behaviour, to include anatomy and physiology of the feline species specifically involved in this; outline the effects this can have in a clinical environment.
• Outline common behavioural issues that may be seen in domestic cats and be able to provide appropriate advice for owners
• Explain the relevance of pica in cats and how this may indicate a behavioural or medical issue
• Summarize key behavioural issues in multi cat households and how to minimise these
• Explain the criteria for developing a cat-friendly practice and the specific protocols and procedures that should be in place
• Outline the importance of feline nurse clinics and be able to explain how to implement these throughout different life stages of the cat from kitten to geriatric
• Be able to implement appropriate handling principles to reduce fear and stress within the practice environment

Key Learning Objectives

• Be able to perform a full clinical examination of a cat, utilising cat friendly handling principles, and recognise normal and abnormal findings.
• Formulate a plan detailing the different care requirements for cats throughout their life stages.
• Devise a feeding care plan for an anorexic cat and demonstrate how to implement and monitor this.
• Outline the different types of feeding techniques available, be able to critically evaluate them and choose the most suitable technique for each patient.
• Formulate a nursing care plan for a sick cat and use this to illustrate how a bespoke plan can enhance care for the patient.
• Describe methods for collecting blood samples for haematological and biochemical analysis and be able to recognise normal and abnormal results.
• Summarise common infectious diseases including feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), “Cat flu” (feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus) and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) seen in domestic cats and the specific practice and nursing considerations associated with these.
• Describe how infectious diseases are spread and develop appropriate infection control protocols to prevent spread.
• Outline both the WSAVA Feline Vaccination Guidelines and AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines.
• Discuss the vaccination recommendations and appropriate guidance that should be provided to owners, specific to the geographic location you are situated in.(NOT EXAMINED)

Key Learning Objectives

• Evaluate a variety of different premedication and induction/maintenance options for feline patients and describe the advantages and disadvantages for each.
• Identify different types of endotracheal tubes and their use explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• Discuss basic through to advanced patient monitoring and the advantages and disadvantages of multi-parameter monitoring for specific cases.
• Describe and explain abnormal capnography and pulse oximetry waveforms and suggest options to improve them.
• Identify common complications in anaesthesia and how to address these.
• Explain the use of anaesthetic checklists, consent forms and monitoring records
• Evaluate the different categories of analgesics available in feline medicine and discuss the pros and cons for each.
• Explain the use of pain scoring in cats and be able to implement it in clinical practice
• Review the practical application of blood products including selection and management of suitable donors, blood typing and crossmatching, feline blood collection and monitoring of transfusions.
• Explain different fluid replacement options available in cats. Perform all types of fluid administration calculations.

Key Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate how to effectively triage an emergency and know when to seek immediate help.
• Explain the basic principles of CCPR.
• Summarize the RECOVER guidelines for the current recommendations for CCPR for feline patients.
• Discuss basic through to advanced monitoring of a critical patient including key parameters such as SPO2, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, pulse quality and urine output.
• Recognise signs of shock in a feline patient and identify immediate resuscitation techniques that may be required.
• Be able to perform key point of care tests such as venous blood gas, lactate, glucose and describe the use of point of care ultrasound. Be able to recognise normal and abnormal results.
• Recognise the clinical signs associated with ethylene glycol toxicity, lily toxicity, paracetamol toxicity, rodenticide toxicity and permethrin toxicity and how to effectively treat feline patients with these conditions.
• Discuss the main complications associated with road traffic accidents in cats and how to investigate and treat these.

Please note: A live evening webinar will be included in this module.

• Explain the typical presentation, treatment and nursing care required for cats with respiratory disease including feline asthma, pneumonia, pneumothorax and pyothorax.
• Describe different cardiomyopathies in cats including hypertrophic, restrictive, and dilated, and the role of the nurse in the diagnosis and care of these patients.
• Outline how the neurological examination can assist with neurolocalisation. Explain clinical signs associated with forebrain, vestibular and spinal disease in cats.
• Summarise the appropriate nursing care for cats with a variety of neurological conditions including vestibular disease, seizures, and cognitive dysfunction.
• Explain the clinical presentation, diagnostic techniques used and nursing care requirements for common endocrinopathies including diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism. Describe how to effectively monitor and treat patients with these conditions.
• Recognise the clinical signs associated with feline diabetic ketoacidosis, the treatment required and how to provide appropriate nursing care to these patients.
• Explain the pathophysiology of acute thyrotoxicosis and discuss the treatment for these cases.

Key Learning Objectives

• Discuss the importance of being able to classify feline renal disease according to IRIS staging, and how to manage and monitor cats with IRIS CKD Stages 1 to 4.
• Describe the signs associated with common upper and lower urinary diseases diagnosed in cats, and how to investigate and manage these.
• Explain the pathophysiology of feline idiopathic cystitis and how to counsel owners with cats that are affected with this condition.
• Explain the pathophysiology of urethral obstruction and be able to recognise signs and complications associated with this condition, and the treatment required in both the acute and chronic stages including environmental modification when discharged.
• Describe the most common acute and chronic gastrointestinal diseases in cats including presenting signs and how to investigate the underlying cause in a logical manner.
• Discuss management and nursing care of gastrointestinal upset and common gastrointestinal disorders including food responsive enteropathy, inflammatory bowel disease, megacolon, giardia, tritrichomonas and campylobacter.
• Explain the pathophysiology of the most common hepatobiliary diseases in cats including lymphocytic cholangiohepatitis, neutrophilic cholangiohepatitis, triaditis and hepatic lipidosis. Describe how to investigate, manage, and monitor these conditions.
• Describe common haematological disorders seen in cats to include clinical signs, diagnostic techniques, and nursing considerations.

Please note: A live evening webinar will be included in this module.

Key Learning Objectives

• Discuss the biology of cancer and paraneoplastic disease in cats.
• Describe the principles, challenges, and ethics of cancer treatment in cats.
• Outline surgical and radiation therapy options available for local control of tumours.
• Explain how systemic management of tumours can be achieved through chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
• Describe the most common feline cancers seen in practice including lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma and fibrosarcoma.
• Recognise appropriate diagnostic methods for the investigation and management of the most common feline cancers.
• Identify the clinical signs associated with oncological emergencies and how to address these.
• Explain how to safely administer chemotherapeutic agents to cats including the health and safety considerations for staff and owners.
• Discuss the side effects associated with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents.

Key Learning Objectives

• Describe the principles of surgical asepsis and how appropriate theatre protocol relates to this
• Describe different suture materials and patterns, and explain how to select the most appropriate material and method
• Identify a range of surgical instrumentation for a variety of soft tissue and orthopaedic procedures; explain appropriate care and maintenance of these instruments
• Explain appropriate tissue handling techniques and their importance
• Discuss the principles of surgical planning for feline patients and outline the importance of appropriate planning
• Revise the main pathways of haemostasis in feline patients and discuss options for haemorrhage control during surgery
• Outline the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative considerations for feline patients
• Compare and contrast the differences between the ‘AAFP Position Statement on Early Spay and Castration’ to ‘The Cat Group Policy on the Timing of Neutering’ and discuss the impact of neutering on population control and feline welfare
• Outline common soft tissue surgical procedures performed in feline patients to treat conditions including dystocia, ureteral and urethral obstruction, gastrointestinal foreign body, pyothorax and aural polyps
• Outline common orthopaedic procedures performed in feline patients to treat conditions including fractures, hip luxation, and cranial cruciate ligament rupture

Please note: A live evening webinar will be included in this module.