I have realised a few things about myself over the years of being in GP practice - firstly, I absolutely LOVE learning in all its forms, and secondly, I really enjoy working with cats. This came as somewhat of a surprise as I distinctly remember thinking to myself in my final year of study that I would be quite content if I never saw a cat in practice.
Fast-forward 7 years and I realised that this disinclination to anything feline was due to the sheer lack of focus placed on these intriguing creatures in my studies - in many ways they were presented to us as akin to small dogs, just spikier and trickier to work with. Naturally, in practice, this turned out to be completely inaccurate, and I found myself enjoying the
challenge of working with cats. and wanting to know more. I found I had developed a passion for all things feline, and nursed a strong desire to improve the experience of cats (and their owners!) in a clinic setting. My interest led me to Improve International and a fantastic GPCert in Feline Practice.
The structure of the course worked well for me - notes and lectures, followed by case examples and application of what I had learned in that section. The ‘real world’ application of the course content by way of the case examples proved invaluable to me - it helped me organise my thoughts and structure my case approach in day-to-day practice. The support offered by Improve was outstanding - not only was the lecture material easily accessible and in both visual (Powerpoint-style) and traditional document formats, but I also had access to chat groups which allowed conferring with tutors as well as colleagues undertaking the same course as me. The tutors were friendly and approachable, stimulating discussion when answering queries from delegates, drawing us in and allowing group brainstorming.
Along with flexibility of how to complete my studies, Improve offered up to date information from the global leaders in all things cats. Their guidance has changed my approach to many cases!
Stress-free practice makes a HUGE difference to both the cat and the owner’s experience!
I can now confidently perform a neurological exam on a cat, giving me far more confidence in my treatment plans and reducing the number of referrals needed, which in turn reduces the stress to my patients and costs to my clients.
FIP is no longer a scary mystery - I have learned the early signs and have successfully treated my first FIP kitten! This truly was a memorable moment for me… the ability to turn what used to be a death sentence into what is now a good chance of survival is the material of dreams for all clinicians.
I have also learned how to diagnose and successfully manage Feline Hypersensitivity Syndrome
I performed my first 3 thyroidectomies during my course - all the cats involved are now thriving, medication-free! This has added value to our treatment options as well as improving income for the practice. An average thyroidectomy costs around £1400-1500 in my area – this means £4200 over the course of 3 surgeries!
Along with adding value to yourself as a vet, you can create positive change in your practice too…
We introduced a cat-friendly area to our waiting room with calming towels (sprayed with a herbal calming spray) given to cat owners to place over their cat baskets while waiting. The feedback on this has been incredible - watch your 5-star reviews soar!
Increasing the time given from 15 to 30 minutes (to allow for the 10 minutes acclimatization recommended by ISFM guidelines) has made a huge difference - we are getting better and more reliable results with happier cats (and nurses!)
Adding blood pressure screening to our 6 month health checks in cats >8yrs old has allowed for early detection of hypertension in multiple cats (at least 2-3 cats in the last month!). Monthly vet meetings combined with feedback from our nurses were vital in the implementation and adaptation of this, ultimately resulting in the early detection of hypertension in asymptomatic cats, creating a more stable patient in the event of any general anaesthetic – giving us the knowledge to tailor our pre-medications to each individual need.
Our approach to blood tests and other stressful situations has changed a lot - gone are the days of just going ahead and burrito wrapping the spiky cat! Now we give anti-anxiety medication and rebook for another day if appropriate, which lowers stress levels both in the cat and in staff
I was thoroughly impressed by Improve International and although there are more budget-friendly options out there, my opinion is that - as often occurs in life in general - you get what you pay for! The thorough, evidence-based information imparted during this course has raised my confidence levels, reducing the need for referral to other centres, and ultimately resulting in healthier, happier cats and bonded, loyal clients.
I would have no hesitation in studying with Improve again, and would happily recommend them to anyone looking for further studies.