AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Nursing Care Guidelines

Abstract

NURSING CARE: The term nursing care means different things to different people. The authors of these AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Nursing Care Guidelines define nursing care as any interaction between the cat and the veterinary team (veterinarian, technician or nurse, receptionist or other support staff) in the clinic, or between the cat and its owner at home, that promotes wellness or recovery from illness or injury and addresses the patient's physical and emotional wellbeing. Nursing care also helps the sick or convalescing cat engage in activities that it would be unable to perform without help. GUIDELINES RATIONALE: The purpose of the Guidelines is to help all members of the veterinary team understand the basic concepts of nursing care, both in the clinic and at home. This includes methods for keeping the patient warm, comfortable, well nourished, clean and groomed. The Guidelines provide numerous practical tips gleaned from the authors' many years of clinical experience and encourage veterinary team members to look at feline nursing care in ways they previously may not have considered. OVERARCHING GOAL: The primary goal of feline-friendly nursing care is to make the cat feel safe and secure throughout its medical experience.

2015 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats

“…128 The importance of gentle handling of patients with either acute or chronic pain cannot be overstated, especially when working with arthritic dogs and cats. Conscious avoidance of careless handling will ensure the patient's comfort, allow for a more thorough and effective physical examination, and avoid exacerbating anxiety in the agitated, fearful or aggressive patient.…”

Intensive Care Unit Facility Design

“…28 This patient-and owner-centered care will also be driven by higher demands imposed by owners in an ever more competitive veterinary market. In a highly stressful environment like the ICU, the special needs of individual patients, especially cats, deserve more attention.…”

Axillary temperature measurement: a less stressful alternative for hospitalised cats?

“…Any technique that improves the feline hospitalisation experience may serve to reduce fear-based aggression (Carney and others 2012). Stress has a negative impact on recovery, particularly in cats, which are well recognised for their environmental sensitivity and their inability to cope with stress (Buffington and Pacak 2001, Gunn-Moore and Cameron 2004, Carney and others 2012). Indeed, stress has been reported to induce anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea or urinary retention (Carlstead and others 1993, Stella and others 2011).…”

“…Pathological changes can occur in response to stress including hyperglycaemia, immunosuppression, hypertension or cardiac murmurs (Greco 1991, Wagner and others 2010, Quimby and others 2011, Carney and others 2012, Schrope 2015). Stress can therefore delay recovery or lead to a deterioration in the health status of cats (Quimby and others 2011, Carney and others 2012). Moreover, RTM may not be feasible in some conditions (aggressive cats or cats with rectoanal disease or aortic thromboembolism); reliable and accurate alternatives are thus required.…”