Nicki Reed
EBVSä Recognised Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine, and an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine, Veterinary Specialists, Scotland
Nicki graduated from the University of Edinburgh and initially worked in general practice before returning to the University of Edinburgh. Between 1999 and 2015, her roles at the University comprised Manager of the General Practice, Resident in Internal Medicine (sponsored by ISFM), Lecturer in Internal Medicine, Head of the Feline Clinic and Senior Lecturer in Internal Medicine. Since 2015 she has worked in private referral centres, to focus on clinical care and recently returned to Scotland to be involved in the setting up of a new referral centre – Veterinary Specialists, Scotland, where she currently works. Nicki is an EBVSä Recognised Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine, and an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine. She has written several book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles, predominantly in feline medicine, and has lectured widely. She is interested in all aspects of Internal medicine, but particularly enjoys critical care cases.
Nicki Reed is speaking at the following sessions
Feline hepatobiliary disease
The unique feline anatomy renders cats more susceptible to primary biliary disease than primary hepatic disease, unlike their canine counterparts. Cats with hepatobiliary disease often present with anorexia, vomiting and jaundice, therefore the approach to these presenting signs and differential diagnoses will be discussed, with specific focus on cholangiohepatitis and hepatic lipidosis. The role of different medications in the management of hepatobiliary disease (with and without a definitive diagnosis) will be discussed.
Learning outcomes:
- To be aware of the diseases affecting the feline hepatobiliary system
- To understand the limitations of different diagnostic tests
- To understand the supportive and symptomatic treatments used in the management of feline hepatobiliary disease
Feline nursing clinics: What should we be doing
Nursing clinics for canine patients have been conducted for a number of decades now and can add a lot to client perception of a practice; by generating more bonded clients, practice income can increase. In addition, they enhance status of the nurses within the practice by enabling them to use skills they have learnt and developed. Feline nursing clinics have been less utilised, most likely as a result of difficulties owners perceive in getting cats to the veterinary practice and by potential infectious disease risk. However, kitten socialisation groups, preventative health clinics, weight clinics and senior health clinics, are just some examples of opportunities to improve the health and well-being of the feline population. Blood pressure clinics are vastly under-utilised and could potentially be a major step forward in feline nursing clinics.
Learning outcomes:
- Identification of areas that may be amenable to nurse clinics
- How to plan and implement a nurse clinic
- The indications for blood pressure clinics
Feline diarrhoea
Feline diarrhoea can be an unpleasant condition to deal with – for owners and vets, as well as making the affected cat feel uncomfortable. This short lecture will cover hints and tips to help you maximise your chances of a rapid diagnosis and implementation of a treatment plan.
Learning outcomes
- Improved consideration of differential diagnoses to ensure the correct laboratory tests are requested
- Understanding the importance of obtaining a full dietary history
- Understanding of medical and dietary management of diarrhoea
Coughing cats
Coughing in cats is primarily an indicator of airway disease, rather than pulmonary parenchymal disease. However, some owners are not aware that their cats are coughing, instead reporting them to be retching or bringing up furballs. This short talk will identify ways of clarifying the problem and prioritise diagnostic tests based on likely aetiologies.
Learning outcomes:
- Obtaining salient information from the history and physical examination
- Logical use of treatment trials v diagnostic tests
- Improved understanding in use of inhaled therapies
Feline diabetes - are cats just small dogs?
Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine condition in both cats and dogs however the pathogenesis varies between species, with ‘type 1’ diabetes more common in the canine population and ‘type 2’ diabetes being more common in the feline population. This lecture will expand on these differences between species and explain why different types of insulin may be required in cats compared to dogs, as well as discussing the different nutritional management for cats. The utility and futility of blood glucose curves will be discussed, along with other methods of monitoring treatment.
Learning outcomes:
- To understand the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus in cats compared to dogs, and the potential for resolution in cats
- To understand the advantages and disadvantages of different types of insulin
- To appreciate the importance of subjective information as well as objective data in monitoring diabetic cats.
Feline hyperthyroidism - what are the options?
Hyperthyroidism is currently the most commonly diagnosed feline endocrinopathy. In the majority of cases diagnosis is relatively straightforward, therefore this lecture will focus on the treatment options available. Despite several different treatments being available, the majority of cats continue to be managed medically in the UK. The advantages and disadvantages of this and other options, both for initial stabilisation and subsequent long-term management will be discussed.
Learning outcomes:
- To be aware of all the treatment options available, in order that clients can be fully informed.
- To be able to recognise the most suitable treatment option(s) for an individual case
- To recognise the problems that may be associated with long-term medical management compared to definitive treatment
Pale cats - feline anaemia
Anaemia is not a diagnosis in itself, rather a clinical sign resulting from a number of causes. Anaemic cats may present with signs that make the cause apparent e.g. blood loss from trauma, or may have a more insidious onset of vague signs such as inappetence and lethargy, sometimes precipitating in an apparently sudden deterioration when the haematocrit becomes profoundly low. Causes of anaemia, especially those specific to cats will be given, and the diagnostic approach to anaemia will be discussed. Stabilisation with blood products may be required to enable diagnostic tests to be performed, and options available for this will be covered.
Learning outcomes:
- To be able to identify the different categories of anaemia
- To have a logical approach to diagnostic tests
- Understand the treatment options available for different types of anaemia