Acid-base analysis can be highly informative for identifying a patient's diagnosis as well as understanding dynamic pathophysiological changes in a patient. Correct identification of acid-base problems can also be life-saving. Understanding acid-base changes in a patient can seem challenging at first. This seminar will provide a basic overview of how to break down an acid-base problem into small parts, and will review the red flags that can lead you to the correct diagnosis. The seminar will be case-based and provide plenty of practice in interpreting a range of acid-base and blood gas abnormalities.

In this webinar we will be discussing how to manage cases that require urinary diversion. This may be a blocked cat, urethral trauma, neurological disease, or palliative care for trigonal neoplasia. Understanding how to best manage these patients in the short and long term is essential to the overall success of treatment. Although urethral catheterisation is relatively simple, it can be challenging in some cases and it never allows us to assess the patient’s ability to urinate when it is still in place. In contrast, a cystotomy tube is predictable to place and allows long term management, including being able to assess voluntary urination without removal. We will discuss when, how and why to use cystotomy tubes so that this technique can be applied in a wide range of scenarios in general practice.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complicated and potentially life threatening form of diabetes mellitus that requires emergency care. It is characterised by hyperglycaemia, hyperketonaemia and a metabolic acidosis with significant fluid and electrolyte imbalances. As the patient is unable to transport glucose into cells, the liver synthesizes ketones as emergency energy sources. These ketone bodies when metabolised produce anions of a moderately strong acid. The accumulation of these ketobodies results in metabolic acidosis. Common symptoms include polydipsia and polyuria, dehydration, anorexia, reduced mentation, vomiting and weight loss. Fluid therapy and the correction of the electrolyte abnormalities are the most important components of treatment of DKA with approximately 70% of dogs and cats surviving to discharge after hospitalisation. It should be noted that these patients can experience reoccurring episodes of DKA in the future. Nurses and technicians are integral in the treatment, monitoring and recovery of these patients.