Practical Cardiology for Veterinary Nurses

This is the first book to adequately explain cardiology in its basic form in veterinary nursing, offering a condensed and coherent book that stands out from more expensive, less practical competitors. It keeps the information in a context that nurses are able to understand and apply, without intimidation. Around 10% of dogs in general practice have a diagnosis of heart disease and roughly 15% of the cat population are affected by cardiac disease. Recent data suggests that almost a third of cats over the age of nine years have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, whilst nearly two thirds of cats will have a heart murmur at this age. These figures show the relatively common occurrence of heart disease in small animals - yet there is little focus on cardiology in the veterinary nursing syllabus and in general nursing textbooks. This book aims to change that.Suitable for both student and qualified nurses.Presentation of dogs or cats with heart disease varies from asymptomatic to life threatening heart failure, or in cats, with additional complications such as arterial thromboembolism. It is vital that nurses understand how to look after these patients appropriately, to provide gold standard care when nursing dyspnoeic and difficult patients, and support owners through what can often be challenging times. This book ticks all those boxes.