Veterinary Anursethesia

02/05/2026

Why CPD in anaesthesia actually matters in real practice!

What better way to kick off Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month than by showcasing some of the amazing things you can do as an RVN? 🐾

Beautiful Ben was in for a tenotomy, and to help keep him as comfortable as possible, I performed a ring block (circumferential block) with lidocaine on his forelimb prior to incision.

This is exactly why CPD matters — it strengthens our ability to advocate for our patients, not just fulfil a professional requirement.

A ring block works by creating a “band” of anaesthesia around the limb, desensitising both superficial and sensory nerves. For a forelimb tendonectomy, this is typically placed distal to the elbow and proximal to the surgical site.

🔹 Technique highlights:
• Small-gauge needle
• Subcutaneous placement (not intramuscular)
• Aspirate before injecting
• Inject small volumes while advancing
• Work circumferentially around the limb
• Divide total volume across multiple points
• Ensure even distribution as gaps mean incomplete analgesia

When I completed my nursing certificate with Improve Veterinary Education UK, we covered analgesia and pain assessment in depth — from performing blocks like this to monitoring effectiveness and post-op pain scoring.

Moments like this are a great reminder of how much impact RVNs have on patient care every single day and how important CPD is!

(Owner permission given to post)

01/05/2026

Join me for a two-day whirlwind trip around the country as an anaesthesia educator 🚗💨

Early 6am start
10 hours on the road
One recorded webinar
One live session with New Zealand 🌏
Four in person lectures delivered
A slightly creepy hotel room thrown in for good measure…

…and plenty of singing and audiobook marathons to keep me going along the way 🎶📚

Wouldn’t have it any other way!

21/04/2026

One thing you can count on at the VA Building Confidence Days is..

Gorgeous venues!

Oh, and I guess 6 hours of evidence based lectures (all printed for you), breakfast snacks on arrival, loads of food breaks, a bar to order an afternoon cocktail at, lots of laughs and (hopefully) sunshine!

There’s still tickets for the Galway, Kilkenny, Belfast, Cardiff, Cornwall and Kent days! Book here: https://www.anursethesia.co.uk/calendar

13/04/2026

Another stunning morning in London today to kick off the first one of my talks of the year!

I love the vibe of the location, the layout and of course the friendly team here.

Let’s get nerdy!

I’ll be back in the second half of the year for an advanced anaesthesia day in London and hope to see you there!

12/04/2026

📣 Vets and RVNs:

This two-night journal club webinar will explore the management of GDV, covering presentation, stabilisation, surgical intervention, and postoperative recovery - through discussion of current literature! This is one for the RVN and VS team!

On Monday 20th of April, I will be joined by Dr Cam Morris to discuss the presentation, pathophysiology, stablisation and the anaesthesia of a GDV patient, and then on Tuesday 21st April, by Dr Ed Beitzk to discuss the surgical approach and then post-operative care.
Your ticket will be valid for the two sessions, and you can join by clicking the email link which will be sent.

At the end of the session, click the “hands up” button, type in the chat, or unmute your microphone to share your thoughts and advice with your fellow RVNs. Heck, bring some literature as well!

This event is held via zoom (you will be sent the link) and it is recorded for everyone who attends. If you cannot attend live, you will be sent the recording.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-anursethesia-diaries-april-journal-club-gdvs-over-two-nights-tickets-1987156197680

10/04/2026

I am looking forward to speaking next month on gastro-oesophageal reflux and anaesthesia for the gastrointestinal patient with VOST Surgery in Cheltenham.

Book your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-gastrointestinal-patient-tickets-1985982166120

09/04/2026

The adrenal glands may be small, but when they act up, they can cause big problems for our patients. From pets that just "aren't themselves" to those in full-blown crises, recognising the signs of adrenal disease can make all the difference.

Join Katherine Clarke and me for the next Veterinary Anursethesia Quarterly Webinar Series on "When the Adrenals Misbehave" on Wednesday April 15th 2026 at 7:30 PM, followed by an Endocrine Anaesthesia Q&A with Elliot Wringe.

Attend live, or watch back on-demand!

Get your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-anursethesia-webinar-series-when-the-adrenals-misbehave-tickets-1850112970699

06/04/2026

Medic superstar Kat Clarke is speaking for the next VA webinar this month on adrenal glands! There will be an anaeathesia Q&A at the end!

Book your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-anursethesia-webinar-series-when-the-adrenals-misbehave-tickets-1850112970699

🌟 Meet Katherine – Internal Medicine Specialist at Davies Veterinary Specialists 🌟

Katherine is an Internal Medicine Specialist at Davies and feels extremely fortunate to be part of such an exceptional team. She values the collaboration and support across the hospital, which she feels plays a vital role in delivering the highest standard of care to patients.

Although Katherine enjoys all aspects of internal medicine, she has a particular interest in certain infectious diseases, including mycobacteria. She enjoys the problem‑solving that is central to her role and places great importance on the relationships she builds with patients and their families. Seeing a patient improve is, for her, the most rewarding part of the job.

Katherine hopes that when clients leave their pets in her care, they feel fully reassured and confident in the treatment their animal is receiving. Clear, open communication is extremely important to her — ensuring that owners understand the treatment plan and feel part of the decision‑making process is something she values highly.

Outside of work, Katherine is dog mum to Gus, a three‑year‑old lurcher–Labrador cross she rescued as a puppy. He is her first dog and has taught her a great deal. She enjoys keeping active and can often be found out on a long run on her days off, as well as cooking and spending time with friends and family.

24/03/2026

Heileo to my Irish RVNs! The wait is over - I am excited to let you all know that my Building Confidence in Anaesthesia Roadshow, which is coming to Galway and Kilkenny, has been approved for 6 CVE credits through VCI!

Lectures:
- The P doesn’t mean Panic: Easy ECGS
- Deep breath: Capnography made Easy
- Say ah: Airways and Breathing Systems
- Anaesthetic drugs: Patient Effects
- Squeeze! Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Wake me up before you go-go: Recovery

You can book your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/building-confidence-in-anaesthesia-4325143

20/02/2026

We often consider maropitant to be simply an antiemetic... but it’s much more than that!

Let's break down where maropitant works. Maropitant is a neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist, which blocks Substance P, a neurotransmitter involved in vomiting and in pain transmission within both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Yep, you read right. Pain. Substance P plays a key role in the pain pathway, and because NK-1 receptors are found within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, when they are blocked by maropitant, central sensitisation can be reduced.

Additionally, several studies in dogs and cats have shown a reduced minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of inhalant anaesthetics when maropitant is administered for ovarian procedures, suggesting a measurable analgesic or MAC-sparing effect.

Clinically, this means smoother anaesthetic planes, improved perioperative comfort, and valuable multimodal support without relying solely on opioids. It can be particularly useful in visceral procedures, where Substance P plays a significant role in pain transmission.

It’s not a replacement for analgesia, such as partial or full-mu opioids, but it is a valuable adjunct to a balanced, multimodal anaesthetic plan.

Maropitant: more than just an anti-vomiting injection.

Let’s get Lit:

- Boscan et al. (2011) – Effect of maropitant on sevoflurane minimum alveolar concentration during noxious visceral stimulation in dogs: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22126683/
- Alvillar et al. (2012) – Effect of intravenous and epidural maropitant on sevoflurane MAC in dogs: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22103569/
- Niyom et al. (2013) – Effect of maropitant on sevoflurane MAC during stimulation of the ovarian ligament in cats: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23406526/
- Marquez et al. (2015) – Comparison of maropitant vs morphine as a pre-anaesthetic agent for canine ovariohysterectomy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26513745/
- Cubeddu et al. (2023) – Cardiorespiratory effects & analgesic properties of maropitant vs methadone in dogs: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37508165/