Louise O'Dwyer takes a look at the relationship between pre-surgery fasting and anaesthesia in December's Nursing Notes.

RVN Samantha Feighery discusses veterinary nursing protocols to help stabilise equine patients after this gastrointestinal procedure.

Nicola Ackerman considers how probiotics and prebiotics aid gastrointestinal microorganisms, and the research being carried out.

Neil Forbes discusses this vital area of veterinary practice management and the cost-effective training BVNA has created for VNs and vets.

The ability to perform basic mathematical calculations is a vital skill for all veterinary nurses. Megan Brashear looks at the basics of performing medical calculations to prepare readers to learn more advanced mathematics.

Ophthalmic patients have some unique and, often, challenging nursing needs in first opinion practice. Tina Presnail demonstrates this using case studies of patients presenting with fragile eyes.

Claire Bloor discusses the involvement of VNs when presented with pets requiring dental treatment, such as assessment and recording.

Cheryl Ramsbottom discusses the transmission routes, clinical signs and diagnostics associated with rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus – and its emerged variant.

Dan Skeldon provides a comprehensive guide to the wound-healing options available to veterinary nurses in practice.

The use of antibiotics and probiotics in acute and chronic diarrhoea in small animals is controversial. Even the correct definition of a probiotic in the context of veterinary medicine can be challenging.

Emma Gerrard looks at the aetiology, investigation and treatment regarding FLUTD, as well as the vital role nurses can play in educating owners on prevention strategies.

Hany Elsheikha looks at reasons behind poor compliance among owners when adopting helminth treatment protocols for their pets and proposes some solutions for VNs to action