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Vets design fluoroscopy container
Pictured: Gary inside the fluoroscopy container.

The unique box allows for safer and easier procedures. 

Veterinary surgeons at the University of Edinburgh's Hospital for Small Animals have designed a tool to make fluoroscopy procedures safer and easier to conduct.

Fluoroscopy, a non-invasive imaging technique, can be very difficult to conduct, as the patients must stand still on their own, to avoid the veterinary team being exposed to the electromagnetic waves used. 

The specialist Internal Medicine Service team at the Hospital for Small Animals designed and developed a solution to keeping the patients still enough to conduct a fluoroscopy procedure – a clear acrylic box, which patients can stand in during swallow studies. 

With no metal components, the container allows for clear and effective images. 

The effectiveness of the fluoroscopy container was proven when a three-year-old pug named Gary was referred to the hospital while suffering from sever abdominal cramping. With the help of the fluoroscopy container, the veterinary team was able to conduct some swallow studies and diagnose some acid reflux. 

Dr Silke Salavati, senior lecturer in Small Animal Medicine, commented: “Due to the availability of the live fluoroscopy and other specialist imaging techniques, our specialist diagnostic imaging teams can pick up subtle changes like the acid reflux in Gary’s case, which helps to optimise treatment.”

Images (C) The University of Edinburgh

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.