Patient Positioning Aid
Positioning a patient's head for dental radiography can be challenging. For large dogs, we found that a roll of paper towels, still wrapped in plastic, works well beneath the chin when the patient is in sternal recumbency. The plastic allows easy cleaning and multiple uses of the roll, which can be easily replaced if it's damaged.
The staff at Companion Animal Hospital, Traverse City, MI
Expiration Reminder
To help us use bottles of injectable solution before they expire, we put colored stickers on the ones that will expire next.
Rebecca Pierce, Rocklin, CA
Serum Removal
I had difficulty removing serum from microhematocrit tubes until I began using a small pipette. I place the end of the snapped tube into the tip of the pipette and squeeze. The serum comes out beautifully.
Kasi Miller, Fargo, ND
Bandage Cover
At my last clinic, we sent used IV bags home with every patient that had a bandage on its foot. A bag with its bottom edge removed can be placed over the bandage and secured with a gauze tie to keep the bandage dry outdoors. Clients should be instructed to remove the bag when their pet is indoors.
Rosanna Gestwicki, Kalamazoo, MI
Catheterization Kit
We purchased a box that is normally used for organizing arts and crafts supplies and filled it with items necessary for catheterization, such as scrub and alcohol, catheters of all sizes, T-sets, injection ports, dry gauze, tape, and flushes. This kit is great for isolation wards and when patients are not mobile and cannot be moved to an area near supply shelves.
Roxanne Hess, Livonia, NY
