Louise Buckley

The use of conditioned place preference to determine broiler preferences for quantitative or qualitative dietary restriction

1. Calcium propionate (CAP) may improve the welfare of feed restricted broiler breeders by improving their satiety when included within the feed ration. However, the evidence for this is mixed. 2. This study used a closed economy conditioned place preference (CPP) task and aimed to identify whether broilers (as a model for broiler breeders) preferred an environment associated with quantitative food restriction (QFR) or an environment associated with a diet quality-adjusted by the inclusion of CAP. Birds taught to associate different environments with QFR and ad libitum (AL) access to feed were used to validate the methodology. 3. The two treatment groups were (1) QFR/AL (n = 12) in which birds alternated every 2 d between QFR and ad libitum access to food, and (2) QFR/CAP (n = 12) in which birds alternated every 2 d between QFR and QFR + calcium propionate (increased from 3–9% over the study period). Birds were taught to associate one diet option with vertical stripes and the other with horizontal black and white stripes. Each bird was tested twice for a CPP (once per diet). 4. QFR/AL birds showed a significant preference for the pen associated with ad libitum access to feed, but only when tested hungry (i.e. fed QFR on day of testing). QFR/CAP birds did not show a preference under either hunger state. 5. Reasons for the failure of QFR/CAP birds to show a preference are unclear but could include a lack of preference or failure to learn the task. 6. The existence of state-dependent effects indicates that care is needed in the design of future CPP studies and that the effect of calcium propionate and level of hunger on ability to learn a CPP needs further investigation.

Critiquing research papers? Neigh bother, any RVN can do it!

Abstract This article starts from the premise you don’t have to be a scientist to be able to effectively critique research papers. Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) must evaluate research papers for their internal quality (how good the paper is) and its relevance to the clinical environment the nurse intends to apply the findings to. Three examples are used to demonstrate how an examination of the study methodology can affect the willingness of the RVN to accept the reported findings or allow it to affect clinical decision-making.

Sixteen tips for getting started in practice-based research

Abstract The aim of this article is to provide veterinary nurses with 16 tips to help get them started in practice-based research. It covers key areas that the veterinary nurse should consider before undertaking a research project in order to improve the chances of the study being a meaningful and publishable contribution to the evidence base underpinning veterinary nursing practice.

The use of hides to reduce acute stress in the newly hospitalised domestic cat (Felis sylvestris catus)

Abstract The aims of this study were to identify if newly hospitalised cats would both use a hide, and show a reduction in stress levels when one was provided. Healthy cats attending a clinic for elective neutering were randomly allocated to either the Hide group (n = 15) or the No Hide group (n = 15). Temperature, heart and respiration rates were recorded on admission and after 20 min hospitalisation. Cats were cat stress scored (q 2 min) and their location with the kennel scored (q 30 s) over this 20 min period. Cats provided with a hide spent more time in the kennel location containing the hide (P < 0.001), and used this enrichment primarily to hide inside (P < 0.001). Compared to the baseline measurement, only Hide cats showed a small reduction in heart (P < 0.001) and respiration (P < 0.001) rates after 20 min. Cat stress score decreased in both groups of cats, but was significantly lower in Hide cats than No Hide cats after 20 min (P = 0.002). It is concluded that hides are utilised and result in rapidly identifiable but small reductions in indices of stress in the newly hospitalised cat; thus, should be considered for use with this inpatient demographic.

Getting started with your veterinary nursing dissertation: what can I research?

Abstract This article aimed to give student veterinary nurses undertaking an honours research project (HRP) some ideas for how they might identify a suitable topic to research. It started from the premise that the final-year honours degree dissertation project is an exciting opportunity for veterinary nursing students to contribute to the history of veterinary nursing through innovation in the discipline and thus should be embraced. A range of tips for topic identification were outlined, including finding a topic area, searching tips to get the student veterinary nurse started and prospects for building on previous student ideas and projects.

Academic study, wallpapering chicken pens and a ’roach in your knicker draw: life as a PhD student

Abstract This article is about the personal experiences of the author as they embarked upon a PhD. The PhD was in the area of a major chicken welfare issue (the hunger of broiler breeders) and represented a challenging but exciting time in the author’s career as she tried to work out how the chickens felt and what they wanted. Careful selection of the PhD topic is important and there are many topics suitable for veterinary nurses. Funded PhDs are preferable for financial reasons and the stipend available is reasonably competitive with a veterinary nurse salary so should not be a barrier to applying.

Review of the centre for evidence-based veterinary medicine's "using an evidence-based approach in your practice" course

Abstract The practice of evidence-based veterinary nursing is a day one skill expected of veterinary nurses, and veterinary nursing educators are required to prepare student veterinary nurses to meet this competency. This article reviewed the Centre for Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine’s course “Using an evidence-based approach in your practice” from the perspective of two Veterinary nursing educators. This four-month blended learning course covered the importance of evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) to veterinary professionals, how to ask answerable questions, search and review the evidence, and how to utilise EBVM in a practical way through goal-setting, evidence reviews and clinical audits. The authors found this course rewarding and beneficial to their role as educators and reflective practitioners.

Towels versus hides: which are best at reducing acute stress in the newly hospitalised domestic cat (Felis sylvestris catus)?

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify whether towels over a cage or a box provided within a cage were better at reducing stress in the newly hospitalised cat. Forty-five cats were used, randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups: (1) Control, (2) Hide, (3) Screen. Temperature, heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR) were taken on admit and after 20 min. Cats were behaviourally scored for stress (CSS) on admit and every minute for 20 min within their cage. Control cats showed no reduction in HR or RR, but CSS did decline compared with the baseline (P = 0.002). Compared to the Control, a significant decrease in HR and RR was observed for both Hide (HR, P = 0.002; RR, P < 0.001) and Screen cats (HR, P = 0.001; RR, P < 0.001). HR decrease was similar between Hide and Screen cats but RR rate decrease was slightly more for Screen cats (P = 0.049). CSS also declined for both Hide cats (P < 0.001) and Screen cats (P < 0.001), with Hide cats showing a tendency to reduce CSS more than Screen cats (P = 0.054), and Screen cats a tendency to reduce CSS more than the Control condition (P = 0.090). The CSS of Hide cats declined significantly more than for Control cats (P = 0.003). Therefore, it is concluded that this study provided very limited, but positive, evidence that both enrichments may rapidly result in detectable reductions in feline stress levels. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine which enrichment method (if either) is better than the other.

Evidence-based veterinary nursing – it’s more sexy than you might think!

Abstract Evidence-based veterinary medicine is a concept that is increasingly integral to the practice of veterinary nursing. This article was based on the experiences of three recipients of a veterinary nursing bursary to attend the Veterinary Evidence conference this year as they learnt how important it is to develop the skill set needed to review the evidence and apply it to clinical practice. Support for nurses to develop these skills is widely available and RCVS Knowledge, in particular, provides a range of resources – from conferences and workshops to guides and online CPD tools – that nurses are encouraged to take advantage of.