82 | The five most vital considerations when caring for dogs with distemper virus
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
Release Date: 08/11/2025
100 | What medical nursing REALLY looks like as a veterinary nurse: my academy students interview me!
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
For the 100th episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast, the tables are turned. Instead of leading the conversation, I hand the microphone to Cat, a registered veterinary nurse and Medical Nursing Academy student, who interviews me about career identity, internal medicine nursing, advocacy, and what the future of the profession could look like. This episode is a celebration of far more than hitting 100 episodes. It reflects on how our nursing careers evolve, how our confidence is built through experience, and why we play such a vital (and often underestimated) role in internal medicine. I hope...
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99 | The complete guide to caring for patients with myasthenia gravis as a veterinary nurse (ft Zoe Hatfield, RVN, VTS-Neurology)
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
In episode 99 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, join Zoe Hatfield (RVN, VTS in Neurology) and Laura Jones (RVN, VTS in Internal Medicine) as they discuss one of the most common neurological disorders seen in practice: Myasthenia gravis, or MG. MG is a disorder of the neuromuscular junction causing significant weakness, megaoesophagus, regurgitation, aspiration and recumbency - and these patients need INTENSIVE nursing care to recover. We’re breaking down exactly what MG is, how it impacts our patients, and the skills we can use when caring for them, in this episode. --- About Zoe: Zoe...
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98 | A step-by-step introduction to the neurological system for veterinary nurses (ft Zoe Hatfield, RVN, VTS-Neurology)
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
In episode 98 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, join Zoe Hatfield (RVN, VTS in Neurology) and Laura Jones (RVN, VTS in Internal Medicine) as they chat about the neurological system - how it works, what we need to know as veterinary nurses, and what happens when it goes wrong. Whether you’re revising for an exam, brushing up on your skills ahead of seeing a neurological patient, or just want to get nerdy, you’ll leave this episode feeling more confident about managing neurological cases. --- About Zoe: Zoe qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 2012. After spending her first year as a...
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97 | How to actually do more with your patients as a veterinary nurse in 2026
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
Episode 97 of the Medical Nursing Podcast gives you the action steps you need to start actually doing more and using more of your skills as a veterinary nurse. Because while it’s one thing to talk about what needs to change, it’s another to talk about what you can actually do, on shift, with your patients. So today I want to talk about the ways every single veterinary nurse can do more with their medical inpatients, regardless of where you work, your job title, whether you’re qualified or not, or how long you’ve been qualified. My goal is that you’ll leave this episode with a renewed...
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96 | 2025 wrapped! Using our skills as veterinary nurses, being paid for our time, the CMA and veterinary surgeons act, and a big old life update…
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
Join me for our unofficial 2025 Wrapped! In this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast we’ll take a look back at what’s happened across the profession this year, what the evidence about our role and skills is telling us, what it actually means for us as veterinary nurses and technicians, and why I’m ending this year feeling more hopeful about our role and more determined for our future than ever. If you’re ready to step into 2026 feeling inspired, valued, and speaking up for your skills, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. --- . --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me:...
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95 | The essential guide to toxicology part six: how to manage smoke inhalation and fire injury as a veterinary nurse
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
In episode 95 of the Medical Nursing Podcast we wrap up our toxicology series with a true emergency and one of the most dramatic, challenging and emotional conditions: inhalation of smoke, thermal and chemical airway injury in our feline and canine patients. Managing fire-injury is so much more than ‘just’ dealing with smoke inhalation, and these patients can be challenging to nurse, since their disease is often much worse than it initially seems. These patients need intensive respiratory support, monitoring and nursing care, which means that as well as challenging to manage,...
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94 | The essential guide to toxicology part five: how to manage ingestion of household hazards as a veterinary nurse
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
In this episode, we’re nearing the end of our toxicology series with a look at the common household hazards our patients ingest, and how to care for those patients confidently. Household hazards are something we see often - especially in my line of work, where things like caustic chemical ingestion or battery ingestion cause severe GI signs (or worse) needing intensive management. From fluid therapy, to nutrition, to analgesia, GI support and more, our role in caring for these patients cannot be overlooked. Today, we’ll take a closer look at toxicosis from things like household cleaners,...
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93 | The essential guide to toxicology part four: how to manage rodenticide and pesticide toxicities as a veterinary nurse
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
In episode 93 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re continuing our miniseries on toxicology with some of the common pesticide poisonings we see - specifically anticoagulant rodenticide, metaldehyde and organophosphate toxicity. These common pesticides and biotoxins cause severe, often life-threatening signs in our patients, and as veterinary nurses and technicians, we’re often the ones responsible for advising our clients, triaging and stabilising these patients, and providing intensive nursing care as they recover. And to do that well, we need to understand exactly how these toxins affect...
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92 | The essential guide to toxicology part three: how to manage common medication toxicities as a veterinary nurse
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
Today we’re continuing our toxicology mini-series with another group of very common, and often very critical, toxins - human medications. There are a whole host of different medication toxicities we see, and in this episode I’m going to walk you through 4 big ones: paracetamol toxicity in cats, NSAID toxicity in both cats and dogs, inhaler ingestion or overdose, and ingestion of antidepressants and ADHD medications. These patients also need a whole host of nursing support. We’re essential in the management of these cases, where prompt triage and stabilisation is vital, as is intensive...
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91 | The essential guide to toxicology part two: how to manage dietary toxins confidently as a veterinary nurse
Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
I’m willing to bet that most people listening have seen a dietary toxin case at some point in their career. Dogs especially have a knack for raiding bins, cupboards, and kitchen counters. Thankfully most cases we see are mild, but they can be life-threatening and need intensive monitoring and nursing care. But what happens when our patients ingest these toxins? What signs do we see, and what nursing care do these patients need? Well, it varies depending on the toxin - but it’s often intensive. Today, we’ll focus on three big dietary toxins: chocolate, grapes, and tremorgenic...
info_outlineToday we’re talking all about a disease I hope you never see (because it’s awful) - but one that’s hard to spot and even harder to nurse - canine distemper virus.
Thankfully, due to vaccination, it’s rare - but we do see it, and when we do, it’s a real challenge.
To care for these patients confidently, and stop the spread of this incredibly contagious disease, we first need to understand it - and that’s what I’m here for today.
In the next 20 minutes or so, we’ll discuss what distemper virus is, how it progresses and the impact it has on our patients, as well as how we spot it early, test for it, and - most importantly - give patients with it the best care we can.
So if the only time you’ve seen distemper mentioned is in your college notes or when discussing vaccinations - listen on, because I’ve got you covered.
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📲 Join the BRAND NEW Medical Nursing Library Club
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More free ways to learn with me:
📲 Grab the show notes and references from today’s episode
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This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.