The Royal Veterinary College has established the Nestlé Purina RVC Intensive Respiratory Centre to provide advanced critical care for patients with severe respiratory diseases. The Centre will offer small animals the UK’s most advanced level of respiratory care with equipment that is more frequently found in human intensive care units, such as a state-of-the-art mechanical ventilator, a critical care monitor and specially made oxygen units (kennels).

Advances in veterinary care mean that animals are able to undergo more invasive procedures, such as extensive thoracic surgeries including cardiopulmonary bypass operations. These patients require more intensive post-operative care, including mechanical ventilation in some cases. The acquisition of this state-of-the-art equipment, to enable such an advanced level of care, has been made possible through sponsorship from Nestlé Purina.

Respiratory diseases are fairly common in companion animals – however there are limited options for treatment for animals that are severely affected with life-threatening respiratory failure. To date new techniques and treatments that have been developed for human patients with severe respiratory diseases have not been applied to animals. Some of the activities of the centre will involve evaluating the effectiveness and appropriateness of using some of these newly developed techniques on small animals.

“The RVC is perfectly placed to pioneer innovative treatment to improve the lives of animals with severe respiratory problems,” said Daniel Chan, Lecturer in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care at the Royal Veterinary College.

“We’ve got the expertise of specialists in internal medicine, emergency and critical care, surgery, anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging and clinical nutrition – by combining these skills and with the support of Nestlé Purina, we will be able to deliver a comprehensive programme of care. This co-ordinated approach is unique.”

Specialised training modules and lectures for veterinary students, nurses and practitioners, will also be delivered as part of the Centre’s remit and the Centre is also creating a forum for clinicians and researchers from across the world to share information about advances in this field.

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