This week we talk to Molly Varga Smith, who is the Head of the Exotic Referrals Service at Rutland House in St Helens, England. She is also the author of the ‘Textbook of Rabbit Medicine’, published by Elsevier (2nd and 3rd editions).

Molly, tell us about your experiences with VETIGEL^®

"I have now been using VETIGEL^® in my clinic for the last 10 months or so. I have used it in a range of species, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibia. VETIGEL^® can have a role to play in any case where there is active bleeding, and in some of my patients even limited blood loss can be very detrimental to their well-being.

These are a few examples:

I have had cases where a rabbit dental extraction has led to severe bleeding due to a ruptured vessel, and these are cases where there is no access for ligation. I have tried epinephrine on a cotton bud in the past, but there is no guarantee that it will work. However, with VETIGEL^® (using the Precision Accessory Tip) the bleeding stops rapidly, and I can continue with my procedure. These are cases where it otherwise wouldn’t have been surprising to lose the patient due to blood loss.

I have also used VETIGEL^® successfully in rabbit enucleations, reducing both blood loss and procedure time. Recently I had a rabbit which had tried to break-free whilst having a blood sample taken, and lacerated its saphenous vein. It was bleeding profusely, but I applied VETIGEL^® directly, and then applied saline soaked gauze. I left it a few minutes, and the bleeding had stopped completely. Without VETIGEL^® I would have had to apply a pressure bandage, which may have compromised the blood flow in the leg, and certainly wouldn’t have stopped the bleeding as quickly.

Last week we had a Macaw brought in which had trauma to its beak and was bleeding. I used gauze to remove excess blood, and then applied VETIGEL^® on a saline soaked gauze. I held it in place for a couple of minutes, by which time the bleeding had stopped. It’s key in these cases to just leave the VETIGEL^® alone after it has been applied in order that the mechanical seal is maintained."

What do you like about VETIGEL^®?

"The fact that it works! When I’ve used it, it stops bleeding immediately. It’s easy to use, and stays in place unlike some other hemostatic products."

How does VETIGEL^® compare to other hemostatic agents you may have used?

"Compared to others, VETIGEL^® is easy to apply and works rapidly. You can wipe away excess after the initial bleeding has stopped, and the fact it doesn’t integrate into the clot is really useful."

Would you recommend VETIGEL^® to other veterinarians?

"I’d strongly recommend its use by other veterinarians. I will certainly be using it at every opportunity from now on."

Have a testimonial and want to be featured?

Reach out to education@vetigel.com. We love hearing about your VETIGEL cases and gaining more insight on we impact your practice.