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An ever-increasing number of pets, particularly dogs, are travelling from and back to the UK with their owners, in addition to new pets being brought in having been acquired outside the UK (often as ‘rescues’), and puppies bred outside the UK and imported legally or illegally. Such pet travel risks the importation of a variety of diseases that generally have not been present in the UK. Veterinary surgeons need to be aware of the risks associated with pet travel, and have a good understanding of these diseases. ESCCAP is an excellent source of information on parasites. To protect animal health, it is necessary to go well beyond the Pet Travel Scheme requirements. It is important to be able to provide owners with the best advice and preventative treatments to minimise the risks of pets acquiring parasitic, vector-borne and other diseases while travelling — for their benefit and for the longer-term health and welfare of the UK pet population, as well as the health of the human population. For any disease prevention or control programme to be effective, awareness and motivation must be raised, and for this, communication is key. It is vital to tailor the language used to match the audience in order for any message to be heard and accepted, and it is essential to remember the emotional attachment that people develop for animals they are ‘rescuing’.

A 1-year-old, entire male Flat-Coated Retriever wasreferred with a six-day history of acute onset vomiting.Vomiting had started 24 hours after scavenging acarcass whilst out on a walk.Supportive treatment withintravenous fluids and metoclopramide had producedonly a temporary improvement.Some diarrhoea hadbeen noted initially although this had resolved andno faeces had been passed for four days.On day six,a high gastrointestinal obstruction was suspected bythe referring veterinary surgeon, based on clinicalsigns, electrolyte imbalances and blood pH. Anexploratory coeliotomy was performed but noobvious obstruction was identified, although thestomach appeared distended and fluid filled. Gastricfluid had been removed via stomach tube.The caserecovered from general anaesthesia and was referredat this point.Apart from this illness, the dog had noother relevant clinical history.

As with hyperkalaemia, the clinical signs of hypokalaemia may be subtle and easily overshadowed by the clinical signs of the primary disease process or other resultant biochemical, haematological or acid-base abnormalities. However, the fact that signs are subtle should not be confused with unimportance. Hypokalaemia has consequences for the function of many organs in the body and may be making a significant contribution to overall morbidity. Also, although some cases may only exhibit a mild hypokalaemia, this may be one aspect of the disease that is very treatable and may make a significant improvement to the patient’s quality of life (e.g. chronic renal failure). Marked hypokalaemia can produce dramatic clinical signs as discussed below. Emergency supplementation may be required while the underlying cause is identified.

the differential diagnosis in all cases of polydipsia/ polyuria, it should be remembered that primary diabetes insipidus is extremely uncommon. As a result, initial diagnostic efforts should be directed towards actively disproving a more common cause of PUPD or secondary diabetes insipidus (Table 1). Some causes may be suspected from the history, clinical signs or initial laboratory database (Fig. 1) whilst others may require more specific testing or may be difficult to rule out completely (e.g. hyperadrenocorticism). The history should be thoroughly reviewed for medications that may cause polyuria/polydipsia. Owners should be asked to measure and record unrestricted water intake over a few 24 hour periods to confirm true polydipsia (defined as >100 ml/kg/day).