Stethoscopes (small animal)

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Vikki Halliday LLB — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:50:12 GMT

[quote user="AJC"]

The tubing on my trusty Littman's Master Classic has perished, so do I

[/quote]

Interestingly I was talking to a colleague this morning who told me he had had this happen to his, so he sent it back to Littmann, and they repaired it free of charge as it was still under warranty after ten years!!!

Might be worth a try?

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Vikki Halliday LLB — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:48:41 GMT

Michael , I know but the head of the classic was rusted, pitted, completely buggered and siezed from being dropped in the mud/slurry/disinfectant/blood. I decided that it was probably all it was good for rather than being consigned to the museum of veterinary instruments that lives in a box in my stables!

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:46:12 GMT

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"]I had a classic for large animal work but that has now been cannabalised for my oesophageal stethoscopes as I find the earpieces are the comfiest, and I can hear better with them as they block extraneous noise in theatre.[/quote]

You know you can buy the earpieces separate and a dab of superglue will hold them onto any cheap steth?

http://www.medisave.co.uk/littmann-soft-sealing-black-ear-tips-large-pushsnap-on-p-1449.html

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Vikki Halliday LLB — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:40:28 GMT

I love my Littmann paediatric, I had a classic for large animal work but that has now been cannabalised for my oesophageal stethoscopes as I find the earpieces are the comfiest, and I can hear better with them as they block extraneous noise in theatre.

My two Littmanns are the only ones I can use, I have tried other but cannot get used to any others.

Set in my ways I know..........

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Edward Jones — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:32:43 GMT

I've often found with stethoscopes that the cheaper the better!

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Mike Martin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:24:22 GMT

Having used the smaller headed paediatric stethoscope, I've now gone back to the standard adult-sized one some years ago. The large head brings in more sound for me. The small sized ones came into fad to try to 'localise' the point of max intensity of a murmur. However, having tried to localise murmurs and then Doppler echo'ed them I've come to realise that localisation is not all it is cracked up to be, not as accurate as the books would like you to believe - and finally its not really that important anyway.

I have a Littmann Cardiology, but I have heard good reports about the [quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]Welch Allyn Tycos Harvey Elite Cardiology Stethoscope[/quote]. If someone has one in the practice, give it a try too.

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:19:08 GMT

[quote user="AJC"]

I haven't even looked at the Ultrascope ones, so that's another one to consider...Do you have the adult Classic? Their website suggests the pediatric is good for animals up to 45lbs (20kg), so that will be about 65% of my patients. I have just looked on Vet Direct, they have an offer on the Ultrascope, but their pictures show a single-tubed stethoscope, whereas on the Ultrascope website they have double tubing?!

[/quote]

I have the classic, I find it is still fine for cat hearts especially as that is my main interest and mine has a single tube. I don't really have much to compare it to but I can hear and localise faint murmurs when others can't so either it works or I have better ears!

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Paula Bentley — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:17:08 GMT

I have 3 sizes of Littman which I use in small animal practice. If I had to choose one it would be the paediatric, when the diaphragm went I was lost until I replaced it- it was also a cardiovet freebie many years ago ! I hardly ever use the classic if the others - the infant is great in SA practice too- are in the room.

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

nikki — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:42:58 GMT

my Littman's tubing has finally perished too - not bad for 9yrs I thought. Just ordered another of the same - just the Classic. I find it does me well enough for everyday small animal work. Got it from Medisave with free engraving and it arrived next day.

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Alice Courtney — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:46:53 GMT

Thanks everyone for your replies already!

My colleague has a Welch Allyn and likes it, but doesn't leave it lying around often enough for me to have a go with it! Although he does say he's now hearing heart murmurs in so many cats...

The Littman pediatric is one I've considered, too.

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:10:19 GMT

I have a pressure sensitive (press light for hearts, hard for lungs) single sided acoustic Ultrascope Classic from Vet Direct. My nurses bought if for me for a birthday present largely because it has a nice picture of a cat on it (nurses have their priorities right)!!. However I find it excellent for listening for heart murmurs in cats, for half the price of a Littman. Like a lot of cardiac stethoscopes the sounds are lot quieter than a standard stethoscope but much clearer. I then use a cheap and nasty economy jobbie for lugging round for general use.

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Rob Loxley — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:37:15 GMT

I like my Littman Infant for small patients, but I think it's quite subjective and many others hat work prefer the Classic II or Paediatric. I also have one of the Master Classics which I've never really got on with for small animals. We also have a couple of electronic stethoscopes (a Littman and a Welch Allyn, I think) which nobody here seems to like/use - both drug company freebies.

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Bob Russell — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:22:17 GMT

[quote user="Andrew Mellor"]

I would go for a litmann paediatric ( just like a smaller version of classic) , unless you are very serious about suptle heart sounds in which case push out the boat and go for a insulated tubing litmann cardiac.

[/quote]

Absolutely, could not agree more. These are really good. I was given one as a bribe by Intervet when they introduced Cardiovet (enalopril) years ago. Still going strong.

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:32:05 GMT

I can highly recommend the Welch Allyn Tycos Harvey Elite Cardiology Stethoscope, with the small paediatric diaphragm fitted. You will hear murmurs so clearly that aren't even audible with a Lttmann. I use a Litmann for cattle work. The only problem with the Tycos is things seem quieter, but so much clearer.

I bought mine from this lot in America:

If you are a student they will send you a free paediatric diaphragm, and I am studying for my Cert AVP......

http://www.steeles.com/catalog/harveystudent.html

Quite fast delivery and so much cheaper than I could find in the UK. I got away with the VAT, but you may get stung. Still cheaper than over here. Best prices I could find for the Litmanns too.

Re: Stethoscopes (small animal)

Andrew Mellor — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:05:22 GMT

I would got for a litmann paediatric ( just like a smaller version of classic) , unless you are very serious about suptle heart sounds in which case push out the boat and go for a insulated tubing litmann cardiac.