Small animal

Ocular manifestations of systemic disease in cats
As the eye can be examined so readily, it is invaluable to be able to recognise ocular signs that can provide an early, rapid diagnosis and accessible evaluation of therapy success, writes Natasha Mitchell MVB DVOphthal MRCVS, Eye Vet Ltd, Crescent Veterinary Clinic, Limerick

Cutaneous adverse food reactions in dogs
Cutaneous adverse food reactions account for between 10% and 25% of dogs with allergic skin disease. A successful elimination diet trial is the key to diagnosing these cases, writes Kathryn Cuddy MVB CertAVP(VD) MRCVS, Skinvet Ireland

Septic arthritis: diagnosis, management and prognosis
Septic arthritis is an uncommon but potentially devastating condition of small animal patients; Ben Mielke BVSc MANCVS (Surgery) MRCVS and Ignacio Calvo Ldo Vet CertSAS DipECVS FHEA MRCVS, the Royal Veterinary College, UK, outline the common features of this condition and the recommended treatment strategy

Approaching the hypercalcaemic patient
Consuelo Alonzi MRCVS and Simon Tappin MA VetMB CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS, Dick White Referrals, The Six Mile Bottom Veterinary Specialist Centre, UK, discuss the clinical representations of the hypercalcaemiac patient

Disease predispositions in dogs and cats: the fuller story
Dan O’Neill MVB BSc(hons) GPCert(SAP) GPCert(FelP) GPCert(Derm) GPCert(B&PS) MSc(VetEpi) MRCVS, senior lecturer in companion animal epidemiology, The Royal Veterinary College, UK, discusses recent research that pulls together all published evidence on known disease predispositions in dogs and cats into a single easy-to-use resource

Canine and feline pancreatitis
Harry Cridge MVB, resident in small animal internal medicine and Alyssa Sullivant DVM MS DACVIM, assistant professor in small animal internal medicine, Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, present a detailed overview of canine and feline pancreatitis

Adverse health consequences associated with canine angiostrongylosis
Adam Shuttleworth and Hany Elsheikha BVSc MSc PhD DipEVPC FHEA FRSPH, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK, outline how angiostrongylosis, the cardiopulmonary disease, affects dogs

Trematodes in farm and companion animals
The comparative aspects of parasitic trematodes of companion animals, ruminants and humans is presented by Maggie Fisher BVetMed CBiol MRCVS FRSB, managing director and Peter Holdsworth AO Bsc (Hon) PhD FRSB FAICD, senior manager, Ridgeway Research Ltd, Park Farm Building, Gloucestershire, UK

Intestinal surgery in small animals – how to prevent it leaking?
Kathryn Pratschke MVB MVM CertSAS DiplECVS MRCVS RCVS, European specialist in small animal surgery, provides a brief historical context for intestinal surgery and explains how we have reached our current recommendations for closing intestinal incisions, as well as addressing the question of how to prevent surgical sites leaking

Communicating empathy in veterinary practice
Jantina McMurray DVM and Søren Boysen DVM DACVECC, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada, discuss communicating empathy in veterinary-client-patient interactions

Canine pheochromocytoma
Isabelle Desmas, Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, UK, examines the diagnosis and the administering of medical treatment prior to surgical treatment of canine pheochromocytoma

Anaemia in dogs and cats (part 1)
Defined as a reduction in red blood cell mass, anaemia can be caused by red blood cell loss (haemorrhage, destruction) or reduced production; RCVS recognised and European veterinary specialist in small animal medicine, Polly Frowde MA VetMB DipECVIM MRCVS explores a logical approach to investigating anaemia in dogs and cats and summarises its main causes

Anaemia in dogs and cats (part 2)
In the second part of this article, RCVS recognised and European veterinary specialist in small animal medicine, Polly Frowde MAVetMB DipECVIM MRCVS examines the causes and management of regenerative anaemia

Medical management of uroabdomen in cats
Cecilia Stilwell BVMS MRCVS, intern at Dick White Referrals, UK, discusses the treatment of the accumulation of urine within the abdominal cavity following injury to the urinary tract in cats

Canine genitourinary carcinomas: where are we now and where are we going?
Katarzyna Purzycka DVM MRCVS, Ana Lara-Garcia DVM MRCVS MSc PhD DACVIM & ECVIM-CA (Oncology) and Sarah Stewart DVM DACVIM (SAIM) MRCVS, Royal Veterinary College Oncology Department, review the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment of canine genitourinary carcinomas

Canine spaying: the positives and negatives
Can we make evidence-based recommendations about neutering dogs, asks Kathryn Pratschke MVB MVM CertSAS DiplECVS MRCVS RCVS, European specialist in small animal surgery, UK

Small animal point of care ultrasound techniques
The role of veterinary point of care ultrasound in determining the presence or absence of specific pathologies is examined by Jantina McMurray DVM; Søren Boysen DVM DACVECC, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada

Management of acute kidney injury in the dog and cat
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease that affects all species; in this article, Laura Cole MA VetMB PgCert VPS CertAVP (ECC) MRCVS veterinary specialist-in-training, Department of Clinical Science and Services,
Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College, UK, discusses the classification and diagnosis of AKI in dogs and cats and highlights the causes of AKI based on their effect on renal function

Approaching the dyspnoeic cat in the middle of the night
A logical approach to the feline patient in respiratory distress, including collection of a brief history, signalment information and performing a physical examination, will allow the clinician to localise the pathological process, writes Daria Starybrat DVM MRCVS and Simon Tappin MA VetMB CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS, Dick White Referrals, Six Mile Bottom Veterinary Specialist Centre, Cambridgeshire, UK

Hypoadrenocorticism
A logical approach to the feline patient in respiratory distress, including collection of a brief history, signalment information and performing a physical examination, will allow the clinician to localise the pathological process, writes Daria Starybrat DVM MRCVS and Simon Tappin MA VetMB CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS, Dick White Referrals, Six Mile Bottom Veterinary Specialist Centre, Cambridgeshire, UK

Management of congestive heart failure on a budget
Congestive heart failure can account for up to 38% of all cases of dyspnoea. While CHF can be managed well, with strong evidence for multi-drug therapy, treatment can be a costly exercise and successful management is ultimately often limited by financial considerations. Treatment of CHF is similar irrespective of underlying cause, but a diagnosis can aid prognosis and alter recommended follow-up. Reported median survival times in dogs with CHF are reported to be between 6-12 months, writes Chris Linney BVSc GPCertSAP CertAVP(VC) MRCVS RCVS, advanced practitioner in veterinary cardiology, Cardiology Department, Willows Referral Service, UK

Canine appendicular osteosarcoma
What are the different treatment options veterinary practitioners have in relation to canine appendicular osteosarcoma, writes Beatriz Belda, Canadian Veterinary Hospital, Doha (Qatar), Ana Lara-Garcia and Pilar Lafuente, Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College, London (UK)

Canine idiopathic epilepsy
Clare Rusbridge BVMS DECVN PhD MRCVS, European and RCVS Specialist in Neurology, discusses canine idiopathic epilepsy

Acute ocular chemical injuries: recognition and treatment
Professor Sheila Crispin MA VetMB BSc PhD DVA DVOphthal DECVO FRCVS, Visiting Fellow, Centre for Comparative and Clinical Anatomy, University of Bristol, UK, outlines how to recognise and treat acute ocular chemical injuries

Initial triage, diagnosis, and stabilisation of the acutely collapsed dog
Professor Søren R Boysen DVM DACVECC, Veterinary Clinical Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada, outlines why, due to the variation in prognosis and the plethora of underlying causes, an efficient diagnostic work-up is essential to reach an accurate diagnosis of the acutely collapsed dog

Wildlife crime: call to action
Globally, wildlife crime threatens biodiversity and sustainable development of communities. Ana Vale, Mike Rendle and Emma Higgs, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, discuss how veterinary professionals can provide medical assistance and raise awareness

Bleeding disorders: causes and treatment
Daria Starybrat DVM MRCVS; Joy Fenner BVM BVS CertAVP(ECC) MRCVS;Simon Tappin MA VetMB CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS, Dick White Referrals, The Six Mile Bottom Veterinary Specialist Centre, Station Farm, Cambridgeshire, UK, review normal haemostasis before outlining the diagnostic approach, therapies and specific causes of abnormal coagulation

Common inflammatory liver diseases in the dog (part 1)
The pathogenesis, clinical signs and diagnosis of common inflammatory liver diseases in dogs, is outlined by Daniel Davies BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS (Hons) MRCVS, resident in small animal diagnostic imaging, University College Dublin

Common inflammatory liver diseases in the dog (part 2)
The second article in a two-part series on management of acute and chronic hepatitis in dogs, is presented by Daniel Davies BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS (Hons) MRCVS, resident in small animal diagnostic imaging, University College Dublin

Pug health using VetCompass ‘big data’
Dan O’Neill MVB BSc(hons) GPCert(SAP) GPCert(FelP) GPCert(Derm) GPCert(B&PS) MSc(VetEpi) MRCVS, Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, The Royal Veterinary College, UK, discusses recent research on the demography and common disorders of the general population of Pugs under veterinary care in England. These results are likely to be mirrored in Ireland