CBC (Complete Blood Count):

• The importance of blood smear examination. (Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand  Veterinary Association, May 2019)
• Diff Quik Stains Diff Quik (DQ) stains are commonly used in practice to examine blood smears and cytology samples. It is a three-step system using methanol as a fixative followed by an orange/eosinophilic solution then a blue/basophilic solution. Learn more about Diff Quick stains.
• Thrombocytopenia in Cats and Dogs. Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in CBC results. While smear examination is important in all patients, it is vital in those with low platelet count to verify the count, detect platelet clumps and examine platelet morphology.
• Thrombocytopenia, the term used for a platelet count that is below the reference interval, is a common finding in a complete blood count of cats and dogs. This finding has numerous causes, but with careful examination it is possible to determine the culprit.
• Haemotrophic mycoplasma infections in cats. Mycoplasma haemofelis (formerly Haemobartonella haemofelis) is one of a group of haemotrophic mycoplasma organisms which can infect cats in NZ.

Chemistry:

• Inflammatory Markers in Cats. How often have you felt sure that your feline patient had an inflammatory condition and yet a CBC didn’t support it?
• SVS Laboratories uses the DGGR method for assessing total lipase which is sensitive and specific for detecting pancreatitis.
• Hyperlipidaemia in miniature schnauzers. Hyperlipidaemia refers to an elevation in serum triglyceride (TG) and/or cholesterol concentration.
• Folate and Cobalamin in the diagnosis of chronic GI disease in Cats and Dogs. Serum cobalamin and folate analysis can be useful in the work-up of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disease.  Stores for both vitamins are high in the healthy animal and deficiencies don’t develop unless disease is severe and chronic.
• Idiopathic hypercalcaemia in cats
  In cats, there are several causes for hypercalcaemia including hypercalcaemia of malignancy and chronic kidney disease. However, idiopathic hypercalcaemia is now considered the most common cause for a high serum calcium concentration in cats. 

Cytology:

• Lymph node aspirates.  How to aspirate lymph nodes with a light touch. (Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand Veterinary Association, August 2017)
• Diff Quik Stains Diff Quik (DQ) stains are commonly used in practice to examine blood smears and cytology samples. It is a three-step system using methanol as a fixative followed by an orange/eosinophilic solution then a blue/basophilic solution. Learn more about Diff Quick stains.
• Inflammatory aural or nasopharyngeal polyps are nonneoplastic growths that are most commonly seen in one- to three-year old cats, but have been reported in cats up to 15 years of age. (Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand Veterinary Association, November 2019)
• Wound Sampling for Culture & Cytology. Obtaining diagnostic specimens can be important for management of wound infections. (Article first published on cliniciansbrief.com in March 2020)
• Mast Cell Tumour Staining. Mast cell granules often stain poorly with rapid stains such as Diff Quik.
• Cytology and Culture in Otitis.  Underlying disease is present in most cases of recurrent or chronic otitis externa and a good history and physical examination are necessary in order to detect contributing factors.

Dermatology:

• Diagnosing dermatophytosis in dogs and cats. Dermatophytosis is a disease caused by a superficial fungal infection in keratinised skin.
• Dermatologic Conditions and what to consider when wanting the best results from Skin Biopsies
• Crusting skin disease in a cat & getting the most from skin biopsies. (Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand Veterinary Association, June 2019)
• It’s a tumour, but what type? Pathologist Genevieve D’Amours from SVS Laboratories, zooms in on a tumour case involving a four-year-old dog. (Article first published in VetScript July 2020).
• The case of the scaly Golden Retriever. A young Golden Retriever presents with pain on the neck and spine and mysterious, severe scaling. (Article from VetScript June/July 2021).

Endocrinology:

• Monitoring HyperA  There are two methods for assessing the efficacy of treatment in patient receiving trilostane (Vetoryl). 
  
• Diagnosis HyperA  A diagnosis of HyperA is usually pursued if history and clinical signs are consistent.
• Monitoring dogs with hypothyroidism  Monitoring the patient on levothyroxine (e.g. Eltroxin) is not as straight forward as it might seem.

Immune-mediated Disease:

• Canine Masticatory Muscle Myositis (MMM) is an autoimmune disease with focal inflammation restricted to the muscles of mastication in dogs.
• Pemphigus Foliaceous, a skin disease in cats. (Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand Veterinary Association, June 2019)

Infectious Disease:

• Diagnosing Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Confirming a diagnosis of FIP is not easy. Clinical signs are often non-specific, routine blood work is not pathognomic and serological testing, PCR and histopathology often cannot provide a definitive diagnosis.
• Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis in Cats. While many cats are exposed to Toxoplasma gondii at some point in their lives clinical disease is infrequent with most developing asymptomatic immunity.
• Titre Testing post vaccination for Parvovirus and Distemper virus. Antibody testing is sometimes carried out to determine when a dog needs a booster vaccine for parvovirus and/or distemper virus.

Liver disease, Pancreatitis & GI Disease:

• Pancreatitis in Cats. Cats with pancreatitis play their cards close to their chests.
• Laboratory tests for working up the thin elderly cat. Loss of weight is common in elderly cats. 
• Vomiting and abdominal pain: Is it Pancreatitis?? In dogs, acute pancreatitis is a relatively common disorder and is a primary differential when the presenting signs are vomiting and abdominal pain. Nevertheless, confirming a diagnosis can be difficult.
• Getting the most out of Companion Animal Liver biopsies. Investigating the cause for a hepatopathy can be challenging and biopsies of the liver may help provide much needed information.
• SVS Laboratories uses the DGGR method for assessing total lipase which is sensitive and specific for detecting pancreatitis.
• Faecal occult blood testing can be useful when investigating the possibility of gastrointestinal bleeding in the absence of clinical melena.
• Non-specific gastrointestinal signs in dogs  Consider chronic pancreatitis
• Bile acid testing in companion animals. Bile acids are manufactured by the liver and secreted into the GI tract via the bile. 

Microbiology and Antibiotic testing:

• New Zealand Veterinary Profession Antibiotic judicious use guidelines for Dogs and Cats.
• Antibiotic sensitivity testing for anaerobes
• Microbiologists are amazing but they are not miracle workers!
• Wound Sampling for Culture & Cytology. Obtaining diagnostic specimens can be important for management of wound infections. (Article first published on cliniciansbrief.com in March 2020)
• Cytology and Culture in Otitis.  Underlying disease is present in most cases of recurrent or chronic otitis externa and a good history and physical examination are necessary in order to detect contributing factors.

Neoplasia:

• Do you know the 3-2-1 Rule for vaccine site reactions when dealing with cats? Find out more here.
• Soft tissue sarcomas/soft tissue mesenchymal tumours (STS) in dogs encompass several types of tumours.
• Things to consider when you have a mammary mass in a dog
• Apocrine gland adenocarcinoma of the anal sac (AGAAS) is a malignant tumour that arises from glandular tissue surrounding the anal sac. The tumours are relatively common in dogs, however, are infrequently seen in cats. 
• Lipomas are tumours of well differentiated adipocytes that are well demarcated from surrounding tissue. They are generally easy to resect and recurrence is rare.

Serology:

• Titre Testing Post vaccination for Parvovirus and Distemper virus. Antibody testing is sometimes carried out to determine when a dog needs a booster vaccine for parvovirus and/or distemper virus.

Theriogenology (reproductive medicine):

• Is she spayed or not? Ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) is suspected when a spayed female appears to be coming into heat.
• Things to consider when you have a mammary mass in a dog

Toxicology

• A well meaning Christmas treat for your pet can have fatal consequences!
• The Hazard of Alliums. When onions, leeks and garlic go bad.
• Christmas dangers for your pet!
• Anticoagulant Toxicity.  Any species can be affected but it is most common in dogs.

Urinalysis:

• Urinalysis. Urinalysis consists of assessment of
  • the sample’s physical features
  • specific gravity (USG)
  • dipstick (chemical) features
  • sediment examination for casts, cells, crystals and organisms

What’s your diagnosis?  (Case studies):

• Crusting skin disease in a cat & getting the most from skin biopsies. (Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand Veterinary Association, June 2019)
• Inflammatory aural or nasopharyngeal polyps are nonneoplastic growths that are most commonly seen in one- to three-year old cats, but have been reported in cats up to 15 years of age. (Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand Veterinary Association, November 2019)
• Lameness in a young French Bulldog. SVS Laboratories pathologist Lisa Schmidt discusses a case of increasing lameness in a dog and differential diagnoses. (Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand Veterinary Association, April 2020)
  

Submission Tips:

• How much blood is needed?
• When providing Postmortem samples more is better!
• A picture is Worth a Thousand Words! Pictures can be a big help when Interpreting histological and cytological samples.
• Interpretation of In-clinic results. Do you have in-clinic results that you would like interpreted?
• Urolith Analysis. There is a new submission process! Your clinic will need to create an account with the Minnesota Urolith Centre (online) and fill out all the information.
• Sandra Forsyth, Clinical Pathologist for SVS Laboratories, offers some recommendations on when you should take samples in relation to medications. (Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand Veterinary Association, Sep. 2020)