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That’s just nuts!

AMY WEEDEN Clinical history A 9-year-old male Kelpie presented with a urinary tract infection, generalised alopecia, and pendulous nipples (Figure 1). A cystic prostate and an intra-abdominal mass (possibly consistent with a testicle) were identified on ultrasound. The dog had been adopted as adult with no surgical history and had a small scrotum with no […]

Export testing

– submission requirements All export testing requests (whether for pre-entry export or for sending an animal overseas) must have the sample date clearly written on the submission form. This date is a MPI / AsureQuality requirement for all export reports. Not all labels printed in-clinic have the sample collection date in the details, so please […]

Eosinophilic surprises

KATHRYN JENKINS On blood smear evaluation and in cytology, eosinophils have distinctive morphological features that make them easy to identify. However, this is not always the case. Here are some surprising tips about the humble eosinophil, and a case report when all was not as it seemed on the haematology analyser results. Typical eosinophils Eosinophil […]

Salmonellosis in indoor cats

CATHY HARVEY & LISA HULME-MOIR Clinical history After a short period of illness (quiet and hunched, with pale mucous membranes) an approximately 6 week-old female, intact pedigree kitten died despite supportive treatment.  At autopsy the liver was enlarged with rounded margins and light brown with a prominent reticular pattern. The spleen was enlarged (90×10 to […]

Bad blood

AREFEH RAVANBAKHSH Clinical history A 12-year-old female spayed German Shepherd presented to their veterinarian for examination of a mammary mass. Approximately 11-months earlier, the patient had multiple mammary masses removed. Histological examination of the previous mammary masses had revealed mixture of benign and malignant mammary tumours. Approximately 10-months following surgery to remove the initial mammary […]

Anthelminthic resistance update

SARAH RIDDY This report details the analysis of data submitted to Gribbles Veterinary laboratories for the season November 2022 to May 2023 for fully differentiated faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) from sheep. Data was obtained from cases that clearly identified the test anthelmintic and sample groups contained 10+ animals per treatment group. Data at […]

Free testing available!

We are updating the feline and canine reference intervals for our new state-of-the-art haematology analysers. In addition, we are working on reference intervals for new assays in development and new methods for existing assays. In order to achieve these goals, we need your help. Thank you to everyone who has already submitted samples for this […]

Roll with the punches

GEOFF ORBELL When taking skin biopsies for alopecic conditions in animals, there are a few key points that can improve your chances of a diagnostic biopsy. The most important factor for alopecic skin biopsies is being able to determine the orientation of the hair follicles as we need to assess the entire length of the […]

Bonfires and calves

MICHAEL HARDCASTLE Clinical history Three Hereford weaners showed signs of staggering, hypermetria or recumbency and two died; one recovered with supportive care. There was possible access to cholecalciferol or cyanide, but the clinical signs were not considered consistent with those intoxications. The weaner mob had been kept in a paddock where rubbish had recently been […]

Mastitis toolbox

Mastitis is estimated to cost the New Zealand dairy industry approximately $180 million a year (1).Our new mastitis toolbox will enable you to reduce the cost of mastitis, by detecting cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis early allowing you to make informed treatment decisions. It provides you with the right tools to use in any […]