Articles

Histopathology: Sampling and shipment tips and tricks

Corresponding to other laboratory tests, the quality of histopathology reporting is directly related to the quality of the sample received. This document will explain common pitfalls in sampling and shipment of histopathology samples to help you avoid introducing pre-analytical artefacts. Sampling In particular when taking small biopsies, even with careful sampling, crush artefact cannot always…

Elizabeth Alloway

Board Certified Anatomic Pathologist

Articles Case Studies

Cutaneous Sarcomas In Pet Degus

Introduction Neoplasia is considered uncommon in degus, with previous research indicating a low incidence in this species. A study by Jekl et al. (2011) found that only six out of 300 pet degus examined showed evidence of neoplastic disease. Among the reported cases, fibrosarcomas have been identified as the most prevalent cutaneous neoplasm, as highlighted…

Kerstin Erles

Board Certified Anatomic Pathologist

Articles

Understanding Blood Smears

The Power of the Blood Smear: A Simple Tool That Tells Big Stories If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my residency in Veterinary Clinical Pathology, it’s this: never underestimate the humble blood smear. While automated analysers can crunch numbers and spit out results quickly, they can’t capture the whole story. That’s where a smear…

Annabel Travers

Resident in Clinical Pathology

Articles Insights

Revolutionising Dog Gut Health: BIOME9 Microbiome Testing with VPG

Introduction Imagine walking your dog through a forest. The soil nourishes the trees, and the diversity of species creates a rich and balanced ecosystem. This harmony mirrors the gut microbiome of a dog, where each tree represents a bacterial species. A diverse and balanced microbiome ensures resilience, allowing the system to recover from disruptions. However,…

Fiona Gosling

CEO Boarded Clinical Pathologist

Articles General

Complete Blood Count (CBC): Decoding the Numbers and What They Mean for Your Patients

The CBC is more than just numbers on a report — it’s a snapshot of your patient’s cellular health. It represents the dynamic interplay between peripheral cellular demand and the bone marrow response, mediated by various hormonal, neural and cytokine stimuli. And as a veterinary clinical pathology resident, I’ve come to appreciate the depth of…

Annabel Travers

Resident in Clinical Pathology

Articles Case Studies

Case Study: 15-Year-Old Domestic Shorthair Cat with Multiple Myeloma

Signalment A 15-year-old domestic shorthair cat, neutered male, presented to the clinic for evaluation of lethargy, weight loss, and reduced appetite. The cat had a known history of heart failure, which was managed with medication. During physical examination, mild dehydration was noted along with pallor of the mucous membranes. There was no evidence of lymphadenopathy,…

Annabel Travers

Resident in Clinical Pathology

Articles Case Studies

Case of the Month: Hepatocutaneous Syndrome in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Clinical history Chucky was presented to the primary veterinary care practice with a 1 month history of hyperkeratosis, crusting and erythema of the skin of all four paws. A previous canine biochemical profile conducted at VPG revealed significantly elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and bile acids. A small liver was…

David Walker

Board Certified Anatomic Pathologist

Articles News

Histopathology: Sampling and shipment guidelines

Corresponding to other laboratory tests, the quality and accuracy of histopathology reporting is directly related to the quality of the sample received. This document will explain common pitfalls in sampling and shipment of histopathology samples to help you avoid introducing pre-analytical artefacts such as crush artefact pictured below. Fixation Always use 10% neutral-buffered formalin (NBF)…

Annika Herrmann

Board Certified Anatomic Pathologist

Articles

Case of the Month: “Yellow fungus disease” in a bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

A 1 year old bearded dragon developed chronic crusty lesions over the body, face and tail. Skin biopsies were taken and submitted to VPG Histology for examination. This revealed epidermal hyperplasia and prominent hyperkeratosis, areas of superficial epidermal necrosis and a mild inflammatory infiltrate within the epidermis and dermis. Faint outlines of structures suspected to…

Kerstin Erles

Board Certified Anatomic Pathologist

Articles

Case of the Month: Feline Cowpox

Leo, 1 year old male Domestic Shorthair cat Clinical history Leo presented with swelling of the left forepaw characterised by the presence of multiple cutaneous lesions with scabs and poor skin integrity. Histology Three punch biopsies of haired skin were submitted for histopathological examination. These samples showed extensive epidermal ulceration, and severe epidermal and…

Taiana Costa Kirkham

Board-certified Anatomic Pathologist