Companion collection - How to...

 Anita Patel discusses how to interpret in-house cytology and laboratory culture and sensitivity results, using pictures, examples, and case studies of canine otitis externa to illustrate the theme.

 Maria Chie Niimura del Barrio of Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists discusses how to prevent and manage this anaesthetic complication.

  In human medicine, shared decision making is defined as a collaborative process that encourages patients and their providers to make health care decisions together, taking into account the best clinical evidence available to weigh the risks and benefits, as well as the patient’s values and preferences. Christine Magrath a clinical communication skills expert from In Communication explains what is understood about SDM in veterinary practice.

 Fergus Allerton, of Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, explains the challenges of selecting an appropriate drug for patients with immune-mediated disease.

  Veterinary nurse Zoe Jackson explores those feline conditions where increasing and promoting water intake may be beneficial. She also gives tips on how to encourage cats to drink more and explains how nurse-led hydration clinics could help monitor success.

  Hypercalcaemia is not uncommon in sick dogs and may result in life-threatening complications. Emi Barker, from Langford Vets, Bristol, takes a look at the degree of intervention required depending on the outcome of diagnostic procedures.

  Removing cats from their own environment undoubtably causes some stress. In this article, Laura Jones, from The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre, describes how to make your ward as stress free as possible.

 Anita Patel, from Dermatology Referrals, provides information on the various presentations of hair loss in cats which will provide clues on potential differential diagnoses.

  This is the third article in a three-part histopathology series by Melanie Dobromylskyj, of Finn Pathologists, and covers margin assessment, why it is important, and how the surgeon and pathologist can work together to achieve the most useful information. It looks at different forms of margin assessment for surgical samples, and their pros and cons, as well as some of the issues pathologists face when trying to assess margins from certain tumour types.

  Branching out from last month’s mental health and wellbeing article, which looked at the ways in which we can protect our own mental wellbeing at work, Emma Stansfield, from VDS Training, explores how team health and wellbeing should, and can, be supported in the workplace.