Vtx_cpd, Glasgow (2026)

14/10/2026

Canine chronic idiopathic rhinitis… one of those conditions that can make even experienced clinicians sigh a little.

Chronic sneezing. Mucopurulent discharge. Multiple treatments. Owners understandably frustrated.

A new open access JSAP paper (75 dogs) looked at how these cases were managed and what actually seemed to help.

A few things that stood out to me:
👉️NSAIDs as first line therapy were associated with improved outcomes
👉️Antibiotics were used in the majority of dogs… but weren’t associated with better outcomes
👉️Steroids helped some dogs, but responses were variable
👉️60% of dogs were coughing
👉️~20% had CT changes consistent with pneumonia
👉️Dental disease was present in over 90% on CT

So, a couple of practical reminders for cases like this:
❓️Think inflammation first,
❓️ Be cautious with repeated empirical antibiotics,
❓️ And don’t forget to check the chest and the teeth.

The good news? Most dogs did improve with management, even if complete remission was less common. Still a frustrating disease… but this paper gives us a bit more evidence to guide how we approach it.

If you’d like to dive deeper into respiratory disease in small animals, you can also check out our course here: https://vtx-cpd.com/courses/breathe-easy-understanding-respiratory-disease-in-small-animals-2/

📖 Paper (open access):
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.70086

12/10/2026

📢 Propofol or alfaxalone for canine C-sections, does your choice really matter?

🔍️ A new Veterinary Journal paper adds some useful clinical clarity. Both protocols performed well with stable anaesthesia and 100% short-term puppy survival, but the differences are in the details.

Propofol was associated with fewer hypotensive events and lower isoflurane requirements, giving a more predictable anaesthetic course. Alfaxalone, in contrast, was linked to improved neonatal physiology, with better cord blood values and higher Apgar scores at 20 minutes, but at the cost of more maternal hypotension, particularly after delivery.

✔️ The key takeaway is not that one drug is better, but that each has predictable physiological effects that need to be anticipated and managed.

👩‍🎓 If you want to go deeper into making these decisions confidently in practice, check out our anaesthesia course: https://vtx-cpd.com/courses/mastering-small-animal-anaesthesia-2/

07/10/2026

How much is SDMA really changing what we do in practice?

One of our members, Raquel, highlighted this really interesting systematic review looking at the diagnostic accuracy of SDMA for CKD in dogs and cats.

It is a really useful paper because, although SDMA is now widely used and included in IRIS guidance, the review suggests the evidence base is still far less certain than many of us might assume.

The authors identified 11 studies (5 feline, 6 canine) including just under 1000 animals, but found:
• major heterogeneity in study design and populations
• high risk of bias in most studies
• wide variation in sensitivity and specificity
• concern that SDMA may increase the risk of misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis

One particularly interesting point was the concern around specificity, especially in dogs. In one study, 54% of dogs with an elevated SDMA had a GFR that was not consistent with renal disease, suggesting a real risk of false positives if SDMA is overinterpreted, particularly in screening situations.

From my own perspective, I have to admit that SDMA has not dramatically changed my day-to-day clinical practice as much as I might have expected. I still find that creatinine, urine specific gravity, clinical context and trends over time tend to drive decision-making more than a single SDMA result.
Really interesting paper, and I would love to hear how others are using SDMA in practice.

If you enjoy discussions like this, we go into these kinds of diagnostic challenges in much more detail in our urinary CPD course:
🔗 https://vtx-cpd.com/courses/urinary-tract-disease-in-dogs-and-cats-from-a-to-pee-2/

The course explores the investigation and management of urinary tract disease in dogs and cats, including how to approach common presentations such as PUPD, urinalysis interpretation, UTIs, urolithiasis, and CKD staging and diagnosis.

📄 Scobie C, Dean R, Stavisky J, Pl?ddemann A.
Diagnostic accuracy of symmetric dimethylarginine for chronic kidney disease in cats and dogs: A systematic review.
Veterinary Record, 2026.

21/09/2026

🚨 4 DAYS TO GO – HAVE YOU BOOKED YOUR PLACE?⁠
⁠
The Veterinary Eras: Clinical Decision-Making That Shapes Outcomes⁠
📅 24th September 2026 | Live Online⁠
⁠
Clinical practice isn’t just about knowing the answer — it’s about knowing what to do next.⁠
⁠
Join us for 8.5 hours of practical, case-based CPD designed specifically for veterinary surgeons, exploring the clinical decisions that can make a real difference to patient outcomes.⁠
⁠
Across the day, our expert speakers will work through real-world clinical scenarios spanning diagnostic imaging, dermatology, cardiology, feline medicine, internal medicine, clinical pathology and more — with the emphasis firmly on translating knowledge into everyday practice.⁠
⁠
🧠 Why join us?⁠
✔ Real cases and practical clinical scenarios⁠
✔ Expert-led sessions across multiple disciplines⁠
✔ Clinical reasoning you can apply back in practice⁠
✔ Interactive Q&A — ask the questions that matter to you⁠
✔ 8.5 hours of CPD⁠
✔ 12 months' access to every session recording⁠
⁠
Whether it’s an everyday case or one of those patients that makes you stop and rethink your approach, this day is about helping you make clearer, more confident clinical decisions.⁠
⁠
📅 Thursday 24th September 2026⁠
⏰ 08:30–18:00⁠
💻 Live Online⁠
🎟 £199 + VAT⁠
⁠
Real cases. Practical insights. Lasting impact.⁠
⁠
👉 Secure your place:⁠
https://vtx-cpd.com/events/the-veterinary-eras-clinical-decision-making-that-shapes-outcomes/ ⁠
⁠

14/09/2026

🚨 10 DAYS TO GO – HAVE YOU BOOKED YOUR PLACE?

The Veterinary Eras: Clinical Decision-Making That Shapes Outcomes
📅 24th September 2026 | Live Online

Clinical practice isn’t just about knowing the answer — it’s about knowing what to do next.

Join us for 8.5 hours of practical, case-based CPD designed specifically for veterinary surgeons, exploring the clinical decisions that can make a real difference to patient outcomes.

Across the day, our expert speakers will work through real-world clinical scenarios spanning diagnostic imaging, dermatology, cardiology, feline medicine, internal medicine, clinical pathology and more — with the emphasis firmly on translating knowledge into everyday practice.

🧠 Why join us?
✔ Real cases and practical clinical scenarios
✔ Expert-led sessions across multiple disciplines
✔ Clinical reasoning you can apply back in practice
✔ Interactive Q&A — ask the questions that matter to you
✔ 8.5 hours of CPD
✔ 12 months' access to every session recording

Whether it’s an everyday case or one of those patients that makes you stop and rethink your approach, this day is about helping you make clearer, more confident clinical decisions.

📅 Thursday 24th September 2026
⏰ 08:30–18:00
💻 Live Online
🎟 £199 + VAT

Real cases. Practical insights. Lasting impact.

👉 Secure your place:
https://vtx-cpd.com/events/the-veterinary-eras-clinical-decision-making-that-shapes-outcomes/

25/08/2026

🚨 NEW CPD EVENT FOR VETS 🚨

Date: 24th September 2026
Time: 08:30-18:00
CPD hours: 8.5 hours
Cost £199+VAT

The Veterinary Eras: Clinical Decision-Making That Shapes Outcomes
Every case you see is a series of decisions. Some routine. Some critical. All impactful.

This live online CPD event is designed to sharpen the decisions that matter most, helping you move from knowing to confidently acting in practice.

🧠 What to expect:
✔ Real-world clinical scenarios
✔ Practical, decision-focused learning
✔ Expert-led sessions across key “eras” of patient care
✔ Interactive Q&A to challenge and refine your thinking

Whether you're managing complex cases or everyday consults, this event will help you:
✨ Make clearer clinical decisions
✨ Improve patient outcomes
✨ Build confidence in high-pressure moments
🎓 Earn valuable CPD
🎥 Plus get 12 months access to all recordings

💬 Got tricky cases? Bring them along, our expert panel discussion is your chance to get real guidance.

👉 Secure your place now: https://vtx-cpd.com/events/the-veterinary-eras-clinical-decision-making-that-shapes-outcomes/

18/08/2026

🚨 NEW CPD EVENT FOR VETS 🚨

The Veterinary Eras: Clinical Decision-Making That Shapes Outcomes
Every case you see is a series of decisions. Some routine. Some critical. All impactful.

This live online CPD event is designed to sharpen the decisions that matter most, helping you move from knowing to confidently acting in practice.

🧠 What to expect:
✔ Real-world clinical scenarios
✔ Practical, decision-focused learning
✔ Expert-led sessions across key “eras” of patient care
✔ Interactive Q&A to challenge and refine your thinking

Whether you're managing complex cases or everyday consults, this event will help you:
✨ Make clearer clinical decisions
✨ Improve patient outcomes
✨ Build confidence in high-pressure moments
🎓 Earn valuable CPD
🎥 Plus get 12 months access to all recordings

💬 Got tricky cases? Bring them along, our expert panel discussion is your chance to get real guidance.

👉 Secure your place now: https://vtx-cpd.com/.../the-veterinary-eras-clinical.../

17/08/2026

🐍 Scales Under Sedation: A Practical Guide to Reptile Anaesthesia
with Tawny Kershaw RVN

Reptiles aren't just small dogs with scales. Their unique anatomy and physiology mean anaesthesia requires a completely different approach—and understanding those differences is key to improving patient safety.

Join Tawny Kershaw RVN for a practical webinar exploring the essentials of reptile anaesthesia, from species-specific anatomical considerations and peri-anaesthetic risk management to patient monitoring, equipment, and recovery. Whether you see reptiles regularly or only occasionally, this session will give you the confidence and practical knowledge to manage these fascinating patients safely.

🦎 Watch now: https://vtx-cpd.com/webinars/beyond-the-scales-practical-reptile-anaesthesia/

(*VTX members can watch this webinar for free as part of their membership access). Interested in membership? Membership starts for as little as £25/month for RVNs and £55/month VS. START your free trial today...

30/07/2026

🦠 How are you using the Canine Dysbiosis Index in practice?

The Canine Dysbiosis Index (DI) is becoming an increasingly valuable tool when investigating dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease—but how much weight should we actually place on the result?

The key thing to remember is this...

Dysbiosis isn't usually the diagnosis.

More often, it's a sign that something else is disrupting the intestinal environment, such as:

🔹 Chronic enteropathy
🔹 Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)
🔹 Previous antibiotic use
🔹 Altered bile acid metabolism

One of the most interesting bacteria included in the DI is Clostridium hiranonis.

This important bile acid–converting bacterium plays a key role in maintaining intestinal health. Reduced levels may impair bile acid regulation and the suppression of enteropathogens, potentially contributing to microbial instability and bile acid–associated diarrhoea.

Ultimately, the goal isn't simply to "normalise" the Dysbiosis Index...

It's to identify and treat the underlying disease process that's driving the dysbiosis in the first place.

🩺 If you'd like to build a more confident, evidence-based approach to gastrointestinal disease, chronic enteropathies and the canine microbiome, we explore these topics in depth in our Gut Matters: Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Disease in Dogs & Cats CPD course.

👉 Learn more:
https://vtx-cpd.com/courses/gut-matters-gastrointestinal-and-pancreatic-disease-in-dogs-cats-2/

💬 We'd love to hear from you... Are you routinely using the Canine Dysbiosis Index? Has it changed your diagnostic or treatment approach in practice?

28/07/2026

🧪 Bacteria on urinalysis… but no urinary signs. What would you do?

We've all been there.

A urine sediment comes back showing bacteria... but the patient has no lower urinary tract signs.

Do you treat? Culture? Monitor? Or leave it alone?

A recent JVIM (2026) study found that subclinical bacteriuria is actually quite common:

🐶 Nearly 10% of dogs
🐱 Around 7% of cats
..had bacteria present in their urine despite showing no clinical signs of urinary tract disease.

By comparison, subclinical pyuria was much less common.

These are exactly the sorts of findings we encounter during work-ups for:

🔹 PU/PD
🔹 Endocrine disease
🔹 Kidney disease
🔹 General health investigations

The study reinforces an important clinical message:

✅ Not every abnormal urinalysis represents a urinary tract infection.
✅ Bacteriuria without clinical signs is often an incidental finding.
✅ Antibiotics shouldn't automatically follow a sediment result.
✅ Urinalysis should always be interpreted alongside the patient, their history and their clinical signs.

Interestingly, subclinical bacteriuria was also associated with conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism and kidney injury, reminding us that systemic disease can influence what we see on urinalysis.

For me, the biggest takeaway is this:

Treat the patient—not the urine sample.

🩺 If you'd like to build more confidence in interpreting urinalysis, diagnosing urinary disease and making evidence-based treatment decisions, we explore these topics in our Urinary Tract Disease in Dogs and Cats: From A to P*e CPD course.

👉 Learn more: https://vtx-cpd.com/forums/urinary-tract-disease-in-dogs-and-cats-from-a-to-pee-2025/

💬 We'd love to hear your thoughts... If you identify bacteriuria in a dog or cat with no lower urinary tract signs, what's your next step? Would you culture, monitor, investigate further—or treat?

Vtx_cpd

14/10/2026

12/10/2026

07/10/2026

21/09/2026

14/09/2026

25/08/2026

18/08/2026

17/08/2026

30/07/2026

28/07/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request