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This Antibiotic Spectrum Chart provides a simplified visual overview of common antimicrobial coverage across Gram-positi...
05/29/2026

This Antibiotic Spectrum Chart provides a simplified visual overview of common antimicrobial coverage across Gram-positive, Gram-negative, aerobic, anaerobic, and atypical bacterial groups.

📄 If you'd like a PDF copy of the chart, comment "spectrum" and we'll send it to you.

Beyond memorizing drug names, learning spectrum coverage helps build clinical reasoning when selecting empiric therapy, interpreting culture results, and recognizing likely pathogens in different infections.

While useful as a quick reference, it is important to remember that this chart does not account for antimicrobial resistance patterns, regional susceptibility trends, patient-specific factors, or all organism-specific exceptions. For example, although amoxicillin–clavulanic acid is shown as having broad-spectrum activity, many Pseudomonas infections remain resistant despite falling within the chart's covered bacterial classifications.

Still, having a strong understanding of standard spectrum coverage remains essential for both students and clinicians.

Visual adapted and modernized from:
Stewart SD, Allen S. Antibiotic use in critical illness. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2019;29:227–238.

05/28/2026

This video demonstrates how simple in-house urine culture plating can help clinics quickly screen for bacteriuria while improving antimicrobial stewardship and making diagnostics more affordable for clients.

Using proper sterile collection, blood agar/MacConkey biplates, and basic incubation techniques, clinics can identify which samples truly need full culture and susceptibility testing. Negative cultures can save owners unnecessary costs, while positive samples can still be submitted for definitive identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing.

A practical reminder that good diagnostics don’t always have to be expensive — and that smarter testing helps protect both patients and antibiotics.

Full video in the comments:

05/23/2026

Despite being recognized for decades, Dancing Doberman Disease remains poorly understood.

In our latest article, we review the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, differential diagnoses, and current understanding of this unusual neuromuscular disorder seen almost exclusively in Doberman Pinschers.

Read the full article linked in the comments.

de Lahunta, A., Glass, E. N., & Kent, M. (2021).
Veterinary Information Network. (2025). Dancing Doberman disease (canine). VINcyclopedia.

05/22/2026

“The Talking Physical Exam” encourages veterinarians to explain findings in real time during the exam — helping clients better understand their pet’s health, stay involved in the consultation, and build trust through clearer communication.

Sometimes, even small comments like:
• “Heart sounds normal.”
• “No dental tartar here.”
• “These lymph nodes feel normal.”

can turn a routine exam into a more interactive experience for clients.

This video highlights the concept discussed in the paper

Watch the full video linked in the comments:

Not all medications should be stopped abruptly in dogs and cats.Certain drug classes may require gradual tapering before...
05/21/2026

Not all medications should be stopped abruptly in dogs and cats.

Certain drug classes may require gradual tapering before discontinuation to help reduce the risk of withdrawal syndromes, rebound physiologic effects, or disease recrudescence.

Additional discussion includes tapering considerations for:
• Furosemide
• Heparin

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

Tapering recommendations vary depending on the underlying disease process, treatment duration, dosage, concurrent therapies, adverse effects, and individual patient response. In many areas of veterinary medicine, evidence-based tapering protocols remain limited, and recommendations may rely largely on expert consensus and clinical experience.

Quick references:
• ACVIM GI Protectants Consensus (Marks et al., 2018)
• ACVIM IMHA Consensus (Swann et al., 2019)
• ACVIM ITP Consensus (LeVine et al., 2024)

This post is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace individualized veterinary guidance.

Adapted from:
• Clinician’s Brief (Mealey, 2024)

-Veterinary Drugs That Should Be Tapered Before Discontinuing-

Efficient ovariohysterectomy relies on more than technique; it depends on thoughtful incision planning.Placement should ...
05/09/2026

Efficient ovariohysterectomy relies on more than technique; it depends on thoughtful incision planning.

Placement should be guided by anatomy and the ease of tissue exteriorization, allowing adequate exposure while minimizing tissue handling and closure time. Shorter, well-positioned incisions can improve efficiency without compromising surgical safety.

In simpler terms:

Right place → better exposure → less struggle → faster, cleaner surgery.

Shivley, J. M., Bushby, P. A., Brookshire, W. C., & Woodruff, K. (2020). Update on ovariohysterectomy. Today’s Veterinary Practice.

A quick reference on how targeted nutrients support disease management in dogs and cats. Because what we feed is part of...
05/03/2026

A quick reference on how targeted nutrients support disease management in dogs and cats. Because what we feed is part of how we treat.

From reducing sodium in heart disease to increasing medium-chain triglycerides in epilepsy, nutrition plays a direct role in clinical outcomes.

Cline, M. G., Burns, K. M., Coe, J. B., Downing, R., Durzi, T., Murphy, M., Parker, V., & 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines Task Force. (2021). 2021 AAHA nutrition and weight management guidelines for dogs and cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 57(4), 153–178.

Nutrition Guide for Disease Management in Dogs and Cats

04/27/2026

I mean... there is still a chance I'm right.

Our evidence for SC fluid therapy is actually quite limited.There are very few robust, peer-reviewed clinical studies ev...
04/24/2026

Our evidence for SC fluid therapy is actually quite limited.

There are very few robust, peer-reviewed clinical studies evaluating subcutaneous (SC) fluid therapy in small animals.

Much of what we follow—including dosing ranges and treatment frequency—is based on clinical experience, extrapolation, and anecdote, even within established guidelines.

From clinical discussions and field experience:

• In a stable patient, SC fluids may take ~4–6 hours to fully absorb
• In states of poor perfusion (e.g., shock), absorption can be markedly delayed (>12 hours) due to peripheral vasoconstriction

This is why SC fluids are not appropriate for:
⚠️ Circulatory shock
⚠️ Moderate to severe heat-related illness
⚠️ Any patient needing rapid intravascular volume expansion

Which brings us back to daily practice:

SC fluids should not be prescribed in euhydrated patients, as there is currently no evidence that this is beneficial.

Use caution in patients with impaired fluid homeostasis, such as:
⚠️ Underlying cardiac disease
⚠️ Hypoproteinemia

SC fluids are sometimes treated as a primary solution—but arguably, they should function more as an adjunct, not the main route of rehydration.

See table below for AAHA-based recommendations.

04/21/2026

POV: they finally ask about your favorite bone 😌

Auto-click. No hesitation.

Radiographs can be deceptive.Some of the most convincing “abnormalities” are actually normal.This is Part 1 of a series ...
04/21/2026

Radiographs can be deceptive.
Some of the most convincing “abnormalities” are actually normal.

This is Part 1 of a series highlighting common radiographic mimics—starting with the abdomen. From gas patterns and mineral opacities to soft tissue changes, many findings that appear pathologic are often normal variants, positioning effects, or artifacts.

Recognizing these is just as important as identifying true disease.
Because in radiology, the real skill isn’t just finding disease;
it is knowing when something isn’t.

Part 1: Abdomen
Part 2: Thorax (coming next)
Part 3: Musculoskeletal

Adapted from Thrall & Robertson (2016) and Mühlbauer & Kneller (2013).

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