VetBoards

Directions Website Contact the business

VetBoards Focused - simple - intentional learning (and maybe a few memes)

Choosing the right disinfectant is essential for maintaining a clean and safe environment in veterinary clinics, shelter...
10/14/2026

Choosing the right disinfectant is essential for maintaining a clean and safe environment in veterinary clinics, shelters, and cat households. But with so many products available, knowing which ones are effective—and which ones may pose risks to cats—is crucial.

This guide covers several chemical disinfectants, including sodium hypochlorite, alcohol, chlorhexidine, iodine-based products, and potassium peroxymonosulfate, along with their uses, recommended concentrations, and important limitations.

Remember: the right disinfectant depends on the intended application and the pathogen you need to control. Always follow product-label instructions and ensure appropriate use around cats.

⚠️ Which disinfectants should you avoid in feline environments? Check out our companion post on Instagram at for more information.

Source: European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD). Guideline for Disinfectant Choice in Feline Veterinary Hospitals, Shelters and Cat Households.

Toxic neutrophils: what should you look for on a blood smear? Toxic changes in neutrophils are microscopic abnormalities...
10/10/2026

Toxic neutrophils: what should you look for on a blood smear?

Toxic changes in neutrophils are microscopic abnormalities that can develop during rapid neutrophil production in response to systemic inflammation, particularly with bacterial infections.

The most common toxic changes in neutrophils include:

* Döhle bodies — light blue to slate-gray cytoplasmic inclusions
* Toxic granulation — increased cytoplasmic granularity
* Diffuse cytoplasmic basophilia — increased blue staining of the cytoplasm
* Cytoplasmic vacuolation — prominent cytoplasmic vacuoles

Less common changes include:

* Doughnut-shaped (ring-form) nuclei
* Giant neutrophils

A neutrophil may show only one or two changes, while severely toxic cells may exhibit multiple changes simultaneously.

Toxic neutrophils are an important blood smear clue for systemic inflammation and, like a left shift, reflect increased demand for neutrophil production.

These changes must be assessed on blood film review, as automated hematology analyzers do not recognize toxic neutrophil morphology.

Save this post as a quick reference for toxic changes in neutrophils.

10/05/2026

Chill Protocol for Dogs

The Chill Protocol is a pre-visit medication protocol designed to help reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in dogs during veterinary visits.

It combines gabapentin, melatonin, and acepromazine to help make veterinary handling calmer and safer for fearful or aggressive dogs.

Check out our Instagram post for the full guide and protocol details.

09/30/2026

Not every radiolucent line is a fracture!

A nutrient foramen / nutrient canal, is a normal anatomical structure that allows nutrient vessels to enter the bone. On radiographs, it can appear as a linear radiolucency and may mimic a fracture.

Knowing normal radiographic anatomy can help you avoid mistaking a nutrient canal for a fracture.

Any lump at the site of injection that is still present three months after vaccination, is larger than 2 cm in diameter,...
09/25/2026

Any lump at the site of injection that is still present three months after vaccination, is larger than 2 cm in diameter, or is increasing in size one month after vaccination should be surgically removed and investigated through histopathology.

This is the 3–2–1 rule for monitoring potential feline injection-site sarcomas (FISS).

FISS are uncommon but serious tumours that can develop at sites of vaccination or other injections. Because these tumours can be locally invasive, early recognition and appropriate diagnostic investigation are important.

The ABCD also emphasizes that any cutaneous or subcutaneous mass in a cat warrants further diagnostic consideration, not only those that meet the 3–2–1 criteria.

For prevention, the guideline recommends selecting injection sites where a potential mass would be easier to surgically remove, with the interscapular region and lateral thoracic wall generally avoided and injections preferably administered distally on a limb.

Importantly, the risk of FISS does not mean vaccination should be stopped. Vaccination remains important, but schedules should be individualized according to the cat’s risk and current vaccination guidelines.

Want the full clinical guidance? Check the comments for the complete ABCD guideline on feline injection-site sarcoma, including recommendations for monitoring and injection-site selection.

A 12-hour fast may be longer than necessary for many of our patients. Let’s go back to AAHA’s fasting guidelines.The 202...
09/17/2026

A 12-hour fast may be longer than necessary for many of our patients. Let’s go back to AAHA’s fasting guidelines.

The 2020 AAHA Anesthesia and Monitoring Guidelines for Dogs and Cats state that, although the evidence is not uniform, recommended fasting times for healthy adult patients have decreased.

This change is based on clinical experience and experimental evidence suggesting potential benefits of shorter fasting periods, including a lower incidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

AAHA also emphasizes that shorter fasting is particularly important for diabetic and neonatal patients, who should not undergo prolonged food withholding.

We posted a PDF version in our subscriber group.

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). 2020 AAHA Anesthesia and Monitoring Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2020;56(2):59–82.

The goal is to stop the heat exposure, begin active cooling, and get the animal to veterinary care.𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗘Watch for:• ...
08/28/2026

The goal is to stop the heat exposure, begin active cooling, and get the animal to veterinary care.

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗘

Watch for:

• Panting
• Stopping activity, playing, or lying down
• Stumbling or disorientation
• A warm ambient environment
• Take a temperature if possible

𝗔𝗖𝗧

• Stop activity
• Move the animal to a cool location
• Call for help — including a nearby veterinary facility and assistance with transportation

𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗟

• Apply cool running water over the body, emphasizing areas with less fur and soaking through to the skin.
• Avoid applying water directly to the head and neck because of drowning risk.
• Continue cooling for at least 15 minutes, or until the re**al temperature reaches approximately 40°C (104°F).*
• The animal should become calmer and panting should improve.
• Pat the animal dry with a towel afterward.

𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧

After initial cooling:

• Transport safely to the nearest open veterinary hospital.
• Keep the animal in a cool environment during transport, using air conditioning or a fan when available.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲:

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴.

For a dog or cat with suspected heat stroke, stop the activity, move them somewhere cool, begin active cooling, and arrange immediate veterinary care.

* If the animal has stertor or stridor, you can continue cooling until panting clearly improves or the temperature reaches 38.6°C (101.5°F), whichever comes first. In all cases, stop active cooling once 38.6°C is reached.

These recommendations are from the 2026 RECOVER First Aid Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.

Does it matter whether the eyelids are open or closed during a Schirmer tear test (STT-1)? A recent study evaluated STT-...
08/10/2026

Does it matter whether the eyelids are open or closed during a Schirmer tear test (STT-1)?

A recent study evaluated STT-1 measurements in 30 healthy dogs—15 Shih Tzus and 15 Labrador Retrievers—and found that eyelid position significantly affected tear production measurements.

𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗧𝗧-𝟭 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀:

Labrador Retrievers: 21.6 ± 2.9 vs. 17.8 ± 3.2 mm/min
Shih Tzus: 18.6 ± 2.7 vs. 16.3 ± 2.5 mm/min

The difference was significant throughout the 60-second test and was detectable as early as 10 seconds.

Interestingly, Schirmer strips also dislodged more frequently when the eyes were open, occurring in 6 of the 30 dogs, compared with none when the eyelids were closed.

So, should we always perform STT-1 with the eyelids closed? Not necessarily. The authors consider either technique appropriate—the important point is consistency. Using different eyelid positions between visits could introduce a difference in STT-1 readings that may be mistaken for a change in tear production.

The study also highlights an important practical point: over one-third of surveyed veterinary ophthalmology professionals reported that they sometimes performed STT-1 with the eyelids open and sometimes closed.

Study cited in the comments:

Muscle condition in dogs score is assessed by visualization and palpation of the spine, scapulae, skull, and wings of th...
08/07/2026

Muscle condition in dogs score is assessed by visualization and palpation of the spine, scapulae, skull, and wings of the ilia.

Muscle loss is typically first noted in the epaxial muscles on each side of the spine; muscle loss at other sites can be more variable.

Muscle condition score is graded as normal, mild loss, moderate loss, or severe loss.

Note that animals can have significant muscle loss even if they are overweight (body condition score > 5/9). Conversely, animals can have a low body condition score (< 4/9) but have minimal muscle loss. Therefore, assessing both body condition score and muscle condition score on every animal at every visit is important.

Palpation is especially important with mild muscle loss and in animals that are overweight.

PDF version is linked in the comments

Address

One Shields
Davis, CA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when VetBoards posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to VetBoards:

Shortcuts

Share

Category