Very few skin disorders have an unequivocally pathognomonic appearance and almost all require some form of laboratory investigation to confirm the diagnosis. Fortunately, the skin is readily accessible. Most tests are straightforward and can be accessed in a practice laboratory. This chapter considers the investigation of skin disease and otoscopes and examination of the ears. Case examples are also considered.

Leukaemia is a malignant transformation of cells of the haemopoietic system and is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of blood cells, usually white blood cells. Leukaemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases that includes acute leukaemia, chronic leukaemia and the leukaemic phase of lymphoma. Although Leukaemia is not a common condition, it is important because of the diagnostic challenges in distinguishing the different types, which have varying treatment outcomes and prognoses. This chapter considers the haemopoietic system – leucocyte lineages; aetiology; acute leukaemia; chronic leukaemia; myelodysplastic syndrome; general approach to the leukaemic patient; management of leukaemia. Case examples: An 11-year-old female Golden Retriever weighing 32.0 kg; A 9.5-year-old neutered Boxer weighing 30.2 kg.

Open wound management in small animals is a common event in veterinary practice. It is economically significant and can cause considerable distress and pain to the animal. The aim of wound management is to provide conditions that allow for optimal wound healing or to prepare the wound for definitive closure by reconstructive techniques. However, every wound is unique and this problem is reflected in the paucity of published studies analysing the effectiveness of wound dressing products in the management of small animal wounds. Wounds must be properly evaluated at the first presentation in order to plan a treatment protocol and to give the owner an indication of the expected duration of treatment and ultimately the prognosis. This chapter considers how to manage open wounds and how to use dressings and bandages to optimize the healing process. The following topics are addressed: Principles of wound management; Wound lavage; Wound debridement; Systemic treatments; Bandages and dressings; Topical medications; Primary (contact) layer wound dressings; Bandaging; and Wound management strategy and planning. This chapter also includes case examples focusing on Open wound management of a chronic shear injury prior to skin grafting; and Management of an acute road traffic shear injury. Case examples: Open wound management of a chronic shear injury; Management of an acute road traffic shear injury

Recognition and effective treatment of ophthalmic pain may present the clinician with a challenge due to difficulties in patient assessment. Treatment relies on the recognition of pain followed by effective analgesia. This chapter discusses analgesia for enucleation, eyelid, corneal and deep ocular pain. Local anaesthetic techniques are described in depth. Case examples: Bilateral lower lid entropion correction; Enucleation.

Alleviating pain in exotic species is often overlooked, or the extent of pain is underestimated. This chapter discusses the complications associated with pain management in exotic species, and provides advice on adapting methods used in dogs and cats. Case examples: Mammary mass removal in rats; Shell trauma in tortoises.

The goals of soft tissue surgery in small animals must ultimately be to improve quality of life or to prolong life. However, surgery itself represents a traumatic insult to the patient and, along with anaesthesia, results in disturbances to normal physiology. This chapter discusses The postoperative plan; Recovery from anaesthesia; Postoperative monitoring; Gastro-oesophageal reflux; and Wound management. Case examples: Bladder rupture repair in a dog; Gastric dilatation-volvulus in a dog; Aspergillosis and laryngeal paralysis in a dog; Pharyngeal stick injury in a dog; Rectal adenocarcinoma in a dog; Bilateral thyroidectomy in a cat; Surgical wound breakdown in a working dog; Splenic rupture in a dog.

The effect of pain or discomfort induced by intractable pruritus on an animal’s quality of life has not traditionally been addressed at length in veterinary dermatology texts, yet chronic skin disease undoubtedly has a significant impact on the health and well being of both the pet and the family. This chapter explains Skin innervation and the perception of pain and pruritus; Pruritus in dogs; and Pruritus in cats. Case examples: Chronic otitis externa in a dog; Non-seasonal pruritus in a dog.

The field of oncology covers myriad presentation with ever increasing numbers of strategies for management. Important distinctions can be made between cancer that is managed by curative surgery and that which is managed by palliative therapy (including non-curative surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of these). . This chapter observes Owner considerations; Intercurrent disease; Risks of systemic chemotherapy to the patient; and Waxing and waning course of disease. Case examples: Osteosarcoma in a dog; Lymphoma in a dog; Oral tumour in a dog; Anal sac gland carcinoma and hypercalcaemia in a dog; Insulinoma in a dog; Leukaemia in a cat; Sarcoma in a cat; Pituitary tumour and acromegaly in a cat.

In any patient with ocular injury or ill health, preserving vision and, perhaps even more importantly, reducing ocular pain must be the prime objectives. The veterinary practice has the opportunity to deal with patients in a holistic manner so that, even if appropriate treatment for the ocular condition is not immediately available, pain relief can be given and an appropriate environment arranged if the animal’s sight is impaired, even as referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist is being arranged. Case examples: Corneal ulceration in a dog; Glaucoma in a dog.

Orthopaedic conditions are common in both dogs and cats, and there are two main scenarios where rehabilitation and palliative care are appropriate: acute cases, including fractures, dislocation and ligament ruptures or sprains; chronic conditions, such as degenerative joint disease. The most important considerations for supportive care are: to alleviate pain; and to maintain function and improve mobility of the patient. Case examples: Leg amputation in a cat; Total hip replacement in a dog; Hip dysplasia in a puppy – conservative management; Cruciate ligament repair in a dog; Tibial fracture repair in a cat; Patellar luxation in a dog; Humeral fracture in a dog; Osteoarthritis in a dog; Elbow arthritis in an elderly cat.