Our news

Toxic myth

ROB FAIRLEYWe often get requests to do histology of the liver to check for signs of toxicity. The belief that histology of the liver can be used as a gauge of intoxication is widespread and presumably results from thinking that because the liver is the common site of chemical detoxification it is always injured in […]

TSE surveillance – help protect New Zealand!

Biosecurity New Zealand conducts surveillance for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). This programme is vital to our animal products exports. If you see an animal with clinical signs compatible with TSE, please collect and submit samples to the programme.Important update for 2023Carcasses of animals entering the TSE Programme must be appropriately buried on-farm. Please advise your […]

Very ballsy

HANIA KLOBUKOWSKATesticular tumours are common in older entire male dogs, and a frequent cause for presentation at the local veterinary clinic. They can affect one or both testes, and it is not unusual to find more than one tumour in a testis. Testicular tumours are more frequently found in the right testis compared to the […]

That’s just nuts!

AMY WEEDENClinical historyA 9-year-old male Kelpie presented with a urinary tract infection, generalised alopecia, and pendulous nipples (Figure 1). A cystic prostate and an intra-abdominal mass (possibly consistent with a testicle) were identified on ultrasound. The dog had been adopted as adult with no surgical history and had a small scrotum with no descended testicles […]

Export testing

– submission requirementsAll export testing requests (whether for pre-entry export or for sending an animal overseas) must have the sample date clearly written on the submission form. This date is a MPI / AsureQuality requirement for all export reports.Not all labels printed in-clinic have the sample collection date in the details, so please ensure it […]

Eosinophilic surprises

KATHRYN JENKINSOn blood smear evaluation and in cytology, eosinophils have distinctive morphological features that make them easy to identify. However, this is not always the case. Here are some surprising tips about the humble eosinophil, and a case report when all was not as it seemed on the haematology analyser results.Typical eosinophilsEosinophil granules have an […]

Salmonellosis in indoor cats

CATHY HARVEY & LISA HULME-MOIRClinical historyAfter a short period of illness (quiet and hunched, with pale mucous membranes) an approximately 6 week-old female, intact pedigree kitten died despite supportive treatment.  At autopsy the liver was enlarged with rounded margins and light brown with a prominent reticular pattern. The spleen was enlarged (90×10 to 30×5 mm) […]

Bad blood

AREFEH RAVANBAKHSHClinical historyA 12-year-old female spayed German Shepherd presented to their veterinarian for examination of a mammary mass. Approximately 11-months earlier, the patient had multiple mammary masses removed. Histological examination of the previous mammary masses had revealed mixture of benign and malignant mammary tumours.Approximately 10-months following surgery to remove the initial mammary masses, the patient […]

Anthelminthic resistance update

SARAH RIDDYThis report details the analysis of data submitted to Gribbles Veterinary laboratories for the season November 2022 to May 2023 for fully differentiated faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) from sheep.Data was obtained from cases that clearly identified the test anthelmintic and sample groups contained 10+ animals per treatment group. Data at genus level […]

Free testing available!

We are updating the feline and canine reference intervals for our new state-of-the-art haematology analysers. In addition, we are working on reference intervals for new assays in development and new methods for existing assays. In order to achieve these goals, we need your help.Thank you to everyone who has already submitted samples for this study!  […]