Those Blasted Mast Cell Tumors!: Grading, Staging, and Real-World Decisions

Ixodes scapularis (eastern blacklegged tick) and Ixodes pacificus (western blacklegged tick) are the culprits behind transmitting Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent for Lyme disease. Veterinarians have the tools to diagnose and treat Lyme disease in their canine patients, but the serious health issues that Lyme disease can cause in dogs has made early diagnosis and treatment critical for successful outcomes. In this VetFolio Voice podcast episode, you’ll learn about ticks and tick-borne pathogens, specifically B. burgdorferi, and the diagnostic steps to take when a patient tests positive for Lyme antibodies as well as treatment considerations and prognosis. You’ll also hear about the importance of prevention when it comes to Lyme transmission and the tick preventative and vaccination strategies available to protect your patients.

It could be a bug bite. Or a harmless fatty lump. But it might be a mast cell tumor. In this episode of the VetFolio Voice podcast, we delve into mast cell tumors in dogs, including the unpredictable nature of these tumors, nuances around interpretation of cytology and histopathology reports, cytologic grading accuracy, and options for therapy including surgery, chemo, radiation and Stelfonta, an injectable mast cell tumor treatment for dogs. You’ll learn about staging considerations and the role of newer prognostic panels as well as strategies for client communication about mast cell disease.

The tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is normally found in rodents and other wild animals, such as coyotes and foxes, but it can affect dogs and even humans, posing a real threat to both. Despite historically being an endemic country for E. multilocularis, recent data suggests that this disease is emerging in a new way in the U.S. A potentially new strain is spreading into different wildlife reservoirs and new areas of the country. While new diagnostics are helping us identify more cases in dogs, the whole risk picture is still unclear. In this episode of the VetFolio Voice podcast, we talk about how this disease affects dogs, the best current diagnostic techniques, treatment options and how to protect pets and people!

What are the benefits of in-house blood film review? Oh, let us count the ways: less guesswork, faster diagnosis, better patient care, reduced client anxiety and more. In this episode of the VetFolio Voice podcast, we dive into the essentials of blood film review in the veterinary clinic, highlighting best practices and quality assurance strategies. We explore common challenges and share tips to improve your technique and boost your diagnostic confidence in daily practice.

Assistive device is a broad term that encompasses a wide array of tools and equipment designed to improve the health, comfort and mobility of animals. In this episode of the VetFolio Voice podcast, we explore assistive devices for stifle disease. We examine the types of stifle injuries that can be helped by an assistive device, as well as the intended purpose of different assistive devices and why they can be beneficial for managing certain conditions and be inappropriate in others. You’ll also learn about the pitfalls when it comes to choosing an assistive device and the pros and cons of this type of management compared to surgical intervention.

It’s a common occurrence (and mistake): A veterinarian decides to open their own practice, thinking it will lead to success. The issues related to this E-Myth in VetMed (the “e” stands for entrepreneurship) can be avoided when you focus on planning and developing processes and systems that allow entrepreneurial veterinary professionals to provide reliable, predictable outcomes for the patients that come through their doors. Having systems in place can help optimize the client experience, elevate the level of medicine practiced, and increase staff retention and job satisfaction. Tune into this episode of the VetFolio Voice podcast to learn about implementing a problem-solving approach to systems and ideas in your practice and discover where this way of thinking might take us in the future.

Talking about treatment costs with pet owners can be uncomfortable. For many clients, there is a growing gap in the ability to afford veterinary care, which threatens the sustainability of veterinary practices and exacerbates moral distress for veterinary care teams that are unable to provide pets with needed care. This can result in pets going without care, being surrendered or being euthanized. In this episode of the VetFolio Voice podcast, learn how Open Door Veterinary Collective developed and tested a financial triage process that veterinary teams can use to identify clients’ financial needs so they can be matched with a pay-over-time option that helps them afford and accept recommended diagnostic and treatment plans.

In this episode of the VetFolio Voice podcast, we sit down with Ron Sosa, Executive Director of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference and founder of Syn-APT Neuroinclusive Leadership, to explore what it means to lead with inclusion in mind, especially when supporting neurodivergent professionals in veterinary medicine. Ron shares personal insights and practical strategies for recognizing traits, such as justice sensitivity, executive dysfunction and rejection sensitive dysphoria, not just as shortcomings but also as signals that call for empathy and adaptation. We dive deep into the concept of masking, how neurodivergence is often misunderstood or mislabeled as "toxic," and why embracing difference isn’t just kind but it’s also essential to the future of veterinary leadership. Whether you’re neurodivergent, managing someone who is or simply curious about creating more psychologically safe workplaces, this conversation offers tools, frameworks and a refreshing new lens on what it means to lead well in VetMed.

Phosphorus control is crucial in managing canine and feline chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in cats. Because the disease is progressive and incurable, monitoring a cat with CKD is vitally important. With early detection and management, you can significantly extend your patient's lifespan and maintain a good quality of life. In this VetFolio Voice podcast episode, we delve into the monitoring of CKD in cats—including assessing Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, Symmetric Dimethylarginine (SDMA), proteinuria and blood pressure—and how phosphorus can get lost in the shuffle, especially if it is within the normal reference range. Learn why it is important to continue to actively monitor and manage phosphorus since it is a disease accelerant even before the concentration leaves the normal reference range. We discuss the pathophysiology behind hyperphosphatemia, how to effectively monitor phosphorous levels in order to be able to intervene early, options for managing hyperphosphatemia and updates to the IRIS guidelines.

Cats are notorious for hiding discomfort and pain. In this episode of the VetFolio Voice podcast, we explore the behavioral and physical cues that a feline patient in chronic pain will exhibit and the importance of the owner's recognition of subtle changes and signs that may be noticeable only to them. You'll also learn about pain-management options and alternatives for treating a cat who is a master at disguising its pain.