The correct use of the microscope is important to optimize microscopic visualisation of cytology specimens. Cell identification is useful in diagnosing and ruling out certain conditions, narrowing the list of differential diagnoses.

This webinar will provide a refresher on respiratory physiology and pathophysiology for busy veterinary emergency clinicians. A sound understanding of respiratory physiology underlies and facilitates correct diagnosis and management of patients that present in respiratory distress. For example, such understanding enables the clinician to correctly identify and interpret important clues in the physical examination findings of dyspnoeic patients. This often enables localisation of the underlying disease to the pulmonary parenchyma, vasculature, pleural cavity, mediastinum, lower airways or upper airways and helps to guide therapy. Correct interpretation of blood gas parameters and other basic respiratory function test results also clearly hinges upon a sound understanding of respiratory physiology and pathophysiology. Blood gas and clinical responses (or lack thereof) to therapeutic interventions can also be highly informative when interpreted in light of an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Managing emergency patients in respiratory distress can be challenging. Having a sound, systematic approach based on a good understanding of physiological and pathophysiological principles helps to increase confidence when managing these cases.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common and can be caused by a number of insults including toxins, infections and ischaemia that cause damage over hours to days. The degree of damage inflicted can range from severe loss of renal function (some may no longer be able to produce urine) to mild impairment. In any patient that is detected with azotaemia the first question the clinician should consider is if the injury is acute or chronic – the differentiation is vital to the management and prognosis since AKI is potentially reversible. We will specifically address the differentiation of acute and chronic renal failure, the causes of acute kidney injury, its diagnosis and management.