In the US, there are 3 times more suicides in the veterinary profession than in the average population and the ratio is even worse for women. Working as a vet practitioner clearly put us at risk of “compassion fatigue”, a very tricky and devastating disease. We are convinced that good communication with the pet owners and with the staff can contribute to a balanced life and help prevent burnout and other psychological disorders. This is an unexpected but very true reason to improve communication skills.

In the US, there are 3 times more suicides in the veterinary profession than in the average population and the ratio is even worse for women. Working as a vet practitioner clearly put us at risk of “compassion fatigue”, a very tricky and devastating disease. We are convinced that good communication with the pet owners and with the staff can contribute to a balanced life and help prevent burnout and other psychological disorders. This is an unexpected but very true reason to improve communication skills.

Chronic hepatitis is a common disease in dogs but can often go undetected, especially in the early stages; Cynthia Webster presents an overview of the disease, with an emphasis on the diagnostic and treatment options.

Although dental disease is commonly seen in all breeds of dog, smaller dogs are more prone to certain specific dental disorders. Jenna Winer and Frank Verstraete present a pictorial guide to some of the most frequently encountered conditions and how to treat them.

The texture of any given foodstuff is dependent on many different factors, and in turn links to other aspects of the food, including palatability and ease of ingestion. Hervé Rehault offers a brief insight into the science of texture analysis and how it impacts on formulating a diet suitable for small dogs.

Certain dog breeds are recognized as being prone to certain diseases, and many are well-known in the veterinary world. Here Mark Lowrie describes an unusual condition that has been recently reported in Border Terriers with an unknown etiology but which appears to respond to a gluten-free diet.

This condition is most commonly seen in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and can have a severe impact on the quality of an affected dog’s life. Sandra Sanchis Mora and Ludovic Pelligand offer an overview of the condition, the underlying pathophysiology, and the options currently available to manage the disease.

Some of the smaller breeds of dog are prone to hydrocephalus, which can be associated with various health problems; William Thomas describes how to best diagnose the condition and the preferred options to treat and manage affected patients.