Poster competition abstracts
At our autumn meeting on the 25th October 2019, we welcomed presenters describing interesting or unusual case reports or research projects, to allow more people an opportunity to share experiences with colleagues.
The 7 posters presented during the day are reproduced below. Delegates on the day cast their votes to select the winning entries.

How lifetime exposure to endogenous gonadal hormones affects the age at which canine osteosarcoma is diagnosed
First prize. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between duration of exposure to endogenous gonadal hormones and the age at which osteosarcoma is diagnosed.

Antibiotic therapy in dogs and cats in general practice in the UK prior to referral
Second prize. Antimicrobial resistance results in treatment failures in both human and veterinary medicine. Responsible antibiotic use should minimise antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to assess antibiotic prescription by general practices in the UK prior to referral. The clinical records of dogs and cats referred to the internal medicine department of a referral hospital between the 1/03/2018 and the 28/02/19 were reviewed to determine whether the Protect / ProtectMe guidelines were followed.

Urinary microvesicles in cats with chronic kidney disease and systemic hypertension
Third prize.Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common morbidity and a leading cause of mortality in domestic cats, affecting 3.6% of the UK cat population1. CKD is a diverse syndrome with various causes, but they all converge on a final common pathway – tubulointerstitial nephritis and fibrosis.

Ascites for sore eyes
Case presentation:
2-year-old female neutered domestic short hair cat with a 2 week history of lethargy, inappetence and recent moderate weight loss. Physical examination findings:
- Abdominal distention with a palpable fluid thrill. - Body condition score 3/9.
- Rectal temperature of 38.9°C.
- Peripheral lymph nodes within normal limits.
- Thoracic and cardiac auscultation was unremarkable.

Clinicopathological features of inflammatory nasal and nasopharyngeal masses in three senior cats
To describe the clinical presentation, computed tomography (CT) and histopathology findings, treatment, and outcome of three cats with inflammatory nasal or nasopharyngeal masses.

Investigating the endothelial glycocalyx in health and disease in dogs
Objectives:
Firstly to perfuse and fix canine arterial samples with Alcian blue to enable pioneering GCX visualisation using electron microscopy. Secondly, to use a commercially available canine ELISA to quantify hyaluronan in dogs with MVD and hypercoagulability and compare to a normal healthy population.

Percutaneous-rendezvous approach to biliary stent placement
EHBO can occur in dogs as a result of either intraluminal or extraluminal causes. Biliary obstruction results in bile retention and thus hyperbilirubinaemia. Restoration of bile drainage is essential in the treatment of EHBO, and interventional radiology is a developing technique when approaching these cases.