Brain biopsy is essential for accurate diagnosis but is frequently avoided in veterinary medicine because of doubts about its safety, reliability, and clinical value. Data available from human and veterinary investigations suggest that such doubts are largely unwarranted. Many devices are available to guide minimally invasive biopsy but some can be costly to purchase and use, which can be problematic in veterinary medicine. Nowadays, costs can be substantially reduced by using 3-dimensional-printed guides.

The most common complications of intracranial surgery in companion animals chiefly consist of brain swelling, hemorrhage, seizures, and worsening of neurologic status, aspiration pneumonia, and anesthetic death. Further dividing these into intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative are more common. Preventative measures can include careful surgical planning, cerebro-protective anesthetic regimes, seizure prophylaxis, and postoperative sedation/pain management that allows for an early return to function and ambulation and an adequate and accelerated nutrition.

External beam radiation therapy (RT) has become the standard of care for non-resectable or post-operative incompletely excised brain tumors in dogs and cats due to its relatively low side effect profile and increasing availability. This article reviews the indications for, expected outcomes of and possible toxicities associated with RT, follow-up care recommendations after RT, and publications about specific tumor types in dogs and cats with brain tumors.

Brain tumors exert their clinical effects in a variety of ways. Mass effect, edema, seizures, and a vicious cycle of cause and effect are often the focus of therapeutic interventions employed to improve clinical signs and increase survival time. Obstructive hydrocephalus is a common sequela of certain types of brain tumors and is often the major driver of clinical signs seen in tumors arising within the ventricular system. This study outlines the application of ventriculoperitoneal shunting for obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to brain tumors as part of an overall management program to help increase patients' lifespan and quality of life.

MRI plays an integral role in the diagnosis of brain tumors in dogs and cats. Optimized image acquisition protocols in addition to a systematic approach to brain tumor evaluation on MRI using imaging characteristic interpretation criteria may allow for enhanced lesion detection, accurate presumptive diagnoses, and formulation of a prioritized differential diagnosis list.

This study describes the essential components and the technique of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS), including probe selection and techniques used to produce quality images. Case examples are given to illustrate the value and the accuracy of IOUS in intracranial surgery of companion animals. IOUS has proven an invaluable addition to intracranial surgery, especially in real-time localization of the mass, identifying borders between mass and normal cerebral tissue, and identifying vascular supply to the mass.

The blood-brain barrier and knowledge gaps in tumor biology remain significant obstacles to the development of effective treatments for brain tumors. The identification of shared molecular and genetic pathways that contribute to tumorigenesis in both dogs and people has been key to the discovery and translation of targeted pharmacologic and biologic therapies. Treatment approaches often utilize targeted or multifunctional antitumor agents, such as nanocarriers, molecularly targeted agents, immunotherapeutics, and oncolytic viruses in combination with alternative therapeutic delivery strategies. The article discusses about various treatments albeit none of the treatments discussed here are widely available or approved for clinical use.

Extensive descriptions of MRI characteristics of canine and feline brain tumors allow for relatively accurate lesion detection, discrimination, and presumptive diagnosis on MRI. Ambiguous and overlapping MRI features between brain lesion and tumor as well as tumor types is a limitation that necessitates histopathology for final diagnosis, which is often not available antemortem. Non-invasive advanced diagnostic imaging techniques continue to be developed to enhance sensitivity and specificity for brain tumor diagnosis on MRI in dogs and cats.

For those new to the concept of allyship, this article will outline some of the foundation skills of allyship and strategies to overcome common hurdles. For those who consider themselves further along their allyship journey, there is material to encourage more effective or strategic allyship activities. Readers are encouraged to reflect on the different ways they can practice allyship within their own organizations. For leadership and management, we outline why allyship is important in veterinary workplaces and set out some key organization changes that can build inclusive workplaces through allyship.

Veterinary medicine has embarked on a journey of understanding the factors impacting the psychological, emotional, physical, and social health of its people. Discussions of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging must address wellbeing; discussions of wellbeing must address diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The profession and the world at large have failed to draw a direct correlation between the two. This article sheds light onto the inextricable link between the two so that no one is left behind as the health of the profession and its people advances.

It is a well-known fact in veterinary medicine that the field has struggled to diversify the profession and is one of the most homogenous careers in the United States. Discrimination is still quite common in the United States, despite decades of policy changes and implementation of DEI practices. This study discusses how veterinary medicine can benefit from an intersectional approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It discusses the need of intersectional data to better understand the disparities that exist within veterinary medicine to make a more significant impact.

The concept of equity recognizes historical and current barriers and promotes thriving for veterinary teams and people and animals in the community. It is possible to design equitable workplace systems to prevent and respond to harm using learnings from human medicine and the social sciences. These systems are grounded in the principles of health equity and must incorporate both formal policies and intentional cultivation of supportive culture and relationships. This article is part 2 of 2 articles reviewing how the concept of equity applies and could transform well-being in companion animal veterinary practice in North America.

Veterinary medicine is one of the least diverse professions in terms of race and ethnicity. Inclusive mentorship has the potential to increase representation and retention of BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) individuals and individuals with other marginalized identities in the field. Inclusive mentorship benefits not only the mentors and mentees but also the veterinary profession and the communities we serve. It is critical to incorporate inclusion principles throughout the mentoring relationship, starting with creating an inclusive environment and considering inclusion in program design and mentor training. Inclusion is an ongoing process that requires dedication and maintenance.

The concept of equity recognizes historical and current barriers and promotes thriving for veterinary teams and people and animals in the community. Veterinary medicine lacks sociodemographic diversity; veterinarians and other team members who identify with systemically excluded groups offer valuable contributions but are at risk of workplace discrimination. Client families who face barriers for financial and other reasons are at risk of poor animal health and welfare outcomes, including separation from their animals. This article is part one of 2 articles reviewing how the concept of equity applies and could transform well-being in companion animal veterinary practice in North America.

Pause for a moment to visualize a scenario tinged with somber reflection rather than celebration. Consider the life of an elderly woman, a retired public servant whose career as a librarian enriched countless individuals in her community. Now, in the tranquil latter years of her life, she faces a formidable challenge. Her cherished cat, a steadfast companion throughout her serene retirement, has fallen severely ill. The exorbitant cost of necessary medical treatment cast a long, dark shadow over their future together, ultimately leading to the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize, as the financial burden posed an insurmountable barrier to recovery.

Teams composed of racially diverse individuals from varied backgrounds offer broader experiences, insights, and methods in clinical approaches, communication, and may offer cultural familiarity to clients. Prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging on ethical grounds is essential, but the advantages of engaging Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) individuals in clinical specialist roles surpass ethical considerations alone. Research and industry data show a clear link between team diversity and better patient outcomes and business performance, notably in profitability and market expansion. How to engage BIPOC individuals in pursuing veterinary technician specialization, along with its challenges are multifaceted but achievable.

This article examines how culturally responsive care can enhance veterinary medicine by focusing on the interpersonal relationships between veterinarians, their teams, and pet owners. It begins by exploring the historical context of trust within veterinary practice and addresses stereotypes in pet ownership demographics, reinforcing the universal human-animal bond. The article outlines the components of culturally responsive care, noting the scarcity of research in veterinary settings and drawing extensively on the substantial research from human medicine, particularly nursing. It redefines veterinarians as trusted caregivers and details the benefits of culturally responsive care, advocating for more inclusive practices to inspire a more empathetic and culturally competent veterinary community.