{"id":128491,"date":"2026-03-13T13:48:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/?p=128491"},"modified":"2026-03-13T13:48:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:48:32","slug":"in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/","title":{"rendered":"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div><div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#d8d8d8;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#f2f2f2;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><strong>Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In-house cytology is a valuable diagnostic tool used in veterinary dermatology; it offers fast, cost-effective insights into many skin and ear conditions. Veterinary nurses are often responsible for the associated tasks that require technical skill and clinical judgment, including sample collection, slide preparation and staining, and preliminary microscopic evaluation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Take-Home Points<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In-house cytology is a rapid, cost-effective diagnostic tool that enhances dermatologic care in veterinary practice.<\/li>\n<li>Veterinary nurses play a vital role in the cytologic process, from sample collection to microscopic evaluation.<\/li>\n<li>Proper sampling techniques are key to accurate cytologic interpretation.<\/li>\n<li>Use of effective staining protocols and consistent microscope use improves diagnostic reliability and facilitates early therapeutic decisions.<\/li>\n<li>Veterinary nurses who are trained and empowered in cytology techniques support a more collaborative and efficient clinic environment, leading to better patient outcomes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Appropriate sampling techniques are key to obtaining diagnostic cytology.<sup>1<\/sup> The appropriate sampling method depends on the clinical concern (e.g., pruritus, inflammation, open lesions, alopecia, crusts, pustules, dry or moist areas) and the location and accessibility of the area, which will determine whether to collect the sample by swab, impression smear, tape preparation, skin scraping, or fine-needle aspirate (<strong>Table 1<\/strong>). If clipping or scissor-trimming the fur is necessary, avoid rupturing fragile pustules, which can compromise sample integrity and lose valuable diagnostic material (<strong>Box 1<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_128501\" style=\"width: 1014px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Table1-.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-128501\" class=\"size-full wp-image-128501\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Table1-.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1004\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Table1-.png 1004w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Table1--300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Table1--768x255.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1004px) 100vw, 1004px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-128501\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Step 1: Gather Materials<\/h2>\n<p>Before beginning cytologic sampling, have the necessary supplies, depending on the type of sampling technique planned, readily accessible and organized. Having a dedicated drawer or station with all potentially needed supplies can be helpful.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Scissors or clippers<\/li>\n<li>Frosted slides (labeled with patient information and sample site), glass coverslips, and mineral oil<\/li>\n<li>Cotton swabs, clear tape, scalpel blades, scraping spatula<\/li>\n<li>Needles (22 to 25 gauge), syringes (3 to 6 mL)<\/li>\n<li>Heat source (e.g., lighter)<\/li>\n<li>Small air dryer or fan<\/li>\n<li>Stain (e.g., Diff-Quik, new methylene blue)<\/li>\n<li>Microscope<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"su-box su-box-style-default\" id=\"\" style=\"border-color:#606060;border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-box-title\" style=\"background-color:#939393;color:#FFFFFF;border-top-left-radius:1px;border-top-right-radius:1px\">Box 1. Sampling Tips<\/div><div class=\"su-box-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"border-bottom-left-radius:1px;border-bottom-right-radius:1px\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ear canal:<\/strong> Use cotton swabs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Claw folds:<\/strong> Scrape with a dull blade, beveled applicator, or broken swab stick.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Skin surface<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Impression smear:<\/strong> Press the slide to the lesion.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tape prep:<\/strong> Press clear tape to dry or hard-to-reach areas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Swab cytology:<\/strong> Roll the swab gently over moist or exudative lesions and hard-to- reach areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2>Step 2: Base Appropriate Sample Collection Technique on Lesion Type and Location<\/h2>\n<h3>Swab Smear<\/h3>\n<p>The swab technique is best used for ears, skin folds, and areas with discharge.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ears:<\/strong> Obtain swabs from both ears, even if only 1 ear seems to be symptomatic.<sup>2<\/sup><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pull up the pinna, gently insert the cotton swab into the ear where the horizontal and vertical canals intersect, gently rotate the swab to lift out the debris, and roll the swab onto the slide (<strong>FIGURE 1A<\/strong>).<sup>3<\/sup> Be consistent with how you apply the samples from each ear on the left or right side of the slide so there is no confusion as to which ear you are evaluating (<strong>FIGURE 1B<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<li>To look for mites, apply a small amount of mineral oil to the slide and the cotton swab, insert the swab into the ear canal, and lift out any exudate. Roll the swab into the mineral oil on the slide, distributing the exudate so it is not too thick. Apply a coverslip.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"su-image-carousel  su-image-carousel-has-spacing su-image-carousel-crop su-image-carousel-crop-1-1 su-image-carousel-has-lightbox su-image-carousel-has-outline su-image-carousel-adaptive su-image-carousel-slides-style-default su-image-carousel-controls-style-dark su-image-carousel-align-none\" style=\"max-width:70%\" data-flickity-options='{\"groupCells\":true,\"cellSelector\":\".su-image-carousel-item\",\"adaptiveHeight\":false,\"cellAlign\":\"left\",\"prevNextButtons\":true,\"pageDots\":false,\"autoPlay\":5000,\"imagesLoaded\":true,\"contain\":true,\"selectedAttraction\":0.025,\"friction\":0.28}' id=\"su_image_carousel_69e88bd24d067\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig1A.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"Figure 1A. Collecting a swab sample from a cat\u2019s ear.\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"904\" src=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig1A.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig1A.png 720w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig1A-239x300.png 239w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><span>Figure 1A. Collecting a swab sample from a cat\u2019s ear.<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig1B.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-caption=\"Figure 1B. Transfer the debris from the swab to the slide.\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig1B.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig1B.png 720w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig1B-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><span>Figure 1B. Transfer the debris from the swab to the slide.<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"su_image_carousel_69e88bd24d067_script\">if(window.SUImageCarousel){setTimeout(function() {window.SUImageCarousel.initGallery(document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69e88bd24d067\"))}, 0);}var su_image_carousel_69e88bd24d067_script=document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69e88bd24d067_script\");if(su_image_carousel_69e88bd24d067_script){su_image_carousel_69e88bd24d067_script.parentNode.removeChild(su_image_carousel_69e88bd24d067_script);}<\/script>\n<p><strong>Skin lesions:<\/strong> A swab can be used to obtain the sample and rolled onto the slide.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In collecting the sample, the swab can sometimes be moistened with sterile saline.<sup>1<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>Swabs can also be used to access samples from hard-to-reach areas (e.g., crevices, claws, lips, facial or tail folds, interdigital areas).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Direct Impression Smear<\/h3>\n<p>Direct impression smears are best used for moist, exudative lesions such as ulcers, pustules, blisters, or vesicles (<strong>FIGURE 2<\/strong>). Methods for obtaining direct smear samples depend on the type of lesion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Open lesions:<\/strong> Press a slide firmly to the affected area.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lesions with crust:<\/strong> Lift the crust and gently press the slide underneath.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pustules or vesicles:<\/strong> Carefully puncture the lesion with a 25-gauge needle, aspirate the material, and spray it onto a slide or directly press the slide to the exudate. To distribute the cells more evenly, a second slide can be gently applied perpendicular to the first slide and slid along the length of it.<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_128496\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-128496\" class=\" wp-image-128496\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig2.png 720w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig2-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-128496\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 2. Collecting an impression smear from a chinchilla.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>Clear Tape Preparation<\/h3>\n<p>This method is best used for dry, scaly, or alopecic areas and hard-to-reach areas (e.g., interdigital spaces, lip, facial folds).<\/p>\n<p>Apply the tape firmly to the surface of the affected skin multiple times to lift superficial material (e.g., keratin, bacteria, yeast) without disrupting the skin. Either of the 2 staining techniques can be used (see Step 4: Stain the Slides).<\/p>\n<h3>Skin Scraping<\/h3>\n<p>Skin scrapings are best used for multiple types of lesions, ectoparasites, or deeper follicular conditions. Which procedure to use depends on clinical signs, the appearance\/type of lesions, and the area (<strong>FIGURE 3<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use a dulled scalpel blade or a medical scraping spatula to retrieve material from an area under a crusted, exudative, seborrheic, or scaly lesion or a claw fold.<sup>1<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>Scrape in 1 direction, then smear the material onto the slide.<sup>1,3<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>If mites are suspected, apply oil to the slide and the dulled blade. Obtain the sample, mix in the oil, and apply a coverslip.<\/li>\n<li>Use a new slide for each area scraped; a sample that is too thick will be difficult to evaluate.<\/li>\n<li>For mites living deeper in the follicle (e.g., Demodex), squeeze the area to be scraped to bring any mites closer to the skin surface. Scrape in 1 direction, until a small amount of blood occurs, indicating you have gone deep enough to get material out of the follicles. Scrape all suspicious areas.<\/li>\n<li>When performing a superficial scraping, scrape a wider area superficially in multiple places.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_128497\" style=\"width: 476px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-128497\" class=\" wp-image-128497\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"466\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig3.png 864w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig3-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig3-768x577.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-128497\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 3. Collecting a skin scraping from a dog\u2019s leg.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>Fine-Needle Aspirate<\/h3>\n<p>Fine-needle aspiration is best used for nodules, masses, or thickened areas (<strong>FIGURE 4<\/strong>). Fine-needle aspirates collect cells within the lesion that are helpful for differentiating between inflammation, infection, or neoplasia. The technique can be used with or without aspiration.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For a sterile or clean site, clip fur and wipe the area with alcohol.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the needle (22 to 25 gauge) and syringe (3 to 6 mL).<\/li>\n<li>Stabilize the mass with your nondominant hand while using your dominant hand to hold the syringe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_128498\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-128498\" class=\" wp-image-128498\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig4.png 720w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig4-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-128498\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 4. Fine-needle aspiration of a mass.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>For hemorrhagic or easily exfoliated lesions, use nonaspiration collection.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Advance the needle into the lesion, withdraw partway, and redirect multiple times in different directions.<\/li>\n<li>Attach an air-filled syringe.<\/li>\n<li>Spray the cells gently onto a slide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>For nonhemorrhagic lesions<\/strong>, use aspiration collection (<strong>VIDEO\u00a01<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Attach the needle to the syringe, advance it into the lesion, pulling the plunger back and quickly releasing it.<\/li>\n<li>Redirect the needle and repeat in a few different areas of the lesion.<\/li>\n<li>Before withdrawing the needle, release the suction.<\/li>\n<li>Separate the syringe from the needle, fill the syringe with air, reattach the needle (bevel side down toward the slide), and expel the sample onto the slide (holding the hub of the needle if it is not a Luer Lock).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O8xrsfYt6kY?\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><strong>For both techniques<\/strong>, distribute the cells so they are not clumped in a single area by putting another slide on top of the slide with the sample and gently pulling them apart (<strong>VIDEO 2<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OZWU7hfmUw0?\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2>Step 3: Prepare and Fix the Slides<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>After the sample is obtained, air dry the slides thoroughly, label them with the patient\u2019s name and lesion location, and heat fix otic or greasy samples if desired.<sup>4<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>Heat fix by holding a flame under the slide for 1 to 2 seconds, and wipe off any residue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> One study that compared heat-fixed slides with air-dried slides from dogs with confirmed <em>Malassezia<\/em> otitis externa infection found no significant difference in yeast counts between the 2 methods, suggesting that heat-fixing is not necessary to adhere cells to the slide and may be safely omitted without compromising diagnostic accuracy.<sup>5<\/sup><\/p>\n<h2>Step 4: Stain the slides<\/h2>\n<p>For dry slide preparations, Diff-Quik is commonly used for routine cytology, highlighting cellular detail with a fast processing time.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dip the slide in fixative for 5 to 10 seconds or drop in for 30 seconds. Thicker smears require longer processing times. Drain excess on an absorbent towel.<sup>4<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>Dip into #2 and #3 stains for ten 1-second dips or up to 60 seconds each, draining in between.<\/li>\n<li>Rinse thoroughly with tap or distilled water, not rinsing directly over the area.<\/li>\n<li>Either air dry or use a low-heat dryer to speed the process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> An evidence-based study in which mast cell granules were stained with the fixative at varying times (5 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, and 2 minutes) found no significant difference in the quality, indicating that it is up to the individual to do what works for them to get the best quality and most accurate results. Change the stains on a regular basis to preserve the quality of the staining.<sup>6<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>For wet preparations, new methylene blue is mainly used and is ideal for identifying nuclear detail showing presence of bacteria.<\/p>\n<p>Gram staining is used for differentiating types of bacteria, distinguishing gram-positive from gram-negative organisms, and is used more for guiding antibiotic decisions.<\/p>\n<p>For tape preparations, 1 of 2 staining techniques can be used.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Place the adhesive side of the tape on the slide and lift the edge of the tape, add 1 to 2 drops of either the #3 Diff-Quik stain or new methylene blue stain to the slide and reapply the tape.<sup>2<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>Dip the tape into the #3 Diff-Quik stain, rinse, gently blot dry, and place the tape with a drop of immersion oil (adhesive side down) onto a slide. Look under the microscope within a short time.<sup>1,4<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Step 5: Evaluate the Slides<\/h2>\n<p>Determine the best area of the slide to evaluate by starting at low power (4\u00d7, 10\u00d7) and scanning for mites, acantholytic cells, or fungal spores. When looking for mites, increase the contrast by lowering the microscope condenser. For more detailed evaluation of inflammatory cells (e.g., neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, mast cells) and to identify microorganisms (e.g., cocci, rods, <em>Malassezia<\/em>; <strong>FIGURE 5<\/strong>), increase the power to 40\u00d7 and 100\u00d7 (immersion oil). Look for intracellular bacteria (indicating a true infection) and be able to differentiate artifacts, such as melanin granules, from microorganisms and nuclear streaming, which can be caused by poor sample and slide handling.<sup>7<\/sup><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_128499\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-128499\" class=\" wp-image-128499\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig5.png 720w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_Fig5-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-128499\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 5. <em>Malessezia<\/em> and bacteria on a slide. Diff-Quik stain, 100\u00d7 magnification.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Step 6: Document and Communicate Findings<\/h2>\n<p>Record results clearly and consistently in the patient\u2019s record, and discuss the results with the veterinarian to help guide decisions for future testing and treatment.<\/p>\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n<p>In-house cytology empowers veterinary teams to obtain rapid, cost-effective diagnostic information that will help guide immediate treatment decisions, determine the need for further testing, and support timely follow-up care. The accuracy of cytologic interpretation depends on proper sample collection, handling, staining, and the ability to distinguish true cellular and microbial findings from artifacts. An educated veterinary nurse who is able to perform cytology confidently and competently can improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency and can contribute to improved patient outcomes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-box su-box-style-default\" id=\"\" style=\"border-color:#002e77;border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-box-title\" style=\"background-color:#1f61aa;color:#FFFFFF;border-top-left-radius:1px;border-top-right-radius:1px\">Into Practice<\/div><div class=\"su-box-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"border-bottom-left-radius:1px;border-bottom-right-radius:1px\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Gather necessary supplies:<\/strong> Set up a dedicated cytology area stocked with frosted slides, coverslips, swabs, #10 blades, a scraping spatula, clear tape, mineral oil, scissors or clippers, and staining materials (a Diff-Quik stain kit or new methylene blue).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Perform sampling:<\/strong> Identify patients with dermatologic concerns (e.g., itching, odor, discharge), and practice collecting samples by using impression smears, tape preparations, and swab samples based on lesion type and location.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start scanning:<\/strong> Scan slides on low power to find areas of cells and then increase to high-power magnification to identify inflammatory cells, cocci, rods, and yeast. Document results and discuss findings with the veterinarian.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Appropriate sampling techniques are key to obtaining diagnostic cytology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":817,"featured_media":128500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[819],"tags":[145],"class_list":["post-128491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spring-2026","tag-peer-reviewed","column-skills-check","clinical_topics-dermatology"],"acf":{"hide_sidebar":false,"hide_sidebar_ad":false,"hide_all_ads":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology | Today&#039;s Veterinary Nurse<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In-house cytology empowers veterinary teams to obtain rapid, cost-effective diagnostic information that will help guide treatment decisions.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In-house cytology empowers veterinary teams to obtain rapid, cost-effective diagnostic information that will help guide treatment decisions.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Today&#039;s Veterinary Nurse\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/todaysveterinarynurse\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-13T13:48:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"990\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"419\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"sperez\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"sperez\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"sperez\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/68efb9bac77af3e88722e23186212e63\"},\"headline\":\"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-13T13:48:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1996,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Peer Reviewed\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Spring 2026\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"MedicalWebPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/\",\"name\":\"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology | Today&#039;s Veterinary Nurse\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-13T13:48:32+00:00\",\"description\":\"In-house cytology empowers veterinary teams to obtain rapid, cost-effective diagnostic information that will help guide treatment decisions.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png\",\"width\":990,\"height\":419},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/dermatology\\\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/personal-professional-development\\\/passion-project-going-the-extra-mile-for-pets-in-need\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Today&#039;s Veterinary Nurse\",\"description\":\"Peer-Reviewed Journal for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Today's Veterinary Nurse\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/tvn-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/tvn-logo.png\",\"width\":231,\"height\":77,\"caption\":\"Today's Veterinary Nurse\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/todaysveterinarynurse\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/todaysveterinarynurse\\\/https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/todaysveterinarynurse\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/thenavc\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/68efb9bac77af3e88722e23186212e63\",\"name\":\"sperez\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/585d5614843c65bfab1ed826ad2b7537ec1d28c0e3654991be5cd8d7d5a9daef?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/585d5614843c65bfab1ed826ad2b7537ec1d28c0e3654991be5cd8d7d5a9daef?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/585d5614843c65bfab1ed826ad2b7537ec1d28c0e3654991be5cd8d7d5a9daef?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"sperez\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/navc.sitepreview.app\\\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\\\/author\\\/sperez\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology | Today&#039;s Veterinary Nurse","description":"In-house cytology empowers veterinary teams to obtain rapid, cost-effective diagnostic information that will help guide treatment decisions.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology","og_description":"In-house cytology empowers veterinary teams to obtain rapid, cost-effective diagnostic information that will help guide treatment decisions.","og_url":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/","og_site_name":"Today&#039;s Veterinary Nurse","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/todaysveterinarynurse","article_published_time":"2026-03-13T13:48:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":990,"height":419,"url":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"sperez","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"sperez","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/"},"author":{"name":"sperez","@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/#\/schema\/person\/68efb9bac77af3e88722e23186212e63"},"headline":"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology","datePublished":"2026-03-13T13:48:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/"},"wordCount":1996,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png","keywords":["Peer Reviewed"],"articleSection":["Spring 2026"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":["WebPage","MedicalWebPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/","url":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/","name":"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology | Today&#039;s Veterinary Nurse","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png","datePublished":"2026-03-13T13:48:32+00:00","description":"In-house cytology empowers veterinary teams to obtain rapid, cost-effective diagnostic information that will help guide treatment decisions.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/George_In-HouseDermCytology_TVNSpring26_MainImage.png","width":990,"height":419},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/dermatology\/in-house-cytology-in-veterinary-dermatology\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/personal-professional-development\/passion-project-going-the-extra-mile-for-pets-in-need\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A Step-by-Step Guide to In-House Cytology in Veterinary Dermatology"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/","name":"Today&#039;s Veterinary Nurse","description":"Peer-Reviewed Journal for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/#organization","name":"Today's Veterinary Nurse","url":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/10\/tvn-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/10\/tvn-logo.png","width":231,"height":77,"caption":"Today's Veterinary Nurse"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/todaysveterinarynurse","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/todaysveterinarynurse\/https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/todaysveterinarynurse","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/thenavc"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/#\/schema\/person\/68efb9bac77af3e88722e23186212e63","name":"sperez","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/585d5614843c65bfab1ed826ad2b7537ec1d28c0e3654991be5cd8d7d5a9daef?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/585d5614843c65bfab1ed826ad2b7537ec1d28c0e3654991be5cd8d7d5a9daef?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/585d5614843c65bfab1ed826ad2b7537ec1d28c0e3654991be5cd8d7d5a9daef?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"sperez"},"url":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/author\/sperez\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128491","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/817"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=128491"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128491\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":128563,"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128491\/revisions\/128563"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/128500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=128491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=128491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=128491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}